Once the name was handed down to this possible hurricane, everyone's minds immediately went to the Little Debby Snackcake franchise.  What damage could a snack cake do?  And as most people who live in the south along the coastline, they start things off being very skeptical.  (Unlike me, from the midwest, I hear the word "hurricane" and I'm SO ready to evacuate!). For those of you who don't know, I am currently in South Carolina, so they are no stranger to hurricanes!  But I am in Beaufort and this place almost has a kind of magical protection around it to where it doesn't see nearly the damages as the surrounding areas.  The way the islands are set up, almost protects the town from most hurricanes and storms.  Don't get me wrong, it does get hit and when it does, they are whoppers!  (My first experience was with Hurricane Matthew in 2015.  The devastation was astounding!  I drove around with my jaw dropped (I mean, AFTER I returned from evacuating!) and was shocked at the fallen trees, damaged homes and my most vivid memory... a boat dropped in the middle of the airport landing strip!  
Make no mistake... they can do some serious damage!
Now poor Charleston, only 2 hours up the coastline, gets hammered every. single. time.  They have such issues with flooding and every storm takes its toll on this beautiful, historical town.
So here, in Beaufort, everyone was going about their business, watching the news by the hour, but... just going along.  They encouraged me to "stay put, it's not going to be that bad."  Meanwhile in Charleston and all of Florida and prepping for major damage.  Sandbags, evacuation, boarding the windows, stocking up on supplies... all the things.
Being raised by a man who thought you should always be prepared for any kind of disaster event, I too, was automatically stocking up on can food, batteries, candles... you know, the usual.
She came in hard, slamming against Florida with intense fierceness, but couldn't quite reach hurricane status. Little Debby was going to have to be content as a Tropical Storm.   And she stormed her best.
Seven people died. (Two from falling trees!) She did a lot of damage to the trees and flooding and everyone's efforts did not go to waste.

Here, hunkered down in my little camper, I listened as the torrential rain hammered everything in its path.  Believe it or not, I was most worried about my lavender plants that are still considered "babies", being less than a year old.  They were unprotected, and are not fans of large amounts of water.  
I could hear branches crashing down on the roof and soon after, drops of water made their presence inside my office.  (Horror of horrors because that is where every scrap of paper and inventory for Lavender Letters is stored!!!). I couldn't go out and find the cause with the storm raging.  Then another blow.  A log, somehow hit sideways and busted the cover of one of my windows. (not glass) That also broke the seal.  Water started to pour in my office floor!  It was about one in the morning, so I was up and out of bed tossing all of my boxes, and drawers and supplies into my livingroom.  Every towel I could find went about soaking up the water creating a pond on the office floor.  (And y'all make fun of me for having "extra" towels!! Lol!)

Eventually the storm moved on.  It spun out into the ocean, took a turn back in for another run, but then finally dispersed, dropping only 14"-20" of rain instead of the anticipated 24"- 40".  So that's a win.
On the first sunny day, I went out and repaired the ding on the roof and decided to completely close off the window, sealing it shut on the inside and out.  There was also damage to the back corner of the camper, which probably helped the rain come in... I sealed that off too.
While I'm congratulating myself for my maintenance skills, (They become almost a requirement if you're going to own a camper!) I attempted to settle back into regular life.
That's when I started to see all the additional "tenants". 
Bugs. All of them.  Even those big huge gross ones,  Yeah... you know.  They were all taking cover from the flooded areas and thought my home to be welcoming and comfortable.
As much as I love the outdoors.  And as much as I don't bother bugs and spiders on the outside... Lord help them if they come INSIDE!
It only took that first night when a bug crawled down my arm WHILE I WAS IN BED!  for me to FREAK OUT!!!  This was definitely against my rules!
I ordered my go-to pet and human friendly diatomaceous earth and WAGED WAR!
I pulled everything away from the walls and I promise you, there was a lot of squealing as these invaders jumped from their hiding places to seek refuge elsewhere!  The D.E. is a white powder.  And they critters are supposed to tromp through it and take it back to where they live and share it with their neighbors and friends... which means, I'm not supposed to kill them.  Admittedly, some may have had their lives squished from them at the telling of this story. 
My little house is COVERED in white powder.  It trails along the edges of every wall, every opening, inside the cabinets and even on the mattress (under the mattress cover).  
If you have never used this, it works really well for fleas and ants!  You just have to be patient with white powder everywhere for a while.
And that's the stage that I'm in right now.  I getting ready to pack up and move, so I do NOT want to take these uninvited guests with me!
The last and final issue Little (Angry) Debby dropped on me, was my tires.  With so much water, my tires sunk into the ground... it's going to be interesting trying to get them out.  But that is another adventure for another day.

I am so excited. 
Lavender Letters has turned a year old and it is loved by its subscribers. 
Every author wants their readers to enjoy what they create and of course, this is no different, except that Lavender Letters is VERY different from a one-and-done book. 
For those who are not familiar with Lavender Letters, it was created (in my brain) while I was traveling west on the Oregon Trail (in true time- or as closely as possible!).  I was completely entrenched in the culture and lifestyles of the people (women) who braved this most treacherous journey!
They would leave their homes and families knowing full well they may never see them again, but are so pulled by the "new" or their husbands, they are willing to risk everything.  
I read hundreds of diary entries, hundreds of letters sent home to families and I was fascinated.  Now, if I were normal, I would have just taken this information and chalked it up as part of my research.  Not this girl...

What if... the letters accumulated into a story?  And what if the reader could ONLY get their information about the characters FROM the letters?  And there the thoughts percolated... 

What if, instead of a book of letters... what if they were ACTUALLY letters?  Sent in the mail!  Is this a doable thing??

Well I plotted out a story line and sent out a personal invitation exclusive to my email list comprised of people who know my writing and suggested the idea.  They loved it, took a chance on this new idea and since then, I have re-launched to the public three more times!

I've learned a lot along the way.  (One, being that the post office doesn't always cooperate with my plans! and Two, my audience loves being spoiled!)

In addition to the actual letters that are mailed out twice per month, subscribers have the opportunity to request extra "gifts" along the way.  (Gift- giving is my love language, so I LOVE this idea!)

But I still wasn't quite satisfied... so I added a full-length novel at the end of the "story".  So it takes thirteen months for all of the letters to be delivered.  And after the final letter is delivered, the book arrives.  The book- is NOT just a copy of the letters and diary entries all bound together.  It is a complete RE-Telling of the story from a different perspective.  (Because I'm "extra".) 
The letters and diary entries are told from the perspective of the "writer" of the letter- meaning, they only know what they can know.  But the book is from the perspective of a narrator.  A "narrator" knows all.  So the lingering questions you might have about "what happened to this person or that person", or "why is this person like this"... those are all answered in the book.

From an author's perspective, this is the most difficult and challenging thing I have ever created.  But it is also the most exciting.  Authors don't usually get to communicate with their readers, and I send out notes and post cards all the time!  Authors don't usually get feedback from their readers, but I am loved and encouraged by the subscribers all the time.

It's a new concept for sure- it keeps me on my toes and does not allow for me to become idle or distracted, (some of the writers biggest "fears") as I know my readers are anxiously awaiting their next letter.

We are now into season two of the Westward Bound Series and I am just as excited as I was a little over a year ago when this all started.

If this is all new to you- Welcome!- and if you'd like more information, head on over to the Lavender Letters page and depending on when you see this you may be able to link to the sales page or jump on the waitlist.
(Because of the detailed organization that has to go along with creating Lavender Letters, I can only open the doors to new subscribers twice per year.  May and December.)

If you're more curious about my writing style in a stand-alone book, you're welcome to check those out by clicking here.

I am SO honored that so many have chosen to follow me down this Oregon Trail of writing... I know it's new, and different and you can't "binge-read" the whole story in a few days, but I am so grateful to be able to create exciting stories that are being loved by my readers. 

It's been a long while since I've been able to spend the summer in my hometown of St. Louis, MO.  While the call of travel and adventure still tug at me, circumstances beyond my control have kept me still. 
Not to worry- I have not been idle!

St. Louis has some of the best activities to keep even my ever wandering heart content. (mostly) 

The Missouri Botanical Gardens
One of my favorite places to visit.  I could spend hours and hours there.  It is so peaceful and beautiful.  Eighty acres of landscaped gardens and water and rolling hills.  They even have a garden center so you could bring some of the magic back home.  
I don't really need additional entertainment, so it's a bonus that they offer FREE live concerts on Wednesday evenings. You're invited to come in, bring your food and beverage of choice (or they have options available for you as well!), sit back and listen to the live band that changes each week.  What a great way to get through the work week! 

The Muny
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The largest outdoor theatre can only be found right here in St. Louis, tucked inside of Forest Park!
I have been visiting this establishment since I was a child.  My mom took us every summer and I have since passed it on to my children!  And hopefully they will continue the tradition with their children!


One of the best parts about the Muny, is that for every show (EVERY SHOW) the last few rows are always free.  (ALWAYS FREE!!) So even when a family doesn't have much of an "entertainment budget", St. Louis comes to the rescue.  (Which was how we were able to visit it so often as a child!)
There are some shows that I will pay for tickets, but most times I like sitting in the "free seats".  Maybe for nostalgia, maybe because it's a different experience, or when I'm flat broke. 
I have always been a fan of live theatre so I LOVE that the Muny is in my own backyard!  What great memories I have of this place and have happily added new ones to my memory back this year. 

The St. Louis Zoo

No St. Louis Summer is complete without at least ONE visit to the zoo.  And once again Forest Park and their grandfathered rules, comes to the aid of families.  The St. Louis Zoo is ALWAYS FREE. 
And this is no chincy, slap something together, see a few goats and a starving cougar someone tried to keep as a pet... no, this is one of the TOP RATED ZOOs in the world!! 
I love our zoo SO MUCH!  It is easy to see as you walk through, how much the animals are loved and cared for and the humans also!  
They have an extensive staff and volunteers working every single day to make the experience unforgettable.  

And THIS year (2023) they've added a new adventure!

FEED THE GIRAFFES!!!
Omigoodness!! This is one of those things you would have had to go to some expensive, exotic place to have such an upclose personal experience with these gentle, long-necked giants.  The StL Zoo said, "Hold my beer!"
Now YOU can feed the giraffes!! And even though the experience only lasts a few moments, it is SO worth it!

Honorable Mentions

The History Museum
Also FREE to get in!  So much to see and do inside! 
Special sections on the St. Louis World's Fair and Missouri's music history and the history of downtown St. Louis! 

The StL Science Center
FREE Admission!  (Did I mention FREE?). This is THREE levels of hands on activities starting from prehistoric to what's next in space and ALL KINDS OF STUFF in between!  The grandkids had a blast here!  I had fun watching them have fun! 

So while I am "stuck" here, I might as well make the most of it.  
I do not love the traffic of the busy city, but hey, we can't have everything, right?

If you are looking for a place to visit and you want more bang for your family buck, St. Louis, Missouri should be on your bucket list.  
SO much to do and SO much of it is FREE!
I promise you will make GREAT memories here! 

It's Spring & Seedtime!

I am so excited about our new Sponsor that I figured I should write a whole post about it!
You guys KNOW how happy I am when the weather finally breaks and spring is just right around the corner.  And this year, is going to be a little bit different of a celebration.  

Normally, I'd be prepping my camper getting read to head north or some new destination, but this year, it was decided for me that I am to stay put.  Always looking to make lemonade from lemons, I have decided to plant my long awaited Victory Garden.
And Seedtime, just happened to show up at just the right time to help get me started and now, they are willing to help you as well! 

This whole gardening thing is pretty new to me and so I went to someone who I could trust to get me off to the right start and be there to help me through the whole process.  Have you ever struggled with knowing what to do, or when to do it in your garden? If yes, keep reading because I have brought some help!! 

Paul Dysinger and his team from Seedtime have opened the doors to their new garden planner Seedtime. 

A Garden Planner!!
Y'all know how I love a good planner!
I LOVE having a place to write everything down and visualize how things are going (hopefully) to happen!

It’s the first home garden planner that lets you easily visualize exactly when to seed, transplant, or harvest in your garden all year long - based on your location. And then after adding the flowers or veggies into your calendar it’ll give you a daily or weekly checklist of exactly what you should be doing - and when you should be doing it through your entire gardening season, based on the plants you choose.
It’s completely customizable and incredibly powerful.

This is the cool part... I mean, a secret club kind of cool part...  Seedtime isn’t open to the public right now. That means you can get access by invitation only.
And that's ME!!

Paul and his team are letting me share a private invitation link for you to get early access to start using Seedtime right away - and you can get started for free.

Use my link here!

So, if you want an easier way to plan and track your garden planting schedules…. If you like the idea of following a weekly checklist instead of constantly wondering if you should be seeding your tomatoes, eggplant, or lettuce right now… If you like the idea of less stress or overwhelm… Get your free access to Seedtime here!

I am having a blast planning out my garden and scheduling how, where and when I need to get things started. I am SO EXCITED!!!!
Seedtime is making this SO much easier for me than having to research each and every veggie I want to plant.  (And don't forget the pollinators!!)
And, because I am sharing this with you, the good folks over at SeedTime have offered my people an extra bonus.  When you sign up using my link you’ll even get $5 of free garden seeds!

You can get started for free and have a great gardening season.  But, they also have other training available for you as well.  Lots of video lessons that you can tap into to get even deeper help with your planting and gardening strategies.  They will help you every step of the way.  Plus there's also a private community that you can ask specific questions and the people are so nice and willing to help, you will come away with more confidence.
If you're wanting to garden this year and are on a learning curve, like I am, consider letting SeedTime help you out.  And don't forget the FREE SEEDS!!! 

I can't wait to chat with you about our gardens on my FB and Insta pages and maybe I'll see you over inside the SeedTime community!
Here's my link so you can get started for FREE!!

Be Selfish- Help Others

​We are taught to help others.  I teach to help others.  I, myself look for opportunity to help others. One doesn't really have to look far.  

Simple acts of kindness.

We are also taught and I teach to expect nothing in return.  Meaning, by you bestowing love and kindness on someone else, they don't owe you anything.  You are not "one up" on them.   The person being bestowed your gift of time, energy or physical product may not even acknowledge you.  May not even show gratitude.  Might even be crabby about it. 

Be kind anyway.  Help others anyway. 

You are kind and helpful for the mere sake of being kind and helpful whether anything comes from it or not.
But here's the thing... something ALWAYS comes of it.  I have been "catching" myself being kind, FOR the very reason that I KNOW I'll get something back from it. 
I have become selfish... greedy! 
I have found that when I am sad or depressed, if I focus outward, and do things for others... I feel better.  
It may not come directly from the source as in say a "thank you" or a five star review, or even a smile... but, it does come back around.  
I recognized this when I started being "kind" on the down low... and now it's my favorite thing to do.  Help others when they don't realize they are being helped and if they did... they don't know where it's coming from. 
Sometimes, I do things for others, only because I know it will make me smile.  I know!  Selfish!!  Sure, it blesses the other person, but... oh how it makes my heart swell and feel light. 
I know... I know... selfish. 

I have a Book Club on this website.  It's filled with books from brand new authors finding their footing in the author world which involves a heavy load of marketing.  Things that most writers are not aware of when they embark on this journey.  If you haven't seen it, you should really take some time to check it out... (Click here!  Warning- be sure to block some time, because there is SO much to see!)

I charge a small fee to showcase their books here.  I present them to you fine people and I help them build an audience.  I could charge a lot of money for this service.  I could do it for free.  But I have found that charging a small amount allows them to feel empowered, and take the opportunity seriously.

I will not get rich from this service.  Not monetarily anyway, but rich in so many other ways. I don't get to see the faces of these authors, but I remember the first time I saw my book's cover on the interwebs... it was amazing.  And even if one new set of eyes saw it and remembered my name... that was progress.  
Most authors don't get rich or even have a lot of money to invest launching thier baby out into the world, but one person at a time builds an audience.  And so I give them access to my audience.  And I get to impart small tips and tricks along the way. 

I have found that when I offered to do these same things for free, it was a completely different vibe.  I am treated differently.  Not always, but enough that "they" trained ME how to better serve them.  I still offer great advice, even if they don't order.  I spend hours every day answering questions for authors, but it's different when you put money into the game.  You treat advice and service with a bit more respect.  You value the other person's time.
When I charge a mere $5, I am met with gratitude.  I am met with eagerness to do more, learn more.  I am met with a camaraderie of being inaugurated into the Author's Club.  And I feed off it. Not the money... those feelings.  I am selfish.  I admit, I love the five star reviews.  I love the thank yous and notes of gratitude sent to me... but mostly, I love seeing new authors spreading their wings and getting their work out into the world.  It's no easy task.  But when I scroll through the images of these books, most that are brand new to the market... I smile... selfishly, that I have them on my site.  That my audience are some of the first that get to see them.  That when I lay my head on my pillow at night, I know that I've helped my fellow authors in my own tiny way. 
Selfish.  

I believe I have more than one purpose.  I believe we all do. I believe we are given clues to our purpose by the strengths we have been given.  One of my strengths is to be able to help elevate others.  It is a pure, selfish joy of mine to lift others who may be struggling in one way or another.  It is a strength to help others find that missing piece of where they are to finding joy and happiness that is within reach, but they just might not be able to see it.  And selfishly, I pursue this purpose.  Or perhaps, it pursues me.  It makes me happy.  It helps me to suspend any grief I may have and I find happiness in helping others. 
I am humbled that I am a person that people reach out to... to share with.    It is fulfilling to me to lift others who may have stumbled.  It's a privilege to be that hand they reach out to and together with both our strengths lift them back up on their feet. 
When I am just focused on me... and my sadness or grief, I can't be of service to others.  I am happy that my need, that selfish need to smile and feel proud of how my fingerprint was left behind on someone else's happiness propels me to stay up on my own two feet. 
​
So, may I offer, if you are feeling sad, or disconnected or depressed... take a little bit of time to be selfish... and help others.  You'll be glad you did. 

Three things.  I repeatedly talk about three things that help to keep people, myself included in that category, on track and self-accountable.
1. You are where you are because of the choices you have made.
2. You are exactly where you are supposed to be.
3. God has a plan.  He is not surprised by anything happening in your world.

Those three beliefs have helped me for years and I know have helped others.  In fact, other than, lead with love, my entire platform/belief system...whatever you want to call it, is based on those statements. 
And they work pretty well.  It helps us to take responsibility for the choices of our lives.  It helps us to have a bit of "control" over our little corner of the world.  It's an overwhelming thought believing that we have to try and "fix" others or try and change them in order to make us happy, or make our world feel orderly.  It's not possible.  The only person we have any say over is ourselves.  The only person we can change... is looking back at us from the mirror. 

It's not just a set of beliefs... those statements are based in fact.  When you feel you've wandered down the wrong path and are bumped up against a brick wall, you can... every time... go backwards and see the choices that were made that got you there.  And even more than the choices; the thoughts you were thinking at the time that convinced you of those choices.  Which halts any kind of "victim mentality" of "why is this happening to me?"
(Yes, I realize there are things that have nothing to do with our choices, and the random acts of others, but let's focus on the bigger picture of how we govern our own lives regardless- sometimes in spite of- those around us. Okay? )
And I believe that.  I believe that with all of my being.  And it's easy to share these statements as advice or "warnings" to others while everything is sunny and rosy in our world. 
But... what happens when it's you. 
What if it's you that have found yourself in dire straits and you can't accept why or how you got there. 

Do you still believe? 
Are those statements still true? 
Do they still stand the fact-test?
Yes.  They do. 

2023 began for me with the startling discovery that my husband had emptied our bank account and abandoned all responsibilities in our marriage.   He broke all communication. And just walked away.  (Here is where I say this isn't the first time he's walked away from our marriage... this is actually number three.)
You can see where I'm going with this, right?

While I was... (and am, still) shocked...  Surprised...  Hurt...  I can see the path of my choices.  And when I am crying to God about my anguish, He comforts me, because He knew this was coming.  The red flags were there all along.  I saw them.  I ignored them. 
I have my reasons for going back again and again trying to hold a crumbling marriage together, but they were wrong.  I didn't want to see.  I didn't want to believe.  
I am where I am today because of choices I made... or perhaps, didn't make.  I refused to see the person before me and instead chose to believe that I could love enough for both of us.  I chose to believe that I "couldn't" leave the marriage because he needed me.  I chose to believe that if I just hang on, things would work themselves out... we just had to get to this point... or that goal.  It's a hard truth when you have to look at that face in the mirror and acknowledge that you let her down.  The lack of making choices... got us here. 
Abandoned and facing bankruptcy. 
I may have had the best of intentions.  I may have believed I could fix things.  I may have known that he didn't love me in return.  But the choices I made... put me right here. 

You are where you are supposed to be.
How could I possibly be where I'm supposed to be?  I can accept that I made bad choices.  Loved the wrong people.  Trusted the wrong people, but do I deserve to be here?  I have been humiliated!  I have been financially destroyed!  Is this really what my life is supposed to be? I am filled with shame.  I am fighting depression.  I am being lied about and slandered.  My very integrity is being brought into question!  I am in such a deep, engulfing pain that it can't POSSIBLY be what is supposed to be happening right now, right? 
Yes.  Apparently it is. 
God knows what's happening. And He is not surprised.