My husband (Peter) and I have two vastly different stories of faith miracles. He begged and pleaded with God from a desperate place in a jail cell, and God told him yes. The miracle is that he was set free. I begged and pleaded with God from a desperate place on my bedroom floor as […]

Thirteen Things I Learned from my Dad: 1. If you're going to get in trouble at school, let it be for talking too much to all of your many friends. Sociable is not a bad thing. 2. When putting together an outfit, choose the least noticeable color in the busier item, and make that your […]

This Book is For You Loving God's Words in Your Actual Life Releasing August 2021 Are you fairly active on social media, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram? Do you have a profile with Goodreads? Are you open to the idea of starting one? Do you have an active blog or another place of influence where you […]

"'It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta day. I was out choppin' cotton and my brother was bailin' hay." That's how the song starts. With a haunting melody, it's story song about a boy's suicide when he jumps off the high bridge in their Missisippi County. The third of June is when […]

You guys. It’s time. I’ve been writing this book for two years, and I finally get to show you. This Book Is For You Loving God’s Words in Your Actual Life Most of us have complicated feelings about the Bible. We don’t understand it. Or we’ve been hurt by people who use it. Or we […]

I read somewhere, the only difference between a first marriage and a second is this: the second time, you know it's a gamble.  You know that you just don't know. In my years of being single again, I spent a lot of time wondering. What if I ever get married again? What would be different? […]

Middle School is officially in the rearview mirror.  Everybody finished, everybody survived, and I don't just mean the eighth graders. Many years ago, I was invited to speak at the continuation ceremony of a class of eighth graders, a special crew who had gotten their start in my kindergarten classroom.  They're all well into adulting […]

"All I want for Mother's Day is a picture of my kids," she told us. Well, that's simple enough. Plus, we had spent a good decade-and-a-half under closely guided training from my dad on how to honor my mom on the days that belonged to her. One of the top rules: if she makes a […]

Peter turned sixty yesterday, and one day in, he keeps discussing his "advanced age." Every time I enter the room, he reminds me he's still alive and he hasn't broken a hip yet. He had a slight coughing fit that has him convinced he has tuberculosis. Like you do, as soon as you turn sixty, […]

I made a fatal error this week. Its name is Easter Baskets.  For a while I couldn't talk about it, but as all mistakes, I can now see what I wish I had seen.  I can now share with you what I shall always remember.  The Easter Baskets are a thing. I had this fleeting […]

I feel like I don't know how to do Good Friday well enough. It feels like when I love someone so much that I want to celebrate them so big, but nothing seems big enough to match the crazy affections of my heart, so I do almost nothing because I am paralyzed to do anything. […]

Holy God, We are reeling again. Ten people killed while they were shopping for chips, milk, and maybe some ice cream. The people on news reports were saying, "That's my grocery store.  That could have been me." Who among us hasn't run into the store for a few things? Who among us hasn't watched the […]

This little book turns Seven Years Old this week. She's basically a first grader, out in the real world, tying her shoes and reading books on her own. I'd like for you to please notice Tucker, working the line and meeting the people. Now, please notice Tyler, working so hard to work the Sharpie. Peter […]

I took my children to school today. It felt gloriously normal, like muscles that have ached to be stretched. It's hard to be isolated in eighth and ninth grade. As a friend of mine said, "Once I started ninth grade, my social life was so busy that I pretty much never really came back home." […]

There are so many things that are difficult about being a person right now. There is what there has always been, And there is a long list of what has never been before. There are the dishes in the sink, And there are the cereal boxes left open on the bottom shelf of the pantry. […]

Maybe this has happened to you. You’re some place fairly serious, aiming to have a fairly serious conversation, and suddenly something strikes you funny. Something that isn’t actually funny in real life. Oh, say, bowel cancer. Or blood clots. Something unanimously unfunny. But, you see, outside of this fairly serious conversation, you’ve been navigating some […]

Our Father, Father to all of us and each of us, Of those who violently stormed our nation's capitol yesterday And those who watched in horror from our homes, Staring in disbelief in fear While people broke windows and stormed hallways; You are Lord above all of this and in all of this. Hallowed be […]

I remember when each of my boys was born, the sweet relief of holding them, meeting them, beginning this new adventure with them. But I also recall the complicated emotions of sharing them now with other people.  For so many months, my baby had been mine alone.  Only I knew his movements, his stirrings, his […]

Tricia said: "Laptop, Open Manuscript." And the Laptop said, "File Not Found." Tricia said: "Look again, laptop.  Find it, please." And the Laptop said, "File Not Found." I had spent weeks working on my second round of edits for my new book, This Book Is For You: Loving God's Words in Your Actual Life. And […]

A Christmas Special: Give my book for Christmas!   For $20, I'll send to you a *personalized, signed copy* of the book of your choice, including gift wrap and shipping.   Straight to your door, complete with my love and doodles.   Available Books: ~ Just You Wait ~ You Can Do This   Available […]