As a reader, I sometimes find myself attached to where the story takes place before connecting with the characters. It started with Laura Ingalls Wilder – the prairie fascinated me. Later, reading Perry Mason mysteries, it was the courtroom. When Jan Karon’s Mitford series released, I never wanted to leave town.
The other day, on my way to the tree I love, I was distracted by loveliness along the way – a normal occurrence for me.
Some of you who have read Between the Lies have asked if Olivia’s abuse story is also mine. After all, authors write what they know – right?
Not always. None of the men in my family or life hurt me that way.
Living in the Gray I love walking in the fog. Being surrounded by mystery and mist is both calming and exhilarating. I also enjoy snuggling with our dogs, wearing my gray sweater, and drinking coffee from my gray mug. When it comes to living in the gray, I prefer clear answers to my questions. I don’t have to know today….
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Behind the Lies Copyright Joy DeKok, 2020 Prologue All the lovey-dovey moments of move-in day faded by the next morning. I woke up livid and stayed that way for six months. My main goal was to avoid all human contact. After years of living under Alan’s absolute rule, it wasn’t as hard as it sounds on a practical level….
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I was down by the pond, and one sturdy little plant stood out to me. My first thought was “Awkward.” Starring at it, I said to God, “Just like me, Lord.”
Wandering in the ditch beside one of our wildflower fields, this tiny puff of seeds caught my eye and snagged at my heart. Walking home, I thought about Grandma Joy and powder puffs. I smiled just before the tears fell. When I was little, I spent time with my grandparents in Worthington, MN. At her house, we had ordinary days…
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This massive tree grows beside the Cannon River. The city cared enough to protect the giant’s roots and keep it from falling into the river. I stood and pondered its braced roots, fascinated. When I turned to greet the people who passed me a few gave me a funny look – the one that says silently, “She’s odd.” I wanted…
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Uneasy Writer – My Writing Life Joy DeKok When the young oriole landed, she went right for the jelly confident in the moment. Then, something changed. She changed position, looked around, and waited. I looked at her, wondering what made her so uneasy. A few moments later, she left without returning to the jelly she’d enjoyed with wild abandon when…
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Garden Party ~ Gentle Moments With God Joy DeKok “Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.” Psalm 96:11-12 (ESV) One morning this past week I stood in the first…
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