​I am honored to be back at the Joni and Friends Family Retreat in Mission Springs, CA. where my three daughters and I came over fifteen years ago.

I feel privileged to be the keynote speaker for the week sharing how His Majesty has shown up in my brokenness. Indeed He has been forever faithful to me and I want to encourage others not to quit before their happy ending.

My long time friend Margaret Schroth (in the photos) and I will be part
of the team ministering to more than 35 families touched by disability. Margaret and I share a deeper than life bond – the same congenital disability. We are connected at the hip in that proximal femoral focal deficiency includes a disconnect of our ball and socket hip joints.

Margaret and I thank for your prayers this week –
Can’t wait to tell you how God shows up.

I have been buried in speech writing the past four weeks – hiding out in my cozy office in our home in Grants Pass.

My labors grew momentarily lighter watching a mother swallow outside my window as she frantically hunted food for the chirping mouths peeking out of the birdhouse.

But still with my stack of rewrites up to the ceiling, my ravenous quest continues for the perfect words.

I shout AMEN to Mark Twain’s remark:

This Power of Words video has captivated my attention. I’ve viewed it a dozen times already. Each time I ask myself: What makes the second set of words so much more effective?

As a writer, my Roget’s Super Thesaurus is a tried and true tool in my quest for words that hit the spot.

As a Christian writer, I invite Jesus the Living Word to bring life to my choice of words.

And as a Christian, I pray, Lord, give each one of us written and spoken words that penetrate hearts, propelling us to deeds of kindness to the hurting world around us.

I’m praying for Jesus’ healing words as I speak to families touched by disability at the July Joni and Friends Family Retreat at Mission Springs in California. I’ll give you an update with pictures at the end of the month.

Until then I pass on a prayer that I’ve prayed more and more recently:

“May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart,
​be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14