Below is a poem by Mary Karr. I am posting this today in honor of Maundy Thursday. Descending Theology: The GardenMary KarrWe know he was a man because, once doomed,he begged for reprieve. See himgrieving on his rock under olive trees,his companions asleepon the hard ground around himwrapped in old hides.Not one stayed awake as…
Author: lenleatherwood
I am a native Texan who has lived for the past 30 years in Southern California. I am a published author of both short memoir and fiction, a two-time Pushcart nominee, a nationally award-winning writing coach, an editor, as well as a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas. In addition, I am the mother of three grown daughters of whom I am extremely proud, a grandmother of four darling children and the wife of a man I still love after 44 years.
Happy 5th Birthday, Lyla!
My granddaughter Lyla celebrated her 5th birthday today with her mom, dad, and two siblings. We will see her soon for our big family celebration. Lyla is smart and pretty and has a great attitude about life. “Look how beautiful it is today, Grandma,” she said one day when we went outside for a walk….
11 Tips for Creativity
I found the following list in an old 2013 writing file tonight. I apologize to the author. I did not write down your name, website address, or any identifying information. I tried typing in the title “11 Tips for Creativity ” and found several articles, but none had this content. I’m so sorry. I will…
Holy Week: A Light in the Darkness for Christians
The upcoming week is the most sacred in the Christian church’s calendar and is filled with particular meaning for me. I am always deeply touched by the events that led to the crucifixion of Jesus. The world then is no different from the world today – a deeply fractured place where “the other” is often…
Learning about Author-Publishing, One Step at a Time
I didn’t post last night, but it wasn’t because I wasn’t writing. The truth is that I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning editing my manuscript for publication. I got up again this morning after not lots of sleep and worked all day on it. I read it page by page, refining…
5-Star Recipe for Healthier Chocolate Cupcakes
A while back, daughter Liz shared a recipe that substituted 15 ounces of canned pumpkin puree for all the wet ingredients required in an 18.25 oz. chocolate cake mix. According to the reviews, the pumpkin produced delicious low-fat chocolate cupcakes or cookies. The only problem was that Ray and I don’t eat refined sugar so…
The Other Side
Take a step You can’t stay here Life is over there Smiling at youA red-tailed hawk Glides through the indigo sky Come, it sings Don’t be afraid The rope bridge swaysAs I inch forwardTurquoise water Glistens far below The red-tail circlesI quell my fearsA verdant forest Waits on the other side
Happy Birthday, Ray!
Today is my husband Ray’s birthday. He just turned 66, which seems impossible since I’ve known him since he was 19, which doesn’t seem all that long ago. However, from then to now, we’ve shared a whole lifetime of memories. What a gift. We had lunch today with Liz, Ron, and Ethan at Zaidee’s Bar…
Taking the Plunge: Finally Publishing My Novel
By the end of March, I plan to publish my novel, Hope in a Time of Dying. This book is very long in coming and below is the process I have gone through for more years than I want to admit. I will keep you tuned in as we determine the publication date, and where…
Our Day in South Pasadena
Today we traveled by rail to see Sarah’s family in South Pasadena and had a day-long visit, culminating in Nico’s baseball game. Sarah and the kids met us at the Metro-link station in South Pas this morning and we headed to a local restaurant for some breakfast. From there, we went to Sarah and Gregorio’s…
20 Minutes a Day 