I was honored to speak recently at an event for area nonprofit organizations sponsored by our Chamber of Commerce’s Nonprofit Council and the United Way of the Northern Shenandoah Valley. I want to share a story I shared with this group that has been, for me, an incredibly vivid image to illustrate the power of […]
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Get Note and Letter-Writing Tips and Support
I have a new email list is for readers who want to get occasional tips and support for their note and letter writing. I’ve recently separated it from my main email newsletter and it’s delivered to you from Substack. If you can’t remember whether you’re already on the list, just sign up again now by […]
Growing Gratitude: One CEO’s Vision for a Better World through Kids’ Stationery
My passion for note and letter writing has led me to meet many wonderful entrepreneurs and old-fashioned correspondence lovers who share and channel that passion in wonderful, creative ways. One such person is Ashley Cruz Campbell, founder of the Coral & Blue Paper Co. in Saratoga Springs, New York, with a mission of making stationery […]
Have you seen these signs of Spring?
Updated from 2014 Springtime… The very word evokes vivid images, sounds, and smells, especially for those of us who live in a part of the world where Spring is a distinct season. Spring is also laced with symbols of rebirth and hope after the darkness of winter. Every bulb that pushes its way through clods […]
Let The Spirit Of St. Patrick Feed Your Heart And Soul
St. Patrick: the Irish saint who wasn’t Irish Patrick is known as the Apostle of Ireland. As a teenaged boy, he was captured and taken from Britain to Ireland as a slave, but he was later rescued and returned home in a ship, just as he had seen in a vision from God. Improbably, while […]
Note Writer’s Secret Weapon: The Erasable Pen
One of the most common questions I am asked is whether it’s okay to send a note or letter in which you’ve made a mistake and corrected it with a scratch-through. The answer is “Yes” for everything but the most formal or professional notes, but here’s my secret weapon: Pilot FriXion Erasable Get Ink Pens […]
Nature Connects Us With God
For many of us, outside in nature is the place where we feel closest to God. It’s no wonder, because when we look closely at God’s creation all around us—when we really pay attention—it is filled with soul-nourishing beauty, awe-inspiring intricacy, and faith-building lessons. Throughout scripture, we find images from nature to help us understand […]
Self-awareness is NOT self-indulgent!
For years, the idea of spending time connecting with my best self seemed like a ridiculous indulgence. I was raising children, supporting the community, and trying to help earn some family income. There were connections I sought—with God, with others, with Nature—but with myself? Almost never. Now, as my children are building lives and families […]