Full-Circle Friendship
“… And there is pansies, that’s for thoughts…” ~Hamlet~ ******* “My bestie’s moving to your neck of the woods.” That’s what my dear friend and mentor Lucinda wrote to me. And I promised her I’d make Maggie feel right at home in western North Carolina….
Author Spotlight–Cindy Sproles
***Read to the end for information on how to participate in a give-away you won’t want to miss!*** Cindy Sproles I’m so blessed to know this woman personally–an author whose poignant prose touches the heart and keeps readers on the edge of their seats. I…
Siobhan–The Coffee Shop Cat
Your true character is most accurately measured by how you treat those who can do ‘Nothing’ for you.—Mother Teresa “Don’t touch that filthy cat.” The woman’s words broke through the otherwise peaceful setting as my husband Bill and I enjoyed the sights and sounds of…
Another Godnection–Michelle Medlock Adams
“God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing…” (Psalm 68:6a NIV). From aerobics instructor to award-winning author! I first met fellow writer Michelle Medlock Adams when I was a freshman at Asbury University. Bewildered by inner voices telling me I… Wasn’t…
Linda Teague–A Good Neighbor
“You’uns come and sit sometime.” That’s what she said on more occasions than I can count. And when I said, “We will,” I meant it. Truly. But time passes, life stays busy with too many missed opportunities. Frankly, that’s a shame. I’d never written a…
Pansies
“When the Lord takes one partner to be with Him in the heavenly Home, He restores the one left on earth and gives to the one remaining a new assignment to ministry and a fresh opportunity for spiritual growth” (Dorothy Kelley Patterson). ******* Today I…
Lucinda–My ‘Soul Strong’ Friend
“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:11–NIV). Sometimes we meet people we just know will influence our lives. I met Lucinda Secrest McDowell…
If Jesus Had a Dog (Selah Awards Finalist 2023)
Honored that this essay (first posted Summer 2022), inspired by our late Finley, was chosen as a Selah Awards 2023 Finalist. If Jesus had a dog, I’ll bet His would be a good shepherd—inclined toward tending goats and sheep, striving to keep them safe. His…
God of This City–Of Every City (Part 2)
“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him” (II Chronicles 16:9 NIV). (***To read Part 1 of God of This City–Of Every City, click HERE. It was the last post at Penning Pansies,…
God of This City–Of Every City (Part 1)
“I want [people] everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer…” (I Timothy 2:8a NIV). It was never our intent to encourage a worship service. We were just two people, celebrating Bill’s birthday at Elaine’s, a popular dueling piano bar in the basement of Asheville’s Grove…