Below are the titles of the poems I have had published, a faith based article and two short stories for you to read. Just click on the individual title of each article, poem or story.
Mom's Gift was originally written in August, 1999 and read at my mother's funeral service. It was published in the Heartland Writers Journal February 2000 issue
Lady on the Farm My first published poem. Published in the Dec/Jan, 1997 Issue of Farm and Ranch Magazine
Companion By My Side Both of the dogs I wrote about in 'Dino' died in 1995 within three months of one another. Weiner was sick for a long time and after several visits to the vet he was laid to rest. We estimate he was about fourteen years old. Sally, was only eight years old when she suffered an infected tick bite. Even though treated and appearing to heal, she died within a few days. I blamed myself because I had groomed her and found the tick but could not remove it and forgot to tell one of my sons to do so. My grief was so strong two years passed before my oldest son swore he 'would not come home again if we did not get another dog'. Later that spring of 1997, for my birthday, he and his fiance (now his wife) gave me a four pound bundle of black fur possessing the most beautiful amber eyes I have ever seen. We named her Samantha (Sami). Companion By My Side was written the summer of 1997 not only to honor Sally and Weiner but also the memory of their predessors Mollie and Fred...and of course to welcome my current special companion, Sami.
Journey is written in memory of my dear friend, Paula. Those who read Dino will remember the chapter I wrote about friendship and how Paula and her husband helped my family on the farm. Paula and I taught PSR together for 19 years. But over those years we became far more than teaching acquaintances. In many ways we were more like sisters and our children literally grew up in each other's homes. Sadly, Paula ceased to teach after 19 years when she was diagnosed with colon cancer. Over the next six years the cancer moved to her liver and her lungs. She died Aug. 4, 2008. I will always miss my 'sister at heart'
Time in Another Sense was originally written some years ago, I do not remember when but I feel this article's message is still prominent, especially given the War on Terrorism and all the objections toward God's place in our government as well as our daily lives. It has not been published elsewhere.
Great Grandpa's Ghost is just one of those pull from your thoughts stories about a boy on his first deer hunting trip with his father.
Ellen's Strike is just my warped sense of humor conveying the story of a young farmer's wife fighting the never ending/always loosing battle against frustration. It's only connection to my actual life is that I wrote it a long time ago while raising my sons on a productive hog farm...and my husband still brings me flowers when I least expect it.
