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Hershel Has Become Part of My Daily Life
About six months ago, when I moved into my RV, I met one of the sweetest little dogs I have ever known. His name is Hershel, and he belongs to my neighbor. From the very first day I moved here, he started coming over to visit me. Now it’s part of our daily routine. Every…
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A Simple Drawing with a Big Heart
Sometimes the most meaningful gifts aren’t expensive or elaborate. Sometimes they’re drawn with a blue pen on a notebook page by the tiny hands of a child. A little girl who comes to visit me almost every day surprised me today with this drawing. She smiled and said, “It’s me and you,” and then told…
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What My Animals Teach Me About Unconditional Love
There is something truly special about the love of an animal. They don’t care how much money you have, what kind of job you work, or whether you’ve had a difficult day. They simply love you with their whole hearts. Over the years, my animals have reminded me that some of life’s greatest lessons don’t…
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Keeping Friends Close During Difficult Times
For the next couple of weeks (or a little longer), I’ll be dog-sitting sweet TiTi for my best friend, Sandra. Sandra and her husband had a sudden family emergency and needed to travel to Connecticut. During times like these, I’m grateful to be able to help by caring for TiTi while they focus on being…
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Devotional: Staying Strong When Depression Feels Heavy
Scripture “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18 (NIV) Some days are simply harder than others. Depression can make even the smallest tasks feel overwhelming. It can whisper lies that you are alone, forgotten, or that tomorrow will never be different. But God’s truth…
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I Wish My Grandpa and Uncle Chris Could See Me Now
There are days when I sit down at my computer, open a manuscript, and begin writing, and a thought quietly crosses my mind: I wish my grandpa and Uncle Chris could see me now. Not because I need applause. Not because I need recognition. But because they believed in me long before I had anything…
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A Little Gift with Feathers and Kindness
Sometimes the most unexpected gifts bring the biggest smiles. Recently, my landlord surprised me with something I never expected—a baby chicken and a cage to keep it safe and comfortable. It wasn’t a birthday, a holiday, or a special occasion. It was simply an act of kindness, and it reminded me how much small gestures…
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Becoming a Granny to the Little Ones Around Me
There is something beautiful about growing older that no one really talks about. It is not the gray hairs or the wrinkles earned through years of laughter and tears. It is the unexpected joy of becoming a safe place for the next generation. I may not be Granny by blood to the little children who…
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Healing Strong: A Journey Back to Yourself
There are wounds people can see…and then there are the quiet ones carried deep within the heart. Trauma has a way of changing how we think, how we trust, how we rest, and even how we see ourselves. Sometimes healing feels impossible when the weight of the past still lingers in the present. But one…
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Hard Hands, Soft Hearts
The Story Behind the Memoir That Refused to Stay Silent By Crystal Amon Some Stories Don’t Begin With Fairytales Some stories begin with survival. With thin walls. With empty refrigerators. With whispered prayers late at night. With children learning fear before they ever learn peace. Hard Hands, Soft Hearts was born from those kinds of…
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When Life Feels Like a Storm
This book wasn’t created from a place of perfection—it was born from real moments of uncertainty, pain, and the deep need for hope. It speaks to anyone who has ever found themselves standing in the middle of life’s crashing waves, wondering how to take the next step. Because the truth is, storms don’t mean you’re…
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When Something Beautiful Is Just Out of Reach
There are moments in life that arrive softly—almost like a whisper—and yet they linger far longer than louder things ever could. Recently, PawPrint created something for me that stopped me in my tracks. It was a custom tumbler with my dog, Tidbit, right at the center. Her little face, so full of life and personality,…
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You Are Not Broken: Why Becoming Whole Is the Devotional You Need Right Now
There are seasons in life where you feel like you’ve lost pieces of yourself. Not all at once. Just… slowly. Through disappointment. Through waiting. Through carrying more than you were meant to hold. And somewhere along the way, you start to wonder if you’ll ever feel like you again. That’s where Becoming Whole: A 60-Day…
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Frog Fish
There’s something about a small discovery that feels like holding a secret the world hasn’t noticed yet. He didn’t mean to catch them. The boy had gone out with his fishing pole, the line wobbling more from curiosity than skill. The pond sat quiet, like it was keeping its own thoughts. He dipped the net…
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Today I Lost My Adopted Brother
Today, my heart broke in a way that words can barely explain. My adopted brother passed away today, and even writing that sentence feels unreal. No matter how life unfolded, no matter the distance or the silence at times—he was still my brother. That bond never disappears. Adoption made our connection unique, but it didn’t…
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Marriage Matters Devotional: The Power of Respect
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” — Romans 12:10 Respect is one of the quiet pillars of every strong marriage. It doesn’t always shout. It doesn’t always sparkle. But it holds the walls steady when emotions shift, life gets busy, and misunderstandings try to creep in. Respect is how…
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Marriage Matters: The Power of Communication
Marriage is not built in the big moments — it’s shaped quietly in the everyday conversations we choose to have… and the ones we choose to avoid. Communication is one of the clearest windows into the health of a relationship, yet it’s also one of the easiest things to neglect when life becomes noisy, busy,…
Princess Crystal Says 