I grew up in the Midwest, Austin, MN, with my mom and grandmother. The fondest memory I have of “Grandma Store” (my Grandma, a businesswoman who owned and operated her own grocery store for 55 years), is when she would sit in her chair reading from her Bible. Early every morning and evening, she’d prop her magnifying glass against her chest so she could read the small print. After she read, she’d clasp her hands, lower her head and pray!

Being only 8 years old, I didn’t realize how much this beautiful act of faithfulness would bless me at different times in my life!

Books and writing have always been an integral part of my life, as I taught 4th-grade students for 30 years. One of the best parts of my job was building in them the love of reading, and encouraging them as writers. I’d remind them by saying, “We all have unique stories to tell,” and “it’s found in the power of the words.” Words paint pictures in our minds and take us on an adventure.

I found it essential not only to talk about what to do, but to model what it looked like to live a writerly life as well, with my notebook and pencil in hand, desiring to leave a lasting impression.

More about Mo here