Remember when everyone seemed to be doing fairytale retellings? Well, I jumped on that bandwagon for a while. I had a lot of fun (not as much as my Emma retelling, but that is a story for another day). I'm excited to share with you today about one of my favorite short stories ever, just because it was so fun.

What inspired Waltz into the Waves?

There was a short story contest to be included in a cindrella retelling. Since it's my favorite fairytale, It inspired me. I thought it would be fun to have a beach setting. I also wanted to have a story where it was vary obvious why the stepmother resented Cindrella, or in this case Amelia.

What was the biggest challenge in writing this book?

Making it short. This was the first time I had written a short story. It was challenging because I'm used to taking more time to show off my characters. It was also fun to see how much I was able to do in a short time. I still prepfere longer stories, but I think dipping my toes into short stories has helped me tighten my storytelling.

Why read the book?

Who will enjoy Waltz into the Waves?

Teens, those who enjoy simple and sweet retellings, or those who are looking for a fun, quick beach read.

The story behind the dedication:

This book was dedicated to my nieces who were little at the time and were in a princess phase. Someday, I'll need to dedicate a full sizd book to each of them. 

Fun bonus content for you:

I did a lot in the political arena in my teens and early twenties. At some point, I'll have to write a post about why I left a lot of that behind me because I don't think I ever have. But all I did led me to my first job, which I loved: working for my state representative at the Texas state capitol. And that job inspired the setting of the second Kate book. 

My time working at the Capitol, Sue Thomas FBEye, and doing a lot of thinking about good intentions versus doing what's right.

What was the biggest challenge in writing this book?

Not getting too bogged down in details. Trying to keep it interesting when the case was a slower paced on.

Why read the book?

1. To continue the series 

2. To read Kate being alternately tough and yet have moments where you see her vulnerability

3. You get to see Patrick and Kate in a rose garden

Today's Deal:

Well, it's been a while, but I am bringing back one of my favorite blogging events: August Amazingness. This is the part of the year when I offer a lot of freebies and fun things to do with my books. I hope you will find this as much fun as I do. Make sure to check back every day for a new deal or giveaway.

We are going to start with one of my most popular works - Kate's Innocence

What inspired Kate's Innocence?

I was watching Sue Thomas a lot as well as some other shows about teams doing things and growing together. I was in my late teens when I first had the idea. The first draft of the idea looked different. It started with Kate being a very bubbly person who thought she was deluvering a inncenct pacage to a friend, and it ended up having contraband. As the idea matured in my head, Kate became a woman with a lot in her past to deal with, and the case became a little more serious. The other characters also took on lives of their own.

What was the biggest challenge in writing this book?

Honestly, I had a first draft, and I felt it was missing heart. It took me a while to figure out some of the missing components. I could have done better, but in the end, I had a story I loved.

The second hardest would be knowing that people would be critical that this wasn't a realistic look at law enforcement. But seriously, if I had done it realistically, it would have been pretty boring.

Why read the book?

Those who enjoy fun mysteries, found family, faith-filled fiction, slow back story reveals, and longer series.

The story behind the dedication:

Last year, my birthday looked different. My husband didn't go to work at all. We spent the whole day together and had amazing food for each meal. Today, he had to go into work for a bit. Last year, I felt the tiny life within me move for the first time (at least the first time I was sure it was her). This morning, I'm trying to get my daughter to focus on eating her breakfast. Last year, I got to sleep in. This year, Hannah woke up happy at six, ready to start her day.

Some years, the changes between birthdays are huge. Some years, I could barely tell anything had changed. This year, so much has changed as I have entered motherhood. I'm finding it hard to fit in writing time at all. I'm finding that even though I've cut out a lot of sugar and have changed my diet some, my body is just holding on to the weight I gained during the pregnancy as fiercely as I hold onto the people I love. I've found motherhood so much better than I thought it would be (and I have wanted to be a mom since I was a kid). I am amazed at some of the ways I've grown, and I miss some things about my eighteen-year-old self.

New curtains to match my new quilt and a Paddington audiobook. Those were my evening plans. I hit the play button on the Paddington audiobook and pulled out the longest piece of fabric left over from my quilt. I quickly realized I would need to piece something together if I wanted a decent-sized curtain. I didn’t have enough of any one fabric to make a whole curtain. I looked toward the window, but there wasn’t much to see. Even though it was a lovely day, the blinds and the curtains that had been made over ten years ago were closed in an attempt to block some of the summer heat from seeping in.

I rolled my neck. Here it was, just the beginning of August, and already I was longing for the cooler temperatures. With August usually being our hottest month, I was not sure I would make it. How had people survived the heat before AC?

I smirked. Probably by living further north.

I settled on a simple pattern and cut out the pieces for my curtain rather quickly. I stopped only once to blow my nose. I was grateful my cold was mostly gone, and my symptoms were dissipating.

There was a knock at my door.

“Come in, but be careful,” I called.

Ben poked his head in. “Mind if I come and talk for a bit?”

I glanced around. I stood, making sure I didn’t disrupt my neat rows I had laid out. I moved my purse and bags, which I had dropped on my chair when I got off work, and motioned for Ben to take a seat.

“What are you making? Another quilt?”

I stared at Ben for a moment. His voice sounded weird, but I let it slide. I returned to laying out my pieces. “Curtains to match the quilt.”

“That’s nice.”

I selected the first row to sew and moved toward my sewing machine.

“How was work?”

“Okay, I’m still struggling to get back my stamina, but it was fine.” I set the pieces in place under the needle.

“That’s nice.”

I turned toward my brother. He was fidgeting. And did his face look a little red? “Ben?”

Ben didn’t look up. He rubbed his hands on his jeans. “Did you get dinner?”

I put my hand on my hip. “Yes, I did. Now, are you going to tell me what’s going on and what has your ears so red?” I could only remember a few times my brother had been like this. Most of those times had been in his teens. But who of us didn’t blush or turn red a few times in our teens? It’s an awkward time.

He grew redder. “I’m thinking about getting my own place.”

I swallowed and knew I needed to pick my words carefully. While I loved living with my adult siblings in our parents’ home, I had always known it wouldn’t last forever. Frankly, I had been more than a little surprised that the boys had stayed as long as they had. Independence often meant a lot more to young men.

“I think I might want to buy a house and… have my own place.”

I nodded and set aside my work. I sat on the edge of my bed and faced him. “Have a house in mind?”

I didn’t think Ben could get any redder. “Well, I…wanted to get some opinions I hadn’t…I mean, this isn’t just about moving out on my own… I mean, I want to be for the practice… but not because I don’t like living here. I…”

I raised a hand. “Ben, are you okay?”

He pulled at his shirt collar, which wasn’t tight at all, and cleared his throat. “I’m just thinking it’s time I start preparing for the future.”

Like a movie, my brain caught hold of images and started snapping them together. “Goodness, Ben, are you thinking of…” I cut myself off from saying getting married, because that was a huge jump forward. I swallowed “dating someone?”

I had been wrong. Ben could get redder.

“Well, I’ve been emailing with Natalie and I…” He blew out a breath.

My mind raced. Of course. Some of the Keller family had visited their church last week, and Ben had spent all his time with them. I had been occupied with Joan and my own disappointment that Evan wasn’t with them. But I found it was a minor disappointment. Perhaps I was finally growing out of my silly feeling for someone who barely knew I existed.

I remembered how Ben had talked about perhaps joining the church plant.

I remembered how Ben said he was keeping up with the Kellers via email, but I had been trying to suppress/deal with my feelings, so I hadn’t asked him questions or asked who.

Of course, Ben was interested in Natalie. I blinked. Ben was sitting there, clearly waiting for some kind of response from me.

I put a hand on Ben’s shoulder. “I think this is great, Ben.”

He lifted his eyes to meet mine. “You do?”

I nodded. “I hope things work out with you and Natalie, but even if they don’t. I think owning your own home is a great idea.” I figured I should encourage him on both fronts.

He smiled, and the color slowly returned to normal. “Do you think Mom and Dad will think I’m silly for doing a long-distance relationship or moving forward with buying a house when I don’t know if it will work out?” The red returned.

I thought for a moment. “I don’t know how Mom and Dad will respond right now.” I had to be honest with my brother, even if it wasn’t what he wanted to hear. “I know they have never liked the idea of long-distance relationships, but there is nothing biblically wrong with them. Besides, you and Natalie have known each other for years.”

Ben nodded. “Thanks, Pam.”

My heart squeezed tight. In that moment, I knew I was standing on the threshold of the way things had been and the way they were to become. I wasn’t ready, and yet, there was peace.

Weekly mercies:

Peace with the coming changes

My new curtains

Ben hearing back from Natalie. They are officially a dating couple.

Hello friends!

How is it almost the end of May? This time last year, I was entering the second trimester and had begun to think I might possibly get to hold this little one after three losses before. Now, my little girl fills my days with joy, smiles, and a lot of work. 

Here it is again, one of my favorite posts to do each year: the top ten reads from the year. I ended the year with 167 books read (thanks in part to a sprint of reading some short reads at the end of the year). It was one of those years where I would be way ahead of my reading goal and then behind by quite a few books (my goal was 150). My reading was in fits and spurts, instead of being consistent. I guess that is pregnancy and early motherhood for you.

You can see all my reading stats here. Here are the highlights:

Total books read: 167

Longest book: The Woman in White

First book of the Year: Becoming Elisabeth Elliot

Last book finished: Revive My Heart: A Year of Daily Reflections

Now, for my top ten reads!

10. The Trial by Charlotte Mary Yonge

This is the sequel to The Daisy Chain, which I read in 2024. I read this with my good friend Kelsey. I loved seeing this large family grow, mature, and change. Younge is one of my favorite Victorian writers. I am slowly reading all of her books. They are so wholesome and well-written.

Goodreads | My Review | Amazon 

9. Firmament: Progenitor by J. Grace Pennington

I've fallen behind in this series, so it was nice to pick it back up. I have loved it from the first installment. I so enjoyed getting to catch up with the characters. This is such a fun series that is like a Christian Star Trek.

Goodreads | My Review | Amazon 

8. Labor with Hope by Gloria Furman

I found out I was pregnant in March, and by the summer, I was reading a lot of parenting books. This was one of the few books I read about pregnancy and labor, and I loved it. It was so steeped in the gospel and biblical hope. It was personally very encouraging.

Goodreads | My Review | Amazon | Audible

7. Mind the Gap by Erynn Mangum

I like Erynn Mangum a lot. This book had a good message, but it was also so much fun. It made the list because I haven't had as much fun reading a book in a long time.

Goodreads | My Review | Amazon 

6. Parenting by Paul David Tripp

So far, of all the parenting books I've read (and I've read quite a few), this has been my favorite. It's so saturated in biblical wisdom. I know I will be coming back to this book again and again to remember what is most important as a parent. 

Goodreads | My Review | Amazon | Audible

5. Raising Worry-Free Girls by Sissy Goff

While I read this book in my quest to find parenting resources, I found this book incredibly helpful for me. It helped me understand some of the things I had struggled with as a child. I think reading this will help me in the future with my children, but it also helped me process some of my past.

Goodreads | My Review | Amazon | Audible

4. Just Like Molly and Other Stories by Elizabeth Allen

I love everything this author has done. I enjoyed as my husband read these stories aloud to me. I love each seasonal collection and know I will be revisiting these in the years to come.

Goodreads | My Review | Amazon 

3. 936 Pennies by Eryn Lynum

This book was beautiful. It's written to remind parents of the limited time they have with their children. I found this book to be thought-provoking and a pleasure to read. I just love it when wisdom and powerful wordsmithing are combined.

Goodreads | My Review | Amazon | Audible

2. The Curious Inheritance of Blakely Houseby Joanna Davidson Politano

About halfway into this book, I wasn't sure how I felt about it, other than (as usual) Politano's storytelling was amazing. In the end, I adored this book. It was beautifully written, had a hint of allegorical truths without being heavy-headed, and had a fantastic setting. I've found myself thinking about it often in the months after I read it.

Goodreads | My Review | Amazon | Audible

1. Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret

This book was impactful. It was one I read with a friend, which made it even better. Yes, the style is old-fashioned, but I found myself thinking back to this book throughout the year, remembering so much of the wisdom stored in it. I love how Hudson Taylor always put his relationship with God before is activities for God.

Goodreads | My Review | Amazon | Audible

What were your favorite reads of 2025?

The Arctic chill has hit central Texas. Freezing rain is expected to make roads impassable for a while. I am sitting here, catching snatches of writing time between nursing my little girl. My sweet husband is watching our little girl off and on, so I can write. I am also just soaking in the coziness of knowing that I get to have my husband with me for almost 48 hours without anywhere we need to go.

As we start 2026, I am thinking back. I'm thinking back to 2024, when I entered the year with a tiny life inside of me, only to be told before the end of the month that our baby had died. Here I am entering 2026 with a two-month-old in my arms.

I'm thinking back to entering 2021, struggling to navigate my single status and stressed about a lot of things, and exiting the year, married to my best friend. Here I sit, watching my husband of four years, playing with our little girl.

I enter 2026 with so much to be grateful for. So many hopes and dreams from my early days have been fulfilled. I always wanted to be a wife and mom, and now I am. Yet, no life is ever perfect. Sin will mar everything in this world until Christ returns and all is made new. I told the ladies of my community group I entered this year, tired of praying for a situation and wondering if anything would ever change. 

I feel like I have so many words bottled up inside of me. Since my daughter seems to wake up the moment I set her down (or start crying), my time to spill those words out is very limited. I'm excited because my mom is planning on coming once a week to help with my little girl and give me some writing time. My first priority is to finish editing the last Kate's Case Files book. My second priority is finishing The Weekly Mercies of Pam Ellis. 

I am looking forward to more blogging too, though it will have to be while my little girl is being held by others, or she is sleeping. 

 I have two announcements. One is a big sale...