Dear Friends,

I can hardly believe it has been a year since I last wrote in this blog. It has been a year of loss and change, challenge and travel…and writers’ block. I’ve tried numerous times to put thoughts and words to paper (or screen), only to get lost in a mental fog.

I spoke with a writer friend not long ago and she said that, as she wrote, if she took the characters in the direction she wanted to take them, the ideas would dry up. When she gave her characters and the direction of her book entirely over to the Lord and His leading, the ideas sparked to life.

I’ve found this to be true in my own life. I have wanted to write fiction novels since I was a girl. I have several good starts on stories that I really want to tell. But when I sit to write, ideas slow to a trickle and grow sluggish in the mire of my own thoughts.

A few days ago, I felt the Lord whisper a blog post idea in my ear. I sighed and sat down to write…and the words flowed easily! What’s more…I liked it!  “This is where I want you right now, my daughter. This is where you are most useful” I heard the Spirit whisper. Not with novels on the New York Times Bestsellers’ list, but in the intimate world of the blogosphere, where friends and strangers congregate looking for truth and laughter and encouragement. Letters From Home is my blog and I hope you’ll read it and share it with someone who needs who needs a little truth, a laugh, a little encouragement, a little wonder.

In this September issue I’ve written about joy and grieving in An Uncommon Farewell and about the stigma of the stay-at-home mom in Motherhood Identity Crisis?.  I have a travelling story and pictures in Travel Adventures: Northern Michigan and I’ve included some fascinating pictures and videos from a friend on the beach, just for fun in Sea Turtles. (Who doesn’t love watching baby sea turtles racing towards the waves?)

Thank you for reading!

Olivia