Candee Fick's Blog, page 26

Thanks For The Memories

Here in the United States, today is Memorial Day. Often appreciated as a backyard BBQ opportunity to signal the end of another school year and the official launch to summer, this federal holiday was established as a day to honor the memories of those who died while serving in the country’s armed forces.

To remember those set aside their own dreams and plans to serve our country and protect freedom around the world. And in remembering their sacrifice, we honor theirlives and appreciate anew th...

When Life Is a Battlefield

Life sometimes feels like a battlefield. A constant struggle to make progress in one area only to be blindsided or pushed back by some sort of opposition. A dishwasher pump dies and spews stinky water all over the kitchen floor. A child has a mysterious health issue that consumes your thoughts and steals sleep. Financial gains are erased by an unexpected bill. A misunderstanding leads to heated words and suddenly a relationship is on rocky ground. You get knocked to the ground and it’s hard t...

Too Many Books?

If it wasn’t forthe virtual bookshelves on my Kindle app, my fiction addition would be more obvious and require more square footage. I already have three super-tall bookcases in the basement that are so loaded you have to move the sideways books at the front to spot those in the back. Add a small bookshelf in my bedroom next to a comfy chair, another with writing craft books in my office, and a stack on my desk waiting to be judged for a contest or reviewed. This of course doesn’t include the...

Do It My Way

My daughterearned her nickname “Princess” as a darling tiny girl with long eyelashes … and later when her sensitivity to certain textures made her hyper-aware of tiny nuisances like microscopic holes in her socks or teeny strings danglingfrom her clothing. (Like the story of the Princess and the pea.)

But once she hit adolescence, the hormonal changes brought out a bossy side tothe routine-loving autistic piece of her genetic syndrome. She likes things done a certain way and demands they be d...

Mustard Seed Faith

“Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” ~ Matthew 17:20

Withtoday’s resurgence of movies starring Marvel superheroes, it’s easy to think there’s a magic trick or missing ingredient needed in order to do something huge like move a mountain. Superman was born on a different planet where the “people” were different than here. Spiderman existed because an ordina...

I Am and Am Becoming

Semi-recently I heard a pastor tell a story to illustrate a truth about the Christian life. But I’ve found over the past few weeks that the same truth applies in all aspects of my life so I wanted to share it with all of you.

Once upon a time, there was a family that decided to adopt a child from a different country. They traveled to that distant land, visited an orphanage there, and spotted the little girl that captured their hearts. After a lot of prayer, expense, legal red tape, and waitin...

Why Wishing Is Not Enough

I love fairy tales. True, I also write inspirational romance novels, but I LOVE a happily ever after ending where truth and justice prevail.Prince Charming meets a lovely young woman facing difficulty. An enemy strives to keep them apart and abattle ensues. Victory leads to a kiss and a new home at the castle.The end.

Often fairy tales contain a *poof* of magical something to give the story a push in the right direction. Cinderella’s fairy godmother creates a gown and carriage in time for the...

Reflections on a Princess Movie

Over Spring Break, I took my daughter to see everybody’s favorite Princess on the big screen. As a writer, I appreciated the backstory to explain why the Prince would invite all the girls to the ball in the first place. As a mother, Ella’s mother’s last words for her to “have courage and be kind” resonated. As a daughter, I found myself thinking about my own dad as Ella says goodbye to her father. And as a hopeless romantic, I was caught up in the story with the handsome hero and that positiv...

What If I Can’t Do This?

Ever started to do something big only to be plagued by doubts? Me, too!

As longtime blog followers know, I’m a writer with a dream to be published in fiction as well as my non-fiction devotionals, articles, and book encouraging parents with special-needs kids. My dream is to transport readers into a story that entertains, encourages, and gives a glimpse of God’s amazing love for us through the romance on the page.

In just over eight not-so-short months, my debut novel will be launching into t...

Answering The Call

“Wherever God wants me to be for however long He says, my answer is Yes.”

Two weeks ago was our church’sMissions Week and we were blessed to hear multiple guest missionaries speak. As part of the Storytellers team responsible for the missions department blog and website, I was present for all of the events and took a lot of notes. This post’sopeningquote came from a young man serving the invisible people in the inner city of Denver and I haven’t been able to shakehis wordssince.

Among my writ...