A SLICE OF LIFE
The Author’s Purpose
Exploring perspectives on the art and craft of literacy instruction.
These pieces are snapshots from an earlier season of my writing journey—stories, memories, and everyday reflections written before The Wells of Grace was born. Though less overtly spiritual than my current writing, the seeds of faith, grace, and accompaniment are quietly woven throughout.
Waiting on a Masterpiece #SOL17
Posted on April 18, 2017 (Originally Posted on https://theauthorspurpose.com/) Last Wednesday I was admitted to the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York to investigate the root of my foot infections. To date, I have had three surgeries on my left foot all...
Book Journeys #SOL17
Posted on April 11, 2017 (Originally Posted on https://theauthorspurpose.com/) On Sunday, I stumbled upon a crate of folders and binders, which contained the many papers I wrote when I returned to school to pursue teaching. At forty-years old, I was attending school...
Strategies for Literacy & Life #IMWAYR
Posted on April 10, 2017 (https://theauthorspurpose.com/) This is my maiden launch with a community of bloggers who share their reading lives through the hashtag, #IMWAYR. Like most readers, I always have a few books going: Writing: Jennifer Serravalle’s The Writing...
Beautiful Messes – A Gift of Renewal
Posted on April 7, 2017 (https://theauthorspurpose.com/) On the first Thursday of the month, I am joining a community of bloggers to reflect on our faith. Today we are posting about New Life… Spring…Easter… over at Violet Nesdoly’s...
Simple Abundance #SOL17
Posted on April 4, 2017 (https://theauthorspurpose.com/) Simplicity – “The simpler we make our lives, the more abundant they become. There is no scarcity except in our souls.” (Sarah Ban Breathnach) Out of all the pictures of my children, this one makes me smile...
My Journey into Writing #SOL17
Posted on March 31, 2017 (https://theauthorspurpose.com/) In this slice, I reflect on this thirty-one day challenge by harkening back to the unknowing mentors who have guided and informed my writing practice. Like many new slicers, I can’t believe I actually completed...
The Apple of My Eye #SOL17
Posted on March 30, 2017 (https://theauthorspurpose.com/) The Apple of my EyeI used to be…the apple of your eyemany years ago…Those innocent daysof Crystal and Coaltwo stuffed bearsheld close to your heart…Before – baseball, drums, and Harry Potter And...
My Season Playlist Poems #SOL17
Posted on March 30, 2017 (https://theauthorspurpose.com/) I borrowed an idea from two fellow slicers, Alice Nine and Kim K, to use my slice of life story titles as a poem. I decided to group my slices into categories and reflect and respond to...
Winter Solace #SOL17
Posted on March 28, 2017 After reading Melanie Meehan’s post today and learning about her thesis on the importance of setting in fiction for middle school students, I remembered an exercise about setting from one of my summer workshop classes, called...
As a literacy teacher and instructional coach, I have long believed that writers grow by writing. These pieces were written primarily in 2017 as part of the Two Writing Teachers’ March Slice of Life Challenge, which encouraged participants to write and publish a short piece each day.
What began as a writing exercise became an opportunity to capture childhood memories, family stories, and everyday moments for my children, nieces, and nephews. Because the challenge emphasized daily writing rather than polished publication, many of these reflections were written quickly and remain snapshots in time.
Readers may notice glimpses of the faith that has always been quietly present in my life. Though I was not yet writing as openly about God as I do today, the seeds were already there, woven through memories, observations, and moments of grace.
While these writings differ from the reflections found in Pausing to Ponder, they remain an important part of my journey as a writer. Looking back, I can see how God was preparing me, one story at a time, to write more boldly about faith, accompaniment, and His grace at work in everyday life.
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