I grew up on a small farm near Peoria, Illinois. One of the things I loved to do as a teenager was to walk in the woods. Sometimes it was to find the cows that had seen the grass greener on the other side of the fence. Sometimes it was to go mushroom hunting in the springtime. However, my fondest memories are of walking to my favorite spot. There, I placed a blanket on the ground, next to the creek bank, to listen to the babbling brook. From my bag, I would pull out my Bible, pen, and journal. It was here I wrote, thought about life, prayed, and made decisions.

Fast forward: today, I live on a farm in central Mississippi. I still love to watch the cows and their calves. I would walk in the woods if I didn’t have to think about all of the slithering creatures. Therefore, I’m content to gaze into the wooded area from my home. I enjoy watching the hummingbirds that come to the numerous feeders on the Bee Delighted Portico. A water fountain has replaced the creek, still giving me the sound of running water. I see the beauty of the various flowers blooming, as well as the bees and butterflies.

It was never my intention to be a writer. But things changed in my life when I enrolled in a women’s ministry class at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS). Here, I learned about a magazine for women ministry leaders. That same year, over 20 years ago, I attended the Southern Christian Writers Conference in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Throughout the conference, I took numerous workshops—but it was the one on magazine writing that planted an idea. 

Later that summer, I sent a query email about a profile interview to Just Between Us Magazine (in the NOBTS class). And to my amazement, the assistant editor accepted the idea. A new challenge! “But what have I done?” I had never written a magazine article before in my entire life.

It was with fear and trepidation that I embarked on writing this first significant article. I’m so thankful for my interviewee, who was an author and speaker. She was patient, gave advice, and guided me through my first writing experience.

The day the magazine arrived, I immediately turned to the article. I started at the words on the pages and admired the pictures. I marveled at the way God had worked throughout the entire process. I remembered it was He who planted the idea. It took courage to be obedient. And today, I can look back and see the fruit that began with that one article. To God be the Glory.

The writing bug had bitten! Confidence began to develop as I learned more about the craft of writing. I wrote additional profile articles for JBU. And I created the newsletter, Teacups & Friends, Touching Lives through Biblical Hospitality. Since that time, hundreds of articles have been written.