I kept asking God to show me a sign about motherhood until a book about following dreams taught me the wrong question. Sometimes the journey is the treasure.
finding purpose
My Students Asked About Heroes—Then Life Gave Me One Who Wasn’t Superman
A year ago, I named him Charming in this blog. My sophomores were studying archetypes, and I was certain I wasn't a damsel in distress. Turns out, the best heroes don't wear capes—they help you finish your own quest before starting a new story together.
Teaching Plot Structure While My Biological Clock Screams—How Sophomores Saved My Story
Babies surrounded us at church, and I cried through the sermon. But teaching short story elements to sophomores, I found my climax on the chalkboard: dozens of notes saying 'I love you' from last year's kids. Sometimes your students teach you how your own story resolves.
The Hollow Tree in My Backyard and the Woman Who Climbed on Top
A storm felled the ancient tree behind my house, revealing it was hollow inside. As I climbed its trunk, I wondered: How many of us stand tall while rotting at the base? At least I can still count my rings.
I Used to Be a Wife, a Writer, and 20 Other Things: The Night I Started Writing Again
Thirty-two and sitting on my Virginia porch with red wine and a laptop, I hadn't written in two years. Not since Nashville. Not since the divorce. Tonight, the first writing tingle returned—would it be enough to reclaim what I used to be?
Writer's Growth 