Holly Michael's Writing Straight

~ Connecting and Inspiring Along Life's Crooked Lines by Author Holly Michael

Holly Michael's Writing Straight

Tag Archives: Colorado

Adventures in Wyoming…and Colorado

28 Saturday Sep 2013

Posted by Holly Michael in Christianity, Holy Catholic Church - Anglican Rite, Photography

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

1928 BCP, 1928 Book of Common Prayer, Adventures in Wyoming, Anglican Church, Anglican Church in Wyoming, Bishop Ken Kinner, Bishop Leo Mchael, Blog, Casper, Casper Anglican Church, Church of the Holy Family, Church of the Holy Spirit, Church of the Morning Star, Colorado, Confirmations, Deaon Bill Brummett, Episcopal Visit, Greeley, HCCAR, Holly Michael, Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite, Holy Trinity Church, Lander, Lander Anglican Church, Lander Wyoming, Leo Michael, Meeteetsee, Sheridan, Sheridan Anglican Church, St. Gabriel's Anglican Church, St. Johns Anglican Church, Wind River Reservations Wind River Canyon, www.writingstraight.com, Wyoming

My husband, Bishop Leo Michael and I have been on a whirlwind Episcopal tour of our Wyoming churches with a final stop in Greeley, Colorado.

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Photo by Holly Michael of the Big Horn Mountains…taken by iPhone pano view

So much happened on this trip, many testimonies of God’s love, even a great writing related story, but that’s for other posts. For this post, pictures will best share our week’s adventures.

First stop: Left early in the morning from Kansas City and arrived at Casper, Wyoming in time for dinner at Bosco’s Italian Restaurant with Bishop Ken and Priscilla Kinner…

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Photo by Bishop Leo Michael

…there we met Wyoming Senator John Barrasso and his lovely wife, Bobbi. We showed them a picture we’d published of them in Koinonia, the Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite publication.

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Senator John Barrasso and his wife Bobbi, photo by Holly Michael

The next day, requiem Mass for our beloved Deacon Bill Brummett at the church where he faithfully served, Church of the Holy Family in Casper.

Church of the Holy Family, HCCAR, photo by Holly Michael

Church of the Holy Family, HCCAR, photo by Holly Michael

Then on the road to Lander, Wyoming…

AIWGOLDFLAKETRAIL AIWGOLDFLAKETRAIL3…to St. John’s Anglican Church (Below Bishop Leo Michael and Deacon Tony Sawick)

AIWLANDERCHURCHThen headed out to the Wind River Valley to Church of the Morning Star in Ethete for an afternoon service on the reservation.

On the way to the Wind River Reservation

On the way to the Wind River Reservation

Our Church of the Morning Star does not need stained glass windows. God provides the beauty:

Church of the Morning Star, Ethete

Church of the Morning Star, Ethete

Bishop Kinner preparing for Mass. Photo by Holly Michael

Bishop Kinner preparing for Mass. Photo by Holly Michael

Confirmations
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photo taken by Holly Michael

photo taken by Holly Michael

Confirmation of Chief Washakie's great, great, great grandson. Photo by Holly Michael

Confirmation of Chief Washakie’s great, great, great-grandson. Photo by Holly Michael

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Bishop Kinner preparing candidate

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Chief Washakie’s gravesite

Sacajawea's gravesite

Sacajawea’s gravesite

Then followed Bishop Kinner and Priscilla to Meeteetsee, Wyoming…

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AIWBISHOPK&H

Photo by Bishop Leo Michael

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Photo by Holly Michael

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Photo by Holly Michael

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Photo by Holly Michael

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Photo by Holly Michael

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Photo by Holly Michael

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Photo by Holly Michael

 Meeteetsee is the coolest little cowboy town. Photos by Holly Michael
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Door to the restaurant. Photo by Holly Michael

Door to the restaurant. Photo by Holly Michael

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Some visitors at our hotel

Some visitors at our hotel

Confirmations in Meeteetsee and welcoming Church of the Holy Spirit to our Holy Catholic Anglican Rite Church Family
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Then on to Sheridan to Holy Trinity Church. Photos by Holly Michael
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Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Sheridan

Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Sheridan

Then, back to Casper for a service at the Church of the Holy Family with reception of new members…
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And then on to Greeley, Colorado, our final stop before heading back to Kansas City.
photo (44)All in a week’s work! Well, can’t really call it work. It was a wonderful time. Loved visiting with our church family and welcoming new members. And the views weren’t bad either.

PS. If you like these photos of Wyoming, check out my friend’s Kristina’s blog, My Wyoming Adventure

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Climbing and Reaching New Heights

21 Monday Jan 2013

Posted by Holly Michael in Blank Pages, Books, Crooked Lines, Family, Football, Inspiration, Jake Byrne

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

Bishop Leo Michael, Blank Pages, Blog, Boulder, Boulder Colorado, Charleston, Charleston South Carolina, Colorado, football, Holly Michael, Houston Texans, Jake Byrne, Kansas City, Laura Gilbert, Leo Michael, Mark Gilbert, NFL, Nick Byrne, Novels, photography, scenes in novels, South Carolina, University of Louisiana-Lafeyette, Writing, writing goals, www.writingstraight.com

Caught up in the busyness of all that encompasses my life, I haven’t blogged much lately. Ministry situations keep my husband (Bishop Leo Michael) and I busy, writing has kept me occupied, but sometimes we grab fun time, too, especially when family and friends visit. Had a great time over the holidays with the kids. (all back in college now.)

Note to self: Don’t take your adult children to toy stores.

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In his off-season with the Houston Texans, Jake (left) will finish his classes at the University of Wisconsin and graduate this spring. Congratulations on signing for next season, Jake! And congratulations to Nick (right) on his football scholarship to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. (He began this semester). Betsy is back in the US and has returned to college, too.

Speaking of family visits, last week my brother Mark and my lovely sister-in-law Laura, visited from Wisconsin. We had a blast showing them around Kansas City.

Ate barbecue at the famous Arthur Bryants

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Visited the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Could spend days there! Below Mark and Laura playing outside the museum:marklaurie

Also visited the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial, where we crossed over a glass bridge with 9000 poppies underneath, each one representing 1000 lives lost in WWI. (Total of nine million).

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After wandering around the museum, we climbed steps to the top of Liberty Memorial Tower, where we took in a lovely view of Kansas City.

Now, I’m settling into some serious writing. Like climbing the stairs to the top of that tower to find spectacular views, writing takes focus and forcing myself, each day, to take the next step toward writing goals, which I’ve set high for 2013. (below my photo from Boulder, Colorado).

bouldersteps

Now, I’m doing rewrites on two novels, while working toward a solid first draft of my latest novel, Blank Pages. This new novel takes the main character, Anna, from a low place in the low country of Charleston, South Carolina to lofty Boulder, Colorado.

Blank Pages begins with Anna taking this photograph, lying on a Charleston boardwalk near her home:

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I love that my photos from places I visited during ministry tips last year became inspiration for this year’s novel!

Back to the novel:

An address found behind photos in a locket, dropped on the church floor by a dying man, leads Anna to Boulder (photos by me): boulderblog1

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boulderblogboulderhughThe novel, Blank Pages, is a difficult journey of discovery and self-awareness. It’s about relationships and finding out the truth about family, friends, and new loves.

Hoping by spring, all of us will have climbed a little higher toward our 2013 goals and can stand on the mountaintop and breathe in success. Now, back to Anna and chapter three.

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Christmas Challenge: Romans, Day 1

09 Sunday Dec 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in 16 Chapters to Christmas, Christianity

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

1928 Book of Common Prayer, Alfred Sturges, Anglicanism, Anglo-Catholicism, Bible, Bishop Leo Michael, Blog, Challenge, Collect, Colorado, Confessions, Deacon Alfred Sturges, DHTGP, Diocese of Holy Trinity and Great Plains, Epistle, God, Greeley, HCCAR, Holly Michael, Holy BIble, Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite, Jesus Christ, Kansas City, Missouri, Romans, Romans Chapter 1, Scripture, St. Augustine, St. Gabriels' Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite, St. James Anglican Church, St. Paul, St. Paul's Letters to the Romans, Sunday, Traditional Anglican, Traditional Episcopal, www.writingstraight.com

Who doesn’t love a beautiful, heart wrenching, story, rich with poetic imagery, deep emotion, love, and even a happy ending? I was enraptured by one such reflection today during the sermon at Holy Mass; The words of St. Augustine, regarding his conversion, from The Confessions of St. Augustine.

confess

This powerful, heartfelt reflection concluded with a child leading the way. As a writer, lover of The Word, and of words, I was enraptured by St. Augustine’s own account of his conversion. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it too.

After posting the word’s of St. Augustine below, I’ll explain the challenge from one of our Deacons, Deacon Alfred Sturges. I’m hoping you’ll join me in the challenge, after reading St. Augustine’s words:

I came to Carthage, where a caldron of unholy loves was seething and bubbling all around me. I was not in love as yet, but I was in love with love; and, from a hidden hunger, I hated myself for not feeling more intensely a sense of hunger. I was looking for something to love, for I was in love with loving, and I hated security and a smooth way, free from snares. Within me I had a dearth of that inner food which is thyself, my God–although that dearth caused me no hunger. And I remained without any appetite for incorruptible food–not because I was already filled with it, but because the emptier I became the more I loathed it. Because of this my soul was unhealthy; and, full of sores, it exuded itself forth, itching to be scratched by scraping on the things of the senses. Yet, had these things no soul, they would certainly not inspire our love. To love and to be loved was sweet to me, and all the more when I gained the enjoyment of the body of the person I loved. Thus I polluted the spring of friendship with the filth of concupiscence and I dimmed its luster with the slime of lust. Yet, foul and unclean as I was, I still craved, in excessive vanity, to be thought elegant and urbane. And I did fall precipitately into the love I was longing for. My God, my mercy, with how much bitterness didst thou, out of thy infinite goodness, flavor that sweetness for me! For I was not only beloved but also I secretly reached the climax of enjoyment; and yet I was joyfully bound with troublesome tics, so that I could be scourged with the burning iron rods of jealousy, suspicion, fear, anger, and strife.  From: Augustine, Account of His Own Conversion.

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Continuing with Augustine’s confession and how a child’s chant changed everything…

… 28. Now when deep reflection had drawn up out of the secret depths of my soul all my misery and had heaped it up before the sight of my heart, there arose a mighty storm, accompanied by a mighty rain of tears. That I might give way fully to my tears and lamentations, I stole away from Alypius, for it seemed to me that solitude was more appropriate for the business of weeping. I went far enough away that I could feel that even his presence was no restraint upon me. This was the way I felt at the time, and he realized it. I suppose I had said something before I started up and he noticed that the sound of my voice was choked with weeping. And so he stayed alone, where we had been sitting together, greatly astonished. I flung myself down under a fig tree — how I know not — and gave free course to my tears. The streams of my eyes gushed out an acceptable sacrifice to thee. And, not indeed in these words, but to this effect, I cried to thee: “And thou, O Lord, how long? How long, O Lord? Wilt thou be angry forever? Oh, remember not against us our former iniquities.”[259] For I felt that I was still enthralled by them. I sent up these sorrowful cries: “How long, how long? Tomorrow and tomorrow? Why not now? Why not this very hour make an end to my uncleanness?” 29. I was saying these things and weeping in the most bitter contrition of my heart, when suddenly I heard the voice of a boy or a girl I know not which — coming from the neighboring house, chanting over and over again, “Pick it up, read it; pick it up, read it.”

[260] Immediately I ceased weeping and began most earnestly to think whether it was usual for children in some kind of game to sing such a song, but I could not remember ever having heard the like. So, damming the torrent of my tears, I got to my feet, for I could not but think that this was a divine command to open the Bible and read the first passage I should light upon. … So I quickly returned to the bench where Alypius was sitting, for there I had put down the apostle’s book when I had left there. I snatched it up, opened it, and in silence read the paragraph on which my eyes first fell: “Not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying, but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof.”[263] I wanted to read no further, nor did I need to. For instantly, as the sentence ended, there was infused in my heart something like the light of full certainty and all the gloom of doubt vanished away.[264]. From: St. Augustine’s Confessions

During the sermon at St. James Anglican Church today, Bishop Leo Michael explained that St. Augustine read the words from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans and converted. Prior to St. Augustine’s conversion it’s said that he practiced, “loose living, which included parties, entertainment, and worldly ambitions.”

And now the CHALLENGE: challenge

Bishop Michael also spoke about taking up a challenge given by Deacon Alfred Sturges to his congregation at our church, St. Gabriel’s Holy Catholic Church, Anglican Rite in Greeley, Colorado. The challenge is to read the book of Romans. (One chapter a day for 16 days, now to Christmas.) I accepted the challenge and am going to push myself further by posting each chapter, each day, on my blog, until Christmas, along with my very short reflection. So, you’re welcome to join me in this challenge and journey. I pray the Lord converts all of our hearts, as He converted St. Augustine’s heart.

Now, today being the second Sunday in Advent and Holy Scripture Sunday, I’ll post THE COLLECT (a short prayer, assigned to a particular day or season, offered by the priest, to the Lord, on the behalf of the people): Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. 

And now, here’s the first chapter of Romans, from the KJV Bible:

biblePaul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

word_challenge_faqAnd now my short short reflection. (Disclaimer: I’m not the theologian in the family. That’d be my husband, Bishop Leo Michael).

In this chapter, I “hear” the love Paul has for Jesus Christ, and for the Romans, but he gives a warning to those who supposedly “know” God, but don’t glorify God, and are not thankful to God. He says God basically says, “I’m done with you people.” Then God gives people up to their sinful practices. The big message in this for me is that if we don’t stay thankful, humble, and continue to worship God, he leaves us alone to our devices. For me, I am nothing without God. All the good in me comes from God. I can’t write my books, I can’t have healthy relationships, I basically can’t function without the Spirit of God guiding me. It’s a sobering message that this could all be taken away, if I don’t follow Christ as He commands. What do you take from the first chapter of Romans? See you tomorrow!

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Journeys in Writing and in Life: Boulder, Colorado and Miracles at Baaaaa.com

06 Saturday Oct 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Journeys: In Writing and Life

≈ 17 Comments

Tags

baaaaa.com, Blog, Boulder, Colorado, God, Holly Michael, Inspiration, journeys, Miracles, Vicky Sclafani, www.writingstraight.com

Today, I’m journeying over at baaaaa.com (bleats from God’s Sheep) for a guest blog gig about a recent event and a journey taken shortly after to Boulder, Colorado. Please check out my photos from Boulder below, then meander over to baaaaa.com to read…what happend only weeks before this trip.

If you think God’s handiwork is fantastic in these photos, wait until you read what He did in the life of my friend, Vicky. The rest of the story can be read at baaaaa.com.

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Traveling Through Mars and an Award

20 Monday Aug 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Award

≈ 34 Comments

Tags

award, Colorado, God, Kansas, Mars, Martians, Nebraska, Seven, The Number Seven, The Number Seven and Christianity

Dozing in the passenger seat of the Prius, during a recent return home from one of our frequent trips between Northern Colorado and Kansas City, my husband woke me saying, “Hon, we’re going through Mars now.”

Each time we travel this stretch in the Kansas/Colorado/Nebraska corner (the triangle of strangeness), I stare in awe at the odd land and remark that it looks like Mars.

There’s never a soul in sight and I often imagine coming over one of these barren crater-pocked hills and encountering a row of hand-holding Martians barricading the road.

Don’t these rocks along the roadside look like Mars rocks?

Over one hill, we decided to pull over when we discovered evidence of life on Mars. Now look closely at the photo below. Why would someone erect a fake metal bunny in the grass in the middle of nowhere and put a fake Indian on the hill? (I think that Indian is looking toward Mars, the homeland)

And who but Martians would fence all of this in with wood and barbed wire, including the fake buffalo. Notice the shots through the buffalo. Maybe gun-toting tourists shot at the Martians during an attempted abduction.

I became convinced it was all a Martian trap. I told my husband that we needed to quickly get back in the Prius, lock the doors and step on the gas! Thankfully, we didn’t encounter any Martians as we sped toward civilization in St. Francis, Kansas, the next town. I’m thinking we need to find a different route when we return to Northern Colorado to continue taking care of our church there. This stretch is kind of spooky.

Anyway, once we got through Mars and my phone had bars again, I discovered I’d been granted an award from Yvonne at Misifusa’s blog. She’s a breast cancer survivor, who blogs about life being about the now, not the past, not the future. Thank you so much for the award!

Please visit Yvonne’s inspiring blog at the Presents of Presence.

So, these are the award rules:

1.  Thank the blogger who nominated you.

Thank you to my new blogger friend, Yvonne for the 7 Things About Me Award. She’s got a really awesome and inspiring Facebook page, too.

2.  Share seven things about you.

  1. I’m afraid of being abducted by seven Martians in the Kan/Colo/Nebraska triangle of weirdness.
  2. I’m the seventh child and so is my husband.
  3. I hope to write seven novels in one years time if I can ease up on the travel.
  4. I have been in seven different countries: Canada, India, England, Scotland, United States, Belgium (at the airport), Germany (at the airport).
  5. My favorite number is seven
  6. I’m so glad I got this number 7 award because the number 7 is a God number and I’m pretty sure “it’s” not all about the hokey pokey, but about “God.”
  7. I’m happy when I get at least seven hours of sleep.

Next, 3.  Nominate other bloggers you think deserve the award and post on their blog to let them know they’ve been nominated.

In no particular order, I’d like to nominate these seven bloggers for this awesome award:

1. Janice Heck at Janice Heck’s My Turn because, back in the seventh month of this year she gave me a really great award and I love her blog! Thanks Janice!
2. Wendy Brooks at The End Focus. Because she knows what its all about.
3. Gary Presley has a fantastic blog. He’s an Essayist, book reviewer, and author of Seven Wheelchairs: A Life beyond Polio. Not only is he an great author, he gets the deal about the number seven.
4. August McLaughlin’s blog, Savor the Storm. She’s a Los Angeles-based well-published writer and author
5. Emily’s Day in the Life. I’ve visited her blog post seven times since I recently discovered it.
6. And 400 days to 40 is trying to figure out life by the time she hits forty, lot of numbers on her blog, even some sevens, as well as wisdom.
7….if you really want to find out more about the number seven, check out this blog. This blog post is all about the number seven! It’s fascinating.
Okay, if I’m going to write seven books in a year, I must go write now! Have a blessed day!

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Baptism

17 Friday Aug 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Christianity, Inspiration, Photography

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

altar, baby, Baptism, Bishop Leo Michael, Colorado, dedication, Frank Adams, God, Greeley, HCCAR, Holy Catholic Church Anglican Church, Sacrament, Saint Gabriel's Anglican Church, St. Gabriel's Anglican Church

I shot this photo at a recent baptism at our church, St. Gabriel’s Anglican Church, Greeley, Colorado. So cute! As customary, the priest dedicates the newly baptized to God at the altar. Bishop Leo Michael, Postulant Frank Adams and altar server, Jesus Macias.

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Award Time! Yay!

13 Monday Aug 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Award, Best Web Sites for Writers, India, Inspiration, Jake Byrne, Monday's Connections, Photography, Travel, Writing

≈ 37 Comments

Tags

Awards, Beautiful Blogger Award, Blessed Virgin Mary, Blog, Christmas movie, Colorado, Diabetic, Estes Park, flowers, Goa, Holly Michael, India, Inspiration, Isle of Iona, Jake Byrne, Kansas, Lily Lake, Lily of the Valley, New Orleans Saints, One Lovely Blog Award, Scotland, Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award, Spring, sunflowers, Sunshine Blogger Award, The Nativity, type 1 diabetes, White bell-shaped flowers, Wisconsin, www.writingstraight.com

I won a few awards! Just like the olympic athletes! Though I’m a writer, not an athlete, by any means. But if you read my blog, you might know my son is an athlete and a “saint.” (A New Orleans Saint and a saintly child, too). But, this post isn’t about him. It’s about ME and a few other fantastic bloggers. As part of my Monday Connections, time to connect with other bloggers. Come on in and join the fun!

Award Number One: I received a Sunshine Blogger Award….

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…from fellow writer, Maribeth Graham over at Writing Like Crazy

Thank you Maribeth. In accepting this award, I am required to answer a series of questions and then pass the torch (aka Sunshine Blogger Award) to other bloggers who I think deserve the award too, link my nominees to this post and comment on their blog letting them know of their nomination. Below are my answers and the blogs I have nominated.

1. What is your favorite Christmas movie?

The Nativity Story, because without the true “Christmas Story,” we couldn’t celebrate Christmas. The scenes and costumes appeared so authentic. The movie renewed my admiration for The Blessed Virgin Mary, a young girl from Nazareth and Joseph, her spouse. I appreciate his faith in God and his trust in the words of the angel from his dream.

2. What is your favorite flower?

White bell-shaped flowers, Lilly of the Valley, grew around the perimeter of our white farmhouse where I grew up in Northern Wisconsin. I used to pick them for my grandma and for my mom. Sweet memories and their intoxicating fragrance takes me back to my childhood and to Wisconsin in the springtime. Thinking about them, I can almost smell the fresh dew on the morning grass and can relive my delight in those perfectly crafted charming little bells. God is so creative!

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I also like sunflowers. My older brother Mark once planted fields of them on his acreage when I was a teenager. Recently, my husband and I discovered sunflower fields in the northeast corner of Kansas during a trip from Kansas City to Northern Colorado. Here’s a photo I shot:

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3. What is your favorite non-alcoholic beverage? Chocolate milk!

4. What is your passion? Living life fully and giving glory to God while appreciating all of His creation. And if God’s plan is for me to be writing, then it works for me.

5. What is your favorite time of year? Spring. This renewing, fragrant, colorful time of the year fills me with hope.

6. What is your favorite time of day? Nap time!

7. What is your favorite physical activity? Riding bicycle. As soon as I get on a bicycle and pedal, I smile!

8. What is your favorite vacation? So many…hmm…I loved Goa, India.

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It was magical. Walks along the Arabian Sea at night, hearing its mighty roar. We had such a nice time.

Loved the Isle of Iona, Scotland.

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So green and lush and lovely

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A recent get-away to Lily Lake in Estes Park, Colorado was also very refreshing.

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Now, these bloggers have earned gold for their wonderful blogs:

1. Lada Ray is one of my favorite bloggers. Her site, http://ladaray.wordpress.com/ is totally worth the click over there. Lada was born in Russia and is a writer, internationally certified feng shui master practitioner, world traveler, linguist, financial consultant & investor, nature/animal lover and spirituality & metaphysics researcher. She’s really awesome!

2. Judith Evans at http://innerhomestead.wordpress.com/. I loved her post about “thin places” on her blog, Among the Pots and Pans. Her blog features her favorite aspects of everyday life, such as recipes, crafts, and natural health.

3. Cindy Dwyer’s: A Reason To Write is full of humorous terrific writing about the ups and downs of working full-time while raising a family.

Award Number Two: The Beautiful Blogger Award…

Image

….from Daniela at Lantern Post. Her blog is full of lovely poetry, prose, quotes, reviews of books or movies, and reflections on the weird and wonderful art of living in our time. You’ll love it. Go check it out.

Here’s the rules of this award: Post seven interesting things about myself and nominate other bloggers who I feel deserve the award, and let them know about nomination.

So…about me:

  1. I’m left-handed.
  2. I have a novel with an agent that’s being shopped around to publishers. Please say a little prayer that one grabs it soon because…
  3. I’m impatient.
  4. I’m crazy about a big-hearted guy who sticks a white band in his shirt collar every day and dresses in vestments on Sunday. (My husband! He’s an Anglican Bishop in the Holy Catholic Church – Anglican Rite)
  5. I’m very proud of our kids and their accomplishments (The dynamic and cute diabetic NFL player, the beautiful darling who’s going off to study in London for a semester, and the sweet handsome boy (also an awesome football player) who will graduate before the year is over. They’ve been great kids and I’m one totally blessed mom.
  6. Both my husband and I are the seventh child in our families
  7. Um….I like chocolate

And for the winners. These bloggers also deserve gold:

1. Meri at ourdiabeticlife.com is my hero. She is the mom of four boys, three of which have Type 1 Diabetes. She is courageously and amazingly managing life with her sons’ diabetes and her husband’s cancer diagnosis. She’s a true hero who inspires. Her blog says: Through this blog I hope to share our ongoing story, to help others see that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Like you, I have muddled through all the emotional phases diabetes has to offer a parent. I know of the worry that sits with you like an old friend, because he is my friend too. I just try not to make him the life of the party. Take the ride with me. Visit her site, offer a prayer for her and her family, and come away a better person.

2. Melody Lowes at Melody Muses is full of beautiful prose and pictures. One of my fav sites and sure to be yours, too.

3. Becky Doughty deserves all the awards for her inspiring blog, Braveheart: Tales From the Front Line. She’s awesome and so is her blog!

4. Check out Brother Jon’s blog at http://ldsconvertblog.com/. He’s got great stuff going on over there!

5. Don’t miss Hugh Curtler’s blog

Ok, Next award: Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award.

Doesn’t it look cool?

Image

Thanks Ashley over at Author Ashley. She’s a teenager who writes about life and writing and everything in between.

First I’ll list the rules, and then I’ll follow through with what I was asked to do…

1) All recipients need to thank the giver 2) Post 7 things about yourself 3) Pass the award on to 7 other bloggers of their choice and let them know that they have been nominated. 4) Include the logo of the award in a post or on your blog

***

It is my pleasure to nominate the following blogs:

1. Liza at http://mylifeisapictureshow.wordpress.com/ deserves this award. She’s an amazing writer and blogger who invites us to come along for the ride (if you dare). I took the dare and am so glad I did. She’s a wonderful person and very creative blogger.

2. All Things Boys is an awesome blog. Arnel’s humorous and inspiring blog is loaded with great reads and beautiful photography. She’s someone you want to get to know and check out her other blogs, too. I’m so glad I found Arnel and her blogs! You will be too. I promise!

3. I’ve been bragging about Glenda Mills in other awards I’ve given, so if you haven’t already checked out http://glendamills.com/, you need to. It’s so inspiring and beautiful!

4. Gracie Hill at Gracie’s Quest is full of Biblical, faith-filled messages. Check it out if you want your spirit to be renewed in the Lord

5. PT Bradley honors God with her stories

6. Emma Moore’s Blog deserves every blog award out there, dipped in gold!

7. And another great blog: http://pauletteharper.com/

And last but not least, the Lovely Blog Award…

Image

…given to me by Julie at The Read Room, a reading, writing, and word-related blog that catalogs the journey of a struggling writer.

The rules of this award are:

  • Give credit to the awesome person who nominated you,
  • Describe seven things about yourself,
  • Nominate 15 other bloggers.

Seven things about myself:

1. When I was fifteen, I purchased a solid little blue notebook and in it, I recorded funny and heartwarming stories about my little sister who had Downs Syndrome. I wrote about her every day and expressed my love for her and what a gift she was to our family. A week later, she unexpectedly died. I still have the notebook and used the basis of this story for my first novel, Crooked Lines.

2. I love coffee, but only with flavored cream in it.

3. On a long car ride recently, I had a Rollo Flurry from McDonalds and enjoyed every last bite with no regrets. It was awesome! And something good came out of that ice cream dream delight. I got inspired to…

4. …begin the “Couch to 5K” app run/walk program. I just finished day two. Gotta get in shape.

5. My current novel, I’ll Be Seeing You, centers around the American Indian people, in particular the Shoshone and Arapaho in Wyoming.

6. When I was in Kindergarten, at a small consolidated school in Northern Wisconsin, Mrs. King, my teacher wouldn’t let me be the princess. She said, “You’re too shy.” I remember being really mad at her because I wanted the part and I knew I wasn’t shy. How dare she judge me like that! Those words labeled me and affected me and I became somewhat shy after that. If I’d had that part, I probably would have been a much more outgoing child. But perhaps everything happens for a reason. Maybe I needed some humbling from the beginning. I grew up to be fairly outgoing after all.

7. I like this Bible Verse: Romans 8:28 King James Version (KJV) 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

And last, but not least, Guilie, over at Quiet Laughter, nominated me for the Kreativ Blogger Award. Guilie has a lovely site where she blogs about: Musings and stories on blurred cultural boundaries.

There are rules, four hoops that I must jump through. The first, most important, is to thank my awarders and link to them (check). Then I must answer these ten questions: (if your sick of me, scroll down and check out the cool blogs at the bottom.)

What’s your favorite song? I love most all music and can’t say I have a favorite, but this morning, while walk/jogging, I heard, “I’ll fly away,” done in a southern gospel/jazzy rendition and I totally got into it.

What’s your favorite dessert? Well, that Rollo McFlurry I had the other day was pretty awesome.

What ticks you off? When I’m writing and my computer gets stuck and I lose stuff.

What do you do when you’re upset? Probably Cry, pout, or something like that. But mostly, I don’t have much that upsets me.

Which is your favorite pet? I grew up on a farm, loved animals. We must have had about 30 dogs during my growing up years, puppies galore, hundreds of cats. How could I have a favorite? The kids had pets, too. Now, I avoid pets because we are never home.

Which do you prefer, black or white? Black for clothes that slim, white for iPhone color

What’s your biggest fear? Being out of God’s will and grace.

What’s your attitude, mostly? Happy! Grateful!

What is perfection? God is perfection. I fall way short.

What’s your guilty pleasure? Sleeping late

Hoop #3: I need to share 10 random facts about myself. Hmm…I think we are all done with this Holly Michael show. Let’s move on.

Hoop #4: PASS IT ON! These are my seven nominees for the Kreativ Blogger award, because they’re so wonderful:
Now, those who accepted the award must: thank the awarder, link back to them — answer the ten questions above — share ten random facts about yourself — pass it on to seven other bloggers. It’s all right if you don’t–no pressure, just a small token of my admiration, and a thank-you for being a part of my blogging community.

1. Wanda at the Watered Soul where she offers short, sweet nuggets of inspiration on Bible, Books, and Blogging.
2. OneEarthUnited has a great blog post up now. Don’t miss it. (heehee)
3. Love this blog. While I’m “Writing Straight” Barbara is Scribbling Outside the Lines. Lol!
4. Another great blog. Just click. I promise you’ll like it!
5. Damyanti @ Daily (W)rite blogs about writing on her fantastic site!
6. 4 AM Writer balances writing and life beautifully. 4 AM? Really? You go girl. You deserve this award.
7. Steven W. Watkins has a fantastic blog: OBSERVE. THINK. PLAN. WRITE. PURSUE. EXECUTE……… INSPIRE.. He delivers on all of these points. You can get lost in his posts. Wonderful professional writer.
8. Ms.Nine, a writer and a teacher, has a great blog going on over at her site.
9. Life on the Farmlet, my new life in Northern Alabama is another great blog site. Lynda’s got some great reads and photos over there. Entertaining for sure!
10. Want to be inspired by beautiful prose. Check out Lori Lipsky @ Poetry Patio
11. Check out Marney McNall at the http://volunteerfringe.com/. Another great blog site!
12. Diane at http://hometogo232.wordpress.com/ has a wonderful blog. She’s really a sweet inspirational writer.
13. Alex at Martian Sunrise has a fascinating blog about “the Expression of the Cross within Culture.” Be sure to visit his unique blog.

14. Bill Jones ponders life through the eyes and heart of a Christian man here.

15. And check out Dawn at Since You Asked. Great stuff going on over there.

Thanks everyone. If you’ve read this far you’re committed. No click those links and have some fun!

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Einstein and Christianity

01 Wednesday Aug 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Christianity, Inspiration

≈ 25 Comments

Tags

Albert Einstein, Armando Silva, Art, Bible, Blog, Christianity, Colorado, Colordao, Einstein, Einstein and Jesus, Faith, God, Greeley, Imagination, Inspiration, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Public art, Scripture, wisdom, www.writingstraight.com

I discovered this public art in downtown Greeley, Colorado, spray painted by local artist, Armando Silva.

Since Einstein was one smart guy, I chose ten (eleven, including the last one) of his quotes to share how they relate to my Christian faith.

1. Imagination is more important than knowledge

 – As a writer, imagination is a vital tool of my trade. It outranks knowledge. Knowledge is learning something already established, looking back. Imagination takes us into the future, new possibilities and discoveries, deeper spirituality. Consider Ephesians 1:17-18: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. I love the words, “the eyes of your heart.” I believe the Holy Spirit guides our imagination and “eyes of our hearts,” to greater depths.

2. There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle.

– When you open the “eyes of your heart” to miracles and truly expect them, they happen. Try it. It works and you’ll be amazed. Einstein knew this.

One of our little churches had no Sunday school materials, no money, no nursery toys, and suddenly so many little kids. I’d looked around last week at Goodwill and other places and found nothing. On Sunday I told God what we needed. After Mass we turned the corner past our church to discover a larger church had a front yard full of Sunday School materials (some brand new) and nursery toys. Free! (I offered a small donation). Miracle? You bet. I could write a blog a day about miracles and never run out of stuff to write. The Bible is filled with God’s transforming miracles. 1 Corinthians 12:28 says, “And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.” Our God is the God of miracles.

3. Every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving.  

– If more people truly believed this, along with Einstein, the world would change dramatically. Are you a giver or a taker? St. Francis said, “It is in giving that we receive.” Though at times it was painful to give beyond my comfort zone, I’ve never once regretted my acts of giving.  Acts 20:35 says, In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

4. When the solution is simple, God is answering.

– Sometimes we wrack our brains for answers. Then, we get wise, pray, and give it to God. Bam! The the solution is there and we become amazed at how easy that was. God is loyal. God is just. God likes us. He provides answers. Matthew 7:7 says: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 

5. True religion is real living; living with all one’s soul, with all one’s goodness and righteousness.

– At the beginning of each Sunday Liturgy in our Holy Catholic Church, Anglican Rite the priest reads the Summary of the Law from Matt. 22:37-34: THOU shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all they soul, and with all they mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it; Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.

Truly following these words of Jesus (and Einstein) is real living with all one’s soul, with all one’s goodness and righteousness.

6. Only a life lived for others is a life worth while

– Or as Scripture says in John 15:13: There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

7. Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Not force, but prayer, petition, and thanksgiving will gain the peace of God in our hearts.

8. The world is not dangerous because of those who do harm but because of those who look at it without doing anything.

Consider The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus in Luke 16:14-31. The Rich man basically did nothing to harm Lazarus, the beggar at his gate. His only sin: ignoring Lazarus. When Lazarus died the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. When the rich man died he went to Hades and was in torment. Luke 19: 11-27 also gives us the parable of the talents, where the one who doesn’t use his gifts is condemned. Need I say more about doing nothing.

9. He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.  

I love to watch the world through the eyes of a child. They are always wide open with wonder and awe. This is how we need to look at the world and this is the way we should worship God. Maintaining awe and wonder keeps our souls alive. Hebrews 12:28-29 says, “therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” 

10. Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.

One of my favorite songs is, Fairest Lord Jesus 

Fair are the meadows, Fairer still the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming garb of spring:
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
Who makes the woeful heart to sing.

You can’t separate God from nature. It’s His creation. When we admire and respect nature, we admire and respect God’s handiwork. I have a dear friend, who thanks God every time she notices beauty in nature.

Albert Einstein was no dummy. His words are wise and are backed by Holy Scripture. Einstein and Jesus: I think they were friends. I think they’re hanging out together now.

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Imagination

19 Thursday Jul 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Christianity, Inspiration, Photography, Travel, Writing

≈ 33 Comments

Tags

Albert Einstein, Blog, blogging, Colorado, Creativity, Creator, God, Greeley, Holly Michael, Imagination, Writing, www.writingstraight.com

Saw this public art on a downtown building in Greeley, Colorado. Einstein is right. Imagination is more important than knowledge.

What precedes imagination also counts: stopping to look, listen, think. My life has been hectic and fast-paced lately. I can’t get to the service stations for oil changes soon enough between the thousands of miles logged on our poor abused Prius…

While driving, one of us (my husband or I) will often say, “stop!”

We both understand that this word means inspiration has hit. Recently, somewhere in Kansas, my husband said, “stop!” I braked, pulled over and he shot this:

Imagination at work. He’s got some cool inspiring thoughts about this scene and wanted a photograph.

Imagination also involves another aspect: The Holy Spirit. God. I believe that where we lack creatively, the Holy Spirit fills in. A small prayer often guides my imagination, infuses something more grand and excellent than my puny brain can conjure up on its own.

So, if you’re not feeling inspired, do this: Stop, look, listen, think. And pray. The Creator of the Universe is awesome and can always guide our imaginations into greater realms than we can imagine.

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Traveling, Making Friends & Playing Tag

13 Friday Jul 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Inspiration, Photography, Travel

≈ 28 Comments

Tags

beautiful, Bishop Leo Michael, Blog, chipmunks, Colorado, Estes Park, friends, Holly Michael, lake, Lily Lake, mountains, photography, scenery, St. James Anglican Church, travel, trees, www.writingstraight.com

Traveled to Estes Park, Colorado and everyone there was so friendly. Met a new friend right away.  

We both enjoyed the beautiful view around Lily Lake…

 

And my other really good friend (husband) enjoyed the day, too…

And so did Christine, our friend and teenage fellow traveler and parish member from St. James Anglican Church in Kansas City.

Then, we headed back into town…

…saw a beautiful church built on rocks.

Had lunch. This was the view across the sidewalk from the restaurant patio where we ate:

…beautiful place…shops on one side of the walk, river on the other, surrounded by mountains.

Got back home and discovered my blogger friend, Virginia, over at Poeta officium, tagged me in her blog. Thanks Virginia. I’ll answer your questions below, then tag some other friends. Traveling, friends, playing tag. It’s all good!

These are Virginia’s questions (it’s all part of the game):

1/ If you could change your name, what would you change it to and why? I like my name. Holly. It’s me. I was born around Christmas so it fits, but I also appreciate Christian names and like my grandmother’s name: Celeste.

2/ Name 3 things you couldn’t live without (not people or animals): I might not die without coffee & chocolate (but not willing to give them up and take the chance) but I might come close to death without my laptop, kindle, and iPhone. 

3/ Which do you prefer – beach or forest? Why? Easy, forest. Take a look at the pictures above. I love the serenity of the forest. Trees are my friends. They make me happy. 

4/ Do you have a ‘I need to do this by the time I am ……‘ age? Which one is it? Though I’m published, I’d like to get my first novel published before I turn another year older. (see how I avoided mentioning my age.) 

5/ Laptop or desktop? Which one do you prefer? Absolutely lap top. It has to be willing to go where ever I go. 

6/ Are you still friends with your best friend from childhood? Does Facebook friend count? Then, yes.

7/ If you could critique any book, which one would it be? Gone With the Wind. Why? First one that popped into my mind and one of my favs.

8/ Describe your perfect day? I just showed my photos of it above.

9/ Where in the world do you feel most at home? Since I travel around quite a bit, I’m home when I’m with my husband and kids.  

10/ Do you talk with your hands (ie do you gesture wildly when you talk?) Yes, I must often sit on my hands to stop from hurting people. 

11/ How well do you know the history of your country of birth? Interesting question because when my husband opened the book to study for his citizenship test several years ago, he already knew more about the United States than I did. I learned a few things. 

And now my turn to tag. Since Victoria’s questions were good, I’ll pass the same one’s along and ask the tagees to answer them and to tag others. (Though feel free to make up questions for their tagees.) Here are some friends with wonderful blogs:

1. Christian Mihai at http://cristianmihai.net/

2. Kate @ 40 is the new 30

3. Staci @ Spirit Light Books

4. Enjoyed this inspirational post today from Eddie Poole’s blog

5. Terry 1954: Inspirational stories that touch your heart

6. Gracie’s Quest: Awe inspiring

7. Rachelle Ayala’s blog

8. This Corner of the Woods: Wonderful Photo Blog

9. I was thinking the other day about

10. Lynn Dove’s Journey Thoughts

11. The Squirrel Nutwork

12. New Friend. Author Sherri Wilson Johnson Great blogger

13. See My Travels, another new friend and great blog site

Enjoy all of my friends, even the fuzzy one at the beginning of the blog. Thanks for coming by!

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Done this: Regular freelance ghostwriter and online editor for Guideposts for Teens/Sweet 16 Magazine, creator/editor of a magazine for Wal-Mart Corp., journalist, newspaper features writer, published in a variety of national magazines and local newspapers, script writing/editing for corporations. Doing this now: author of fiction and nonfiction, blogger, and editor of Koinonia Magazine. I’m the wife of Rt. Rev. Leo Michael, an Anglican Bishop in the Holy Catholic Church-Anglican Rite. Mom to three great kids: Nick (#81 Rajin Cajuns), Betsy (Super cute professor) and Jake (T1D & NFL player) Also, enjoy my travels extensively across the United States and internationally.

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Book Reviews & Literary Discussions

Spiritual Formation Center

AWAKENING TO THE DIVINE PRESENCE IN THE WORLD

Pushing a Feather

They say writing is just pushing a feather...

Be Holy!

Striving for holiness with a Catholic heart.

Daniel Ogle

Natalie D Wilson

Independent Author

Raspberryman

Welcome to Raspberryman. I hope you will find in these words and books inspiration, some entertainment, and ideas to find grace in the world today.

Elijah Stevens

Teacher, Mentor, Coach, Writer

the beautiful changes...

...in such kind ways...

Apprentice 2 Jesus

An Anglicostal Connecting to a Real World

catholicpsychdoc

Catholic-without compromise

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