Joann Claypoole is an author, speaker, and former spa-girl entrepreneur. She's a wife, mother of four sons, “Numi” to four grandchildren, doggie-mom of two. The award-winning author of The Gardener’s Helper’s (ages 5-9 MJ Publishing2015) would rather be writing, hiking in the mountains, or inviting deer and other wildlife to stay for dinner near her western NC writing retreat. Visit her website: joannclaypoole.com and Wordpress blog: https://joannclaypoole.wordpress.com/
Mom’s garden, sown with love… Her love reminds me of a garden; ever lovely, growing, and alive. Born and raised in New York City, the feisty redhead sprang into action the day tulips and daffodils
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The end of all things old… Each new day signifies a fresh start—the end of all things old. We step away from past sorrows, failures, and disappointments to embrace the hope of a brighter perspective
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Can unchanging truths about wisdom lead to seasons of real change? Adventures. Tragedies. Romance. Mystery. All the metaphors and poetic verse pique my brain and prod me to study beyond the written page. I want
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Can love change the world? I’m reminded of splendor and thunder; how the trickle-down effects of selflessness, patience, kindness, and faithfulness instead of selfishness, impatience, and unfaithfulness can change lives for the better. There’s no
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Starting over and embracing new beginnings… When I think of winter’s wonders, my thoughts wander like snowflakes drifting with the wind. The sudden rush of goodbyes and quiet after Christmas vacations with our loved ones
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I wish you peace. I often speak about my father as if he were the best dad a girl could ever have. However, as he approached the end of his life, his faith and integrity
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Thanksgiving in all its fullness? When I think about Thanksgiving, the first thing that comes to mind is gratefulness and all its trimmings. We pause to remember the year’s fullness or lack thereof. Today as
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Prophesied messiah, or prejudged leader? “John. Peter. Paul. Come, follow me.” I imagine Jesus’s smile as he reached out his hand to each man. But, did they drop everything and run to Him? What about
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Thankful for all the flavors? While the abundance of fall and my favorite season’s harvest means more to me than picking apples in North Carolina, baking pumpkin pies, or roasting huge turkeys, I smile with
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How to cultivate patience? I’m sure you’ve heard your mother, sister, or best friend say, “Have Patience. This too shall pass.” Yep. I thought so. The first thing that usually comes to my mind is
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