Candee Fick's Blog, page 16

A Season of Growth – Part 1

Spring is my favorite time of year. Between the colorful bulbs in my flower bed and the lilac blossoms in my own backyard, there’s a sense of hope and anticipation that builds in my heart. The long cold winter slips away and fades from memory as new life emerges and dead brown grass turns a vibrant green. It gives me hope that exciting things are around the corner.

While spring is the start of a season of growth outside, it also sparks an internal season of change. This month—despite the sno...

Beside Still Waters, He Restores My Soul

God certainly knew what He was doing when He gave me the word “Abide” as a focus point this year. I’ve been digging deeper to learn how to abide. To be still. To listen. Yet I find myself still striving inside and wrestling with decisions to make and unaccomplished goals.

When I’d set aside time for my devotions, I had often found myself at least subconsciously watching the clock to see when I could stop and get back to the mountain of real work I needed to do.

Knowing there is something extr...

Getting To Know The Twins in Moonstone Secrets

From time to time, I let others share their stories on my blog. Today, welcome back Dawn V. Cahill as she interviews identical twins Livy and DeeDee McCreary, singers and dancers extraordinaire, who star in her new novel Moonstone Secrets – sequel to Sapphire Secrets.

Dawn V. Cahill: DeeDee, since this is your story, why don’t we start with you? Tell us why you want to share your story with the world.

DeeDee: Picture this—a remote cabin in the Canadian bush. Howling wind. A barking dog and a...

Why I Can’t Do Everything

Duh. Because I’m human, not super-human. That’s why I can’t do everything.

That’s the easy answer, but it’s true. Yet, I must not really believe it because I still try to do more than is humanly possible to accomplish in a day, week, or month. I suppose I took to heart that sage wisdom about aiming high because even if you fall short, you’ll still end up among the stars.

Anyhow, I try to take on more than I can reasonably get done…and then beat myself up with guilt for not marking everything...

Quieting the Noise So I Can Think

I hear voices. I wish they were just the characters of my latest work-in-progress clamoring to share their opinions about a recent plot twist. But, no. Lately I’ve been hearing the voices of doubt and confusion and guilt to the point they’re blocking out the true voices of faith, wisdom, and peace. While I’m still learning to listen, I’m also quieting the noise so I can think.

The source of all this mental turmoil is a silly book. Well, not exactly a silly book but a story that I’ve been work...

Shut Up and Listen

Do you know anyone who talks more than they listen? Someone who asks the same question over and over without ever hearing the answer?

While these types of behaviors are somewhat understandable—and unfortunately common—coming from my special needs daughter, I had to shake my head the other day when listening to a call-in radio show. More like I wanted to scream at the caller to shut up and listen.

The woman on the line had gone to the trouble to call in and sit on hold for who knows how long...

Leave a Mark For Eternity

I can be a bit of a clutz sometimes, especially when I’m tired, overwhelmed, or distracted. Which, thanks to a crazy day job project, is how I spent much of last week. As a result, I ran into things…and now have the bruises to prove it. Of course, in the moment of impact, I remember thinking “that’s going to leave a mark” but today as I look at the swirls of purple and yellow, I can’t remember exactly what happened.

I only know that I’m changed (even if it’s only temporary) by the encounters....

Guest Robin Bayne – Hidden Secrets

Dear readers, from time to time I ask others to share their stories of faith, hope, and love in order to encourage us all. If you have a story to share, you can find my guidelines under the Connect tab. In the meantime, welcome Robin Bayne!

Hi, I’m Robin Bayne.  My March release, “Reunion At Crane Lake,” is actually an updated, revised version of my earlier book titled “Cougar Lake.”  When I first wrote the story years ago, the word *cougar* meant an exotic wild animal, not an exotic wild wo...

Still Growing After All These Years

The more I know, the more I realize I have no clue. That’s why I’m still growing and continually learning new things in a variety of different ways. Like a plant, growth requires taking in the nutritional information, absorbing it until it’s fully understood, and then stretching out to apply it in new and different ways.

Whether it’s financial strategies, trusting God more, writing craft, marketing strategies, health tips, or parenting, I’ve still got a lot to learn. And while I haven’t been...

Be Still And Know

He says, “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10 NIV)

As I’m discovering more about what it means to “Abide” this year, I keep coming across this word “Still” and it’s honestly bugging me. Because I’m an overachiever. I like to make a list and then get things done. Check off those boxes and leave a wake of completed projects behind me.

If I sit down to watch television or a movie, I get fidgety unless I’ve got someth...