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.
Moon Shadow #SOL17
Posted on March 16, 2017 6 I found an old notebook from one of my summers at Teachers College. In it were notes from a keynote given in 2008 by Katherine Bomer – “Writing is a journey of discovery, to find what we didn’t know.” I wrote this poem today...
In My Daughter’s Eyes #SOL17
Posted on March 15, 2017 On days I get stuck with my writing, I peruse my notebooks looking for entries to ignite an idea. In one of my notebooks I found a card from my dear friend, Amy. On the front there was this quote, “Letters have souls.” That quote...
A Grand Aunt #SOL17
Posted on March 14, 2017 This morning I read a post from Fran McVeigh, where she shared the news of loss in her family. I was touched by her words and with the visual she shared on her role as an aunt. That picture prompted me to write a post about my...
Curb Your Laughter #SOL17
Posted on March 13, 2017 Last night my husband and I were binge watching Curb Your Enthusiasm on-demand. It was one of those “laugh out loud” episodes – funny from start to finish. Although I know Larry David’s humor is not for everyone, I love it. It’s...
Doorway of Hope #SOL17
Posted on March 11, 2017 “I have placed a door between you and me, and I have empowered you to open or close that door. There are many ways to open it, but a grateful attitude is one of the most effective” (Sarah Young) Like many people who are addicted to HGTV,...
The Eyes of my Heart #SOL17
Posted on March 10, 2017 In yesterday’s post, I reflected on the practice of living through the lens of One Little Word. Since “believe” was my original word, it led me down the path of faith and spirituality, which brought me to today’s thinking. This slice...
Hidden Gifts #SOL17
Posted on March 9, 2017 In this slice, I reflect on the last three years of living through the lens of One Little Word. I wrote a poem, which is not part of my writing routine, but in this month long challenge, I am trying to stretch myself. Hidden Gifts Believe,...
Circus Stampede #SOL17
Posted on March 8, 2017 I’m a big fan of the History channel’s show, American Pickers. I appreciate their passion in uncovering artifacts from our past, and weaving them into our stories. Beyond their love of bikes, motorcycles and classic automobiles, they also...
Nun of This & Nun of That #SOL17
Posted on March 7, 2017 Not unlike other Irish/Italian families, parochial school was a standard; better to have the nuns deal with the messy work of discipline, especially with the Tafuni children. Everything you’ve ever heard about Catholic school is true...
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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