Author: T.S. Cook

Day 4: That time I didn’t love To Kill a Mockingbird.

As you can see in the cover photo, I’m a big fan of To Kill a Mockingbird. The memory of when I was introduced to it escapes me, but it was many decades ago, and I loved it. I lost count of how many times I read the novel and watched the movie. The dialog is sketched in my memory.

Naturally, its arrival at the Pantages Theater made me do a happy dance. I danced all the way to my seat. Well, not really, but you get what I’m saying. While the play was good, it didn’t have the same effect. To my disappointment, I didn’t love it. Don’t get me wrong, the acting—superb! The stage—similar to the movie. And the unique way the actors aided in changing the set was brilliant. But the subtle changes most people probably overlooked made a difference to me. If the national tour makes its way back to LA, I’ll see it again. You know, to give it another chance.

Just Blogging It Out! Oh, and Happy 4th!

Last September, I traveled to Atlanta for the WTAL conference. Although many influential speakers and artists were on the roster, the highlight for me was the Friday morning devotional with Nicole Binion/praise & worship, and Priscilla Shirer/speaker. While I don’t need music to worship God, Nicole Binion’s life of worship was evident as she sang, creating an atmosphere of reverence for our Lord. And the message was a word straight from the book of Ephesians without any frills and void of opinions.

The people closest to me know that I love Ephesians and consider it my life book. (If you want to know why, check out the post from July 2021.) Ephesians will teach you if you don’t know who you are in Christ, which is essential for all Christians.

Enjoy these glimpses (click on the names.) of Nicole Binion and Priscilla Shirer.

Just Blogging It Out!

My next birthday is approaching, so I decided to post every day this month, highlighting thirty-one memorable moments. Yesterday, I posted a photo of a beautiful sunrise. If you haven’t seen it, check it out. I literally gasped when I saw it. Day 1: That time the sunrise made me gasp.

Day 2: That time we had to put our dog down.

On December 30, 2022, my husband and I had to put our beloved pup, Scout, down. I’m still sad about it. The decision to euthanize her was agonizing, although we knew it had to be done. I’ll spare you the details, or maybe I’m sparing myself.

I want to mention that when we adopted her, we were told she was about a year and three months. However, she was actually about three or four years old. That’s a big deal in dog years since the average lifespan for German Shepherds is 9-13 years.

Anyhoo, the procedure was done at home, where she was calm and comfortable. We’re grateful for the seven years we had Scout. She was the best dog EVER!!!

Just Blogging It Out!!

Whew! It’s been a while since my last post. Let’s see. Happy Mother’s Day! Happy Memorial Day! Happy Father’s Day! Happy Juneteenth! And hello, summer! Where in the world has half the year gone, right? Heads-up: There are only 177 days until Christmas. Just thought I’d throw that in.

The cover photo is from a recent morning hike. I tried to capture the pinkish clouds. Unfortunately, my camera settings decided the orange hue needed to shine more. You may see a hint of pink if you squint and turn your head to the side. LOL

I hope you find this sunrise as amazing as I do.

Just Blogging It Out!

⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8, 9)

His love is so deep. Receive The Gift! Thank you, Jesus!!

Just Blogging It Out!!

Happy New Year!! I know it’s too late to say that, but I haven’t posted since December. January has flown by, and February is sprinting at full speed. I’m enjoying this Southern California winter weather. It’s cold but not that disrespectful bitter midwestern cold. LOL The crisp cold air is perfect for hiking which is one of my favorite outdoor activities. There’s something about the beautiful scenery mixed with the air, peace, and quiet. I love it!!

So, I snapped the cover photo on a recent hike right after the sun rose. Nice, huh?

God’s creation is so beautiful, including you and me. Don’t ever forget that!!

Just Blogging It Out . . . Oh, and happy Friday eve!

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

Incarnation. Fully God and fully man. Jesus is Lord! That is all.

May the Lord bless you and your family as you continue to seek Him.

Just Blogging It Out. Oh, and Merry Christmas!!

P.S. Mary, Did You Know? Performed by Maverick City. For your listening pleasure.

We can trust God because He’s faithful, and that’s a big reason to be thankful. That is all.

Just Blogging It Out!

Click here to listen to Thank You by Maverick City Music.

Heart Exploration is off to a great start. A Big Thanks for your support. I’m grateful to God because I shouldn’t have sold one copy according to the rules of marketing and sales. I’m working on it, though.

Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. (Psalm 95:2)

What’s next? I’m writing my first nonfiction book and revising one of my favorite plays I wrote a few years ago. The goal is to release them both in 2023. I thought I’d put that out there.

If you still need to buy your copy of Heart Exploration, click HERE, and Discretion of the Heart, HERE. It’s the perfect weekend to read a book.

Just Blogging It Out!! Oh, and follow me on FB and Instagram. 🙂

There are many reasons why I appreciate our marriage, but I’m only going to focus on one in this post. Camaraderie. Simply put, be there for each other.

Happy 23rd Anniversary to Us!! (October 16th)

Just blogging it out!

P.S. I told you we love to laugh. I hope we make you chuckle a little in this short video. 🙂