Category: Scribbles

2021 Writing Successes

Why am I writing about my 2021 writing successes? Well, children’s author Julie Hedlund challenged participants of her 12 Days of Christmas for Writers series to post SUCCESSES (rather than resolutions) on our blogs this year. She believes the way New Year’s resolutions are traditionally made comes from a place of negativity – what DIDN’T […]

A Psalm of Thankfulness

In illustration of my Psalm of Thankfulness, a giant blue strand of DNA crosses in front of colorful galaxies

a psalm of thankfulness in modern America in the style (and some of the words of) Psalm 136 by RLS Hoff Give thanks to the LORD for he is good His love endures forever To him who alone does great wonders His love endures forever Who thought up galaxies and DNA, His love endures forever […]

Wings of Imagination

This picture shows a red metal wagon with wooden sides. A spinning top and a blue bucket sit next to it, and inside it is a set of toy gears and a few kites.

When I was young, my mother would tell me stories about her sister, an agile, world-famous, circus performer. My mother didn’t hold her in much esteem. But I soaked up the stories with incredulous reverence, never able to quench my thirst for news of her. My eccentric aunt would sporadically send me nonsensical gifts—tops that […]

Spring 2021 Teeny Tiny Writing Contest Winner!

The Tree by Katie Hoff Congratulations to our Spring 2021 Teeny Tiny Writing Contest Winner: Katie Hoff. Here’s her lovely poem: The Tree by Katie Hoff   Deep within a forest In a clearing stands a tree Shorter than the rest of them Out of all the eye could see   This tree had weaker […]

Humility

A dark blue handprint sits in a light green square

  His hands are strong and gentle pushing lawn mowers opening jars soothing babies   His fingers, long and sensitive typing code untangling knots wiping away tears   His heart is large and growing leaking love dispensing comfort serving all This is an attempt at a poem in response to a prompt from my Sunday […]

You Are

A clump of hand-drawn daisies

You are The sun I turn toward The rain that quenches my thirst The earth that stabilizes me And not only me But also every flower in this field in this world. You are.   This is an attempt at a poem in response to the prompt given in my Sunday School class, Imago Dei, […]

Emma

A black-haired girl with a bun on top of her head wears a blue jumper and holds a purple peony slipper

I wrote a picture book manuscript a while back about a girl named Emma who gets into a bit of trouble with a magical slipper. So, this is me trying my hand at drawing Emma.

Fibonacci

This picture shows swirling feathers in bronze and silver. The word "Fibonacci" sits at the top.

a poem, inspired by conversation with my middle child (the one who is all into programming and mathematics) Neither random Nor entirely ordered Spirals And Dots Synced In Dancing Rhythmic Progression

2020 Successes

on a purple and blue background sits Hope Gardens, Songs of Healing, Leaving Hope, and "The Aersyla Tree," an illustration of a scene from Songs of Healing.

Children’s author Julie Hedlund challenged participants of her 12 Days of Christmas for Writers series to post 2020 SUCCESSES (rather than resolutions) on our blogs this year. She believes traditional New Year’s resolutions come from a place of negativity. They focus on what DIDN’T get done or achieved in the previous year.  Instead, she suggests we […]

#SixWordStory

A picture to serve as inspirtation for a #sixwordstory--A crown flames out with golden dust. It sits atop two ancient looking books on a wooden table.

Magic Library More powerful than crowns. Twitter introduced me to six word stories (Specifically, @MQuigley1963 did. Wonderful author to follow. She’s so encouraging.) She usually starts them with a picture, and asks people to write a #sixwordstory or a a poem about it. She also writes her own (often quite good) stories and poems. And, […]

On Maps

A simple map on a background with purple flowers.

I love maps, of course. My middle child has a beautiful one that came with his collection of Lloyd Alexander books (His favorite books, btw). It folds out into a gorgeous poster-sized thing that looks like it ought to be framed (if you could somehow get the creases out). My maps don’t look like that. […]

Character Sketch

Character Sketch is a black and white line ddrawing of a girl (or possibly a woman) with her hair up in two buns. She wears earrings and a smile.

This character sketch is literally a sketch. This girl (woman?) came to me a couple of days ago. I don’t know who she is yet, but I think she wants her story told.

Hamburger Onion Pie

Hamburger Onion Pie on a plate, with various kitchen implements suggesting it is homemade.

“Hey!  Who ate the last piece of hamburger onion pie?” Shannon shouted into the bowels of the refrigerator. She turned, slamming the refrigerator door, and bumped into Damon, who was holding the metal pie plate in his right hand. It was dotted with crumbs and held a fork and a crumpled ball of plastic wrap. […]

Becca

Here's a pink sponge, with lots of soap bubbles, like the ones Becca and I played with when doing the dishes.

Becca is a fictionalized account of what it was like to grow up with one of my brilliant, imaginative, sisters. This is my memory. My sister might retell this rather differently.   Becca propped her elbows in the top rack of the dishwasher, fitting them neatly between the green plastic spikes. She twirled a spatula […]

Your Will, Not Mine, Lord (trying my hand at a song)

This illustration for "Your Will, Not MIne, Lord" shows a red flower (probably a tulip) bent on a black background.

“Your Will, Not Mine, Lord” is a song I wrote while waiting for the rest of my Sunday School class to be finished with their music practice. Try to raise my kids to love the Lord Try to teach my kids to do their chores To become loving, respectful, powerful, wise, adults.   They argue, […]