Take it to Jesus
One evening, during the lovely chaos of this past Christmas season, I found my firstborn grandchild sitting alone with tears running down her precious little face. When my grands cry, my heart melts. I have identified this as one of the laws of motion that Sir Newton overlooked. The poor man could only come up with three? Please. I have tons. Like, a grandchild’s body that
Remembering Mike Blakeney
Dear All Things Southern friends, I prepared your newsletter tonight with a sore and tender heart. So much so that I almost didn't send it at all. To be honest, it would've been easier not to do this. And yet, I decided I had to because I wanted you to know about the passing of a great friend of this community, Terry Michael Blakeney, Sr.,
He knows your name, do you know His voice
I have a friend named Tanya (short A) from South Louisiana and a friend named Tanya (short O) from North Louisiana, who spell their names the same exact way but pronounce them differently. Please don’t tell them this, because it’s embarrassing, but their name game causes me great confusion. I agree. A belle should know how to pronounce her friends’ names, especially when she’s known Tanya
Big Girl Panties and Why We Need a “Witless” Protection Program
Hello folks, let's chat…If you’re a regular around here you may have noticed that I’ve not been opining much on the Presidential election. Don’t mistake that for indifference. I believe we’re about to cast one of the single most important votes of our entire lifetimes. I simply refuse to engage in public arguments which get uglier by the day. Why? Because I’ve yet to meet anyone
Why Can’t We Be Friends
Hello folks, let's chat… I don’t have all the answers for fixing our increasingly divisive world, but it would help if we made an effort to listen to each other again, however different the other person might seem. Might we turn to a story for illustration? I’m not the type to do the manicure/pedicure thing. I’m still not sure how it happened. All I know is, I
No offense to Chuck E. Cheese
Hello folks, let's chat
When Southern Mama Memories Meet Boot Camp
Hello folks, let’s chat…I met the mother daughter duo during an author event in South Louisiana. The mother arrived holding a worn copy of Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On that she was hoping I might personalize. Granted, I’m happy to do that anytime, but y’all, that mother had toted my book all the way from California! No, not for my signing,
Join my Hungry is a Mighty Fine Sauce Launch Team and get an advance copy free
Hey y'all! My storytelling cookbook Hungry is a Mighty Fine Sauce is releasing Oct.1st, 2016 and I'm beside myself with excitement over this project because it's literally brimming with all the things I love best. I stuffed it full of delicious family recipes that are tried and true. Then I added inspirational thoughts, belle tips, storytelling, and humor -- because life is better when you're laughing! Can I get an
On the Surprises of Aging
Hello folks, let's chat…My birthday has me thinking about the aging process, but not in a I-should-have-face-freezing-surgery sort of way. And that’s not because they’re saying 50 is the new 30. That sounds like Common Core or something. Besides, if 50 is the new 30, at 53 I’d be 33 and raising teenagers again. I’m going with thank you but no thank you on revisiting
Jessica Robertson visits All Things Southern
Several weeks ago now I had Jep and Jessica Robertson, stars of the hit A&E reality show Duck Dynasty in the ATS LIVE studio with me to talk about their book, The Good, The Bad, and The Grace of God. I so enjoyed their visit and the message of this book stayed with me long after I read it. It's why I circled back and