>This morning I took time to smell the roses...or the wildflowers and irises as the case may be. These photos were taken in a small patch of woods near the house, where I am trying to establish native wildflowers, and along a raised bank west of our house, where I am fighting my annual losing … Continue reading >Flags and Wildflowers

>Few doctrines are as precious or practical as God's providence. I am continually amazed at how God works the events of my life according to his purpose.Yesterday morning's sermon was on 1 Kings 19, a passage that I had just incorporated into the first book of my juvenille series of four novels about "Matthew."This morning, … Continue reading >Providence

>"Matthew" is growing up. In fact, he'll be going to school on May 28, when I will read an excerpt from the first novel to fifth graders at Pella Christian Grade School.

>Broadway Books, hardcover; 375 pages; © 2008 by Charles MartinBroadway Books is an imprint of The Doubleday Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New YorkCharles Martin has been compared to Nicholas Sparks, but Martin's novels are less love stories and more wrestling meets. His male protagonists usually wrestle against overwhelming odds, but primarily … Continue reading >Book Review: Where the River Ends by Charles Martin

>"Matthew" has shaped up nicely this week and reached his target weight! We're still working on coordination, but he should be ready to go to town soon.

>As Matthew gains weight, he also becomes more active. He's growing into quite a lively little guy.Like a proud mom, I'm pleased to see the improvement.

>Work progresses on Book One in my juvenille fiction series about Matthew, a middle child who is in the middle of conflict in his home, school, and church.Writing the story as a series of four books allows me to develop and expand several plot elements. Like a mother concerned about a sickly son, I'm excited … Continue reading >"Matthew" gaining weight

>We had a wonderful time with three of our four children and our son-in-law yesterday, witnessing our daughter receive four scholarship awards!Today I face a manuscript mountain.In this morning's votive silence, I've been praying this prayer (a poem I wrote some time ago):InvocationO Lord, if only You might pour on meAbundant grace of Milton's heavenly … Continue reading >Invocation

>Nighttime Poetrythat singsin the brainlooks so banalon day lit paper.© Glenda Mathes

>At the recent mentoring retreat I attended, author Mark Littleton (who recently published Big Bad God of the Bible and appeared on Fox & Friends) read and applied scripture related to the writing life.His devotional about the necessity for remaining in God's Word was personally convicting. And I'm still unpacking the implications of his meditation … Continue reading >Delighting in the Lord