Henry Finnell: The Dust Storm’s Answer to “If it rain”

“The Black Blizzards were fearful.  A giant wall rolling toward you like a steamroller.” – Floyd Coen Learning to Live in the Desert Growing up in Oklahoma Territory in the early 1900’s, Henry Finnell learned the ways of the semi-arid land on his parents’ homestead. He graduated from the local high school in Stillwater, then […]

Helping Hand- A Family Faces Cerebral Palsy

My mom once told me about the moment she found out about my having cerebral palsy. She said that the doctor came in and said, “I am sorry to tell you that you son has tested positive for CP.” My parents’ first question was, “What is CP?” After he told them, the doctor said that […]

Handkerchief Quilts Are Nothing to Sneeze About

“If you have a handkerchief, put it in your pocket and use it.”                                                                                                  – My Mother’s Words I learned how to iron by flattening out, one by one, a stack of handkerchiefs. Every week. All the corners needed to be pressed down, and no creases left on the fabric. Most were pure cotton, but […]

Guest post: Janet Sketchley

Today, Janet Sketchley brings her book, Heaven’s Prey, to our quilters. Janet is the author of the Redemption’s Edge Christian suspense series and the devotional collection, A Year of Tenacity. She’s an Atlantic Canadian writer who loves Jesus and her family, and enjoys reading, worship music, and tea. Heaven’s Prey: A Quilter’s Novel By Janet Sketchley I love writing fiction. […]

Guest Post: How Mrs. Lampos’ Life Influences Her Writing

Today’s guest post is by Hannah McMahan. Hannah is homeschooled along with her three younger siblings. She lives on Copper Island in Barkley Sound, B.C., Canada where her family maintains a summer camp for First Nations children and youth. Hannah loves to worship God through music, draw and paint nature, spend time with people, and […]

Guest Post: Carolyn Johnson

A Warm “Thank You” By Guest Blogger Carolyn Johnson “Quilting is a journey, always something to learn, change, do and share with friends.”                                                                                                  –Jo Morton ‘Would any young man really care about a quilt?’ That was my mistaken thought when a friend asked me to sew for Quilts of Valor. My first mistake – […]

Growing Second Chances

In a neighborhood like Englewood on Chicago’s south side, second chances are rare. An underserved community with a food desert, Englewood residents struggle to raise children in the midst of inner city challenges. The streets are unforgiving. Gunfire is rampant. The economic pressures are relentless. But Growing Home offers a reason to start over for those who […]

Great Depression: 8 Books to Warm Women’s Hearts

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” -President Franklin D. Roosevelt   The Great Depression defined our grandparents. That period of time flung a generation of children into desperately hard circumstances. Their character set by the motto: “Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do. Or do without.” Their education interrupted […]

Grateful Warrior By Dr. Erv Barnes

There was a time when I wallowed in my dread, feeling dejected, rejected, and ejected. My marriage was ending, a second career collapsing, and my little farm slipping away. I did some writing, and one of the collections of short pieces I titled, “Nobody said Thank You.” That was eight years afterVietnam and only the […]