One of the biggest blessings I have as an author is in visiting the places where I set the books. Sitka is one of those places I would gladly go on writing about, if I found the right stories to tell.

Jim and I taught a mini writer’s conference while there and the turn out was so great. The people who attended were a blend of young and older, men and women, native and transplants, but all had a passion for writing.

As Jim and I shared with each other after the conference, we realized once more how God works through us even in little “chance” encounters. We were blessed to meet new people and hear their stories, know their thoughts and see tiny pictures of their dreams. Some will no doubt go on to see their dreams born, while others will give up somewhere along the way.

Sometimes I feel like giving up. The goal seems too big. The road too long. It’s easy to look at the big picture and say, “There’s no way I can endure this or overcome that.”

But God never leaves us to bear it alone. I’m one of those who firmly believes that God’s puts in our hearts the desires and dreams that He has for us. Sometimes we corrupt those dreams. Sometimes we ignore them, but when we are seeking the Lord and striving to do His will–it’s amazing how those desires and dreams come together to bring Him glory.

Have a blessed day in Him.