Blogging from A to Z: M is for my Mother

M is for my mother
She still inspires and uplifts me
and always makes me smile.
I draw upon her strength
though she's been go for a while.

(Since before I was born, my mother suffered from severe depression. Yet as a child growing up under her tender care, I was unaware of this. She bore 7 children, raised us all to be good, responsible, god-fearing citizens on a the humble income my father made as a Utah school teacher--and did a great job. And she did this while silently suffering the pains of depression. I applaud you, Mother. Thank you!)

the above picture is of my mother as a college student at Utah State University, only back then it was known as the AC (agricultural college).

Blogging from A to Z: L is for Love

L is for love

Love is not merely an emotion,
a sought after genre of novels,
or even a theme for Valentine's Day.
To me it is an actual force,
a component of God's power.
Without it, the world would waste away.

Blogging from A to Z: K is for Kitchen

K is for kitchen
Here's an old one and a new.
They are the same kitchen; 
it's amazing what a year can do
when you take an abandoned house
that has been sitting for five years,
gut it, rebuild, and restore it
with lots of dollars, time, and tears.
But in the end, it was worth it,
I have a lovely house
that was built by my own hands
with the assistance of my spouse.


(November of 2013, my husband and I purchased a bank owned house that had been abandoned for five plus years. There were so many problems with the home, we basically tore it down to the studs and started from scratch. It was like we purchased a lot, foundation, and frame, because everything else we restored. We did most of the work ourselves. We finally finished it and moved in on Valentine's Day of this year, 2015. It has been a rocky road, but in the end, I'm glad we did it. It has been an exhausting yet inspiring experience. I've just shown the kitchen on this post. One  of these days, when I have more time, (we're working on totally redoing the landscaping at the moment), I'll post before and after photos of the entire home.)

Blogging from A to Z: J is for Johnny Jump ups

J is for Johnny Jump ups

Their fragile-looking flowers
are really rather strong.
They can weather a late snow storm
as if nothing had gone wrong.
I love how they come back each year
dressed in violet, white, and yellow.
When they pop up in early spring,
they make me feel quite mellow.

Blogging from A to Z: I is for Ice Cream

I is for ice cream

I can't help but smile at ice cream.
Its texture and taste make me scream.
And with nuts on the top
I don't want to stop,
Especially if its topped with whipped cream.

Blogging from A to Z: H is for History

H is for history

I'm inspired by the lives
of great women and great men
who stood up for freedom
and morals way back then.
If we could but use their lives
and make ourselves a mold
by which we might pattern ours,
it would be worth solid gold.

(I love history. Most all of my novels are inspired by history. The first book in my Literary Loom series involves the very story of the picture of Washington posted above. It is the story of a boy who travels through books and relives the lives of great men and women of history, discovering for himself the hand of God in freedom and the formation of the United States of America).

Blogging from A to Z: G is for Grandmother

(Me and my grandsons-who always make me smile)

G is for grandmother
of which I am one.
I feel almost guilty
having so much fun
changing dirty diapers
on my littlest grandson,
or playing "rock" store
with his brother in the afternoon sun,
or being drawn in chalk art,
or squirted with a water gun,
and then sending them home to mother
when the day is done.