• In Pursuit of Personification: Writing Stories to Honor Your Animal Friends

    It is no surprise animal stories are a favorite among many readers. For one, animal lovers are able to connect to pets, while readers who may not be animal lovers gain a new perspective. Readers can get questions to answers surrounding ways animals interpret the ever-changing world. Writers exercise creativity by providing a voice for those who we cannot verbally communicate with. But why are animal stories so potent? A writer can take a topical issue, such as animal abuse, and pen a novel advocating animal rights. The writer gives the animal a voice. The writer encourages compassion, inspiring the…

  • A Mother’s Love: Legendary Family Recipes

    They say that it’s a challenge to master an heirloom recipe and make it the way mom does. However it’s difficult to deny that there is sacredness to family recipes and accomplishment in mastering them the way mom or grandma did. In imagining Mother’s Day gatherings full of love, laughter, flowers and food, we are reminded that each dish tells a unique story. In reflecting, what foods have fed your heart and spirit? What story does each spice, scent or bite trigger? What ingredients are you most connected to? Recalling each recipe grandma or mom has passed down, what memories…

  • Spring Cleaning: Detoxifying the Heart and Spirit

    “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” Isaiah 43:18 (NIV) Spring brings us fresh, new energy and represents new life. In taking note of the blossoming of new life, we can learn to let new emotions, dreams, and hopes come into fruition by shedding past negativity. The verse above speaks to living in the now by letting go of the past. The following tips on spiritual detoxification can help you renew your life, as well as your interpersonal experiences. Let Go and Let God. One vital aspect of purifying the heart of fear is to have faith…