Linda Hoye's Blog, page 8

Wrestling

I read about a man of questionable character who wrestles with God. There’s trouble behind and trouble ahead, and Jacob is caught in one of those back-against-the-wall places where there’s nowhere left to turn. He spends a long, dark, and sleepless night at the end of himself. Dawn breaks on a day he’s been dreading, and... Continue Reading →

Good Friday

Molly and I were up early as usual. We woke to snow—one last (I hope) blast from Old Man Winter. His days are numbered; next week looks stellar in terms of weather. I watched part of last night’s Maundy Thursday service online this morning, thankful for technology. More thankful for Jesus. It’s after 2 p.m....

Down By the Bay

I’m in Kamloops visiting our daughter and granddaughter for a few days. Totally lucked out on the weather! Yesterday, Laurinda and I went for a float (oh, pure bliss!) and then meandered down to Cooney Bay. We wandered, took photographs (mostly me), and looked for pretty stones (mostly Laurinda). It was simply a wonderful afternoon!...

Letters From the Afterlife

A few weeks after she died, I opened her mailbox and found a letter addressed to my mom written in her own handwriting. Yesterday, I read a sample from Joy Williams’ short story collection, Ninety-Nine Stories of God and the first story, Postcard, reminded me of that day. It’s very short. I tried to find...

Things I Like . . .

I am taking a course in short story writing with Joyce Carol Oates on Masterclass. One afternoon, I poked around on her Substack and came across a post called What I like. What I like is her creativity in writing it, so I borrowed the idea and exercised my own creative muscles by penning (or...

What’s the Difference Between Simple and Convenient?

The other day, I mentioned to my daughter that I was browsing the Epicure site looking for a particular blend of seasoning. Gerry and I had enjoyed a simple meal from Chef’s Plate the night before and I wanted to replicate it. Buying this blend, I told her, aligned with my chosen word for 2024—simplicity....

Soupy Fog. And Grace.

It an unusually gray day here in Moose Jaw; one of the few in which we probably won’t see even a sliver of sunshine. I went downtown earlier, dodging potholes like I was playing Mario Kart. One of the streets in our city, Coteau, was deemed to be the worst street in Saskatchewan last year....

Just a Small Saucer For Me, Please

I’ve had a busy week and finally feel like I can catch my breath—or, more accurately, breathe. Clearing things off my virtual and physical desk helped, as did tidying my office and tending to my overflowing email inbox. (Apologies to those I’ve been tardy in responding to.) This morning, the sun is shining, the washer...

The Situation On a Snowy Sunday Afternoon

It’s early Sunday afternoon as I write this and it’s been snowing since early yesterday. We’re hunkered down at home and it’s been a delightful opportunity to get lost in a book. I just finished one and am pondering what to dive into next. I’ve been binging on psychological thrillers (this author in particular) for...

I Hear Voices And See People Who Aren’t Really There

There’s a cast of characters living in my mind and they’ve been there for years. Most of them have names, some rather creative ones, like my old friend Knits McWaller, who came to me in a dream one night. Others, more ordinary: Charlotte, Alene, Sam, Sara, David, Belle, and Iz. I ponder their stories, I...