I've learned….
That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

I've learned….
That when you're in love, it shows.

I've learned ….
That just one person saying to me, ‘You've made my day!' makes my day.

I've learned….
That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I've learned….
That being kind is more important than being right.

I've learned….
That you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I've learned….
That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in any other way.

I've learned….
That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I've learned….
That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

I've learned….
That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

I've learned….
That life is like a roll of toilet paper.
The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I've learned….
That money doesn't buy class.

I've learned….
That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned…
That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I've learned….
That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I've learned….
That when you plan to get even with someone,
you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I've learned….
That love, not time, heals all wounds.

I've learned….
That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I've learned….
That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I've learned….
That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

I've learned….
That life is tough, but I'm tougher.

I've learned….
That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.

I've learned….
That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I've learned….
That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.

I've learned….
That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I've learned….
That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I've learned….
That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, you're hooked for life.

I've learned….
That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

I've learned….
That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

Writing in Crayon

We live in a world of description—green trees, brilliant flowerbeds, dark hallways and overstuffed chairs. Those are the words that show us where the story is taking place; they set the scene. But the heart of most stories is found in the words the characters speak…the dialogue. This is especially true of the stories and characters that stay with us long after we’ve finished the book.

Creating an authentic voice for a character is the greatest challenge an author faces. But the task becomes even more daunting when you write in the voice of a child.

Writing in a child’s voice is like writing in crayon. You have to let go of everything you’ve learned over the years. You step away from the computer and wrap chubby little fingers around a fat crayon. You no longer think about being politically correct and you say what you mean without worrying what others think. The honesty of a child’s voice can reach out and take hold of a reader’s heart in a way mere words seldom can.

I often write stories that involve children and I have been blessed with the ability to think in crayon. I believe this is a result of the many years I’ve taught Sunday School to Kindergarten and First Graders. The honestly in a child’s thoughts and prayers has challenged me to look inside every character and find their true voice. To remind myself of this, I keep a box of crayons on my desk. When I stumble over the most heartfelt way to say something, I take a crayon in hand and start a list of words. Inevitably the right word is in there, it just takes a bit of crayon time to find it.

I pray that I never grow too old or become too serious to write in crayon.