As youngsters we are eager to dream big, make wishes, and take chances. Everything around us is shiny-new and full of glorious wonder. The night sky is alit with twinkling opportunities to boldly cast our desires to the heavens as we wish upon stars. We believe with our whole hearts that every desire, hope, and […]
Enjoy the Ride by Mary Manners
My dad was a good man—eager to serve those in need and always ready to offer advice or encouragement. He did not draw attention to himself, and often helped others anonymously. But he had one quirk that drove me crazy when I was merely a teenager with a driver’s license. Whenever we traveled, he demanded […]
Count Your Blessings by Mary Manners
Sometimes I’m so caught up in the day-to-day bustle of life that I forget to thank God for how very blessed I am. The new year is a time to reflect…and hopefully take a moment to slow down long enough to draw a breath, step back, and count the many blessings that fill my life. […]
Marathons, Manuscripts, and Motherhood by Mary Manners
What do the three M’s…Marathons, Manuscripts and Motherhood have in common? Well, as a former marathon runner, I’m convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that the countless hours of running and training during my marathon days prepared me for the other two. Marathon running is an endeavor that requires dedication, commitment, follow-through and sacrifice. […]
Doin’ It Right by Mary Manners
“If you’re going to do something, then do it right.” Those words, spoken by my father, came to me the winter of my thirteenth year as I delivered newspapers along my route on the streets of Elmwood Park, a suburb of Chicago. It was the winter of 1976 and we were in the clutch of […]
A New Day, or Life Out of the Fast Lane
It’s a brand new day. How will you choose to spend it? We all are familiar with this drill: A small child rides in the backseat of the car and his constant chatter is a distraction—and sometimes an irritation—to the driver. Again and again, he asks, “Are we there yet?” Eager to arrive at the […]
Wisdom for Life…Or Things I’ve Learned from My Chickens
Some of you may know that my husband and I recently relocated to a mini-farm in the foothills of East TN. One of my dreams has always been to raise chickens. Well, with the beautiful coop we inherited with the property, I got right to it. And I quickly discovered there are a lot of […]
A Day in the Life of Axel…and a #Giveaway
I don’t know about you, but animals are a huge part of my life. My husband and I live on a mini-farm we’ve named Manners Manor. We have a dog, two cats, chickens, an aquarium full of fish, and a stocked pond. I thought it would be fun to step inside my dog Axel’s mind […]
Christmas Memories in July by Mary Manners
I love everything Christmas…the music, decorations, gifts, family time, and wonderful themed stories. Every year when I begin to write my next Christmas story (usually as July rolls around) I am taken back to the heartwarming holiday memories of my childhood. When the subject of Christmas gifts comes up, most people think of packages wrapped […]
Pay it Forward
I have been writing since I was old enough to know that words tell a story…about four years old. I have such vivid memories of standing in my basement in Chicago, leaning against the washing machine, and scribbling across a notepad because I had a story to tell. Of course, the scribble was just gibberish, […]
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