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Epiphany!

I have epiphanies in the bathtub. Really, really important ones that shock me right back into breathing. Because sometimes I forget to breathe, particularly during stressful days like today. Not breathing is one… Read More →

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Interview For “Broken”

    Recently, a fellow writer, Caleb Tyler,  interviewed me regarding the new book, “Broken.”    He had a ton of questions;  though they were all excellent questions, these are the ones that… Read More →

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Saplings

This story is on my mind, and has been all day long. When I was about ten years old, a teacher gave each student in my class a sapling, and told us to… Read More →

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The Magic of Christmas

Have you ever been to a magic show? A really, really good one?   I have. Three times, I have sat in the audience (and once been an unsuspecting participant!) for a David… Read More →

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Thankful Tuesday: Mama

Yesterday’s trek through the ghetto left a lingering question running through my mind. I probably would have been able to ignore it, except that this afternoon, I received the following e-mail. It is… Read More →

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People With Bodies: A Letter to My Mouth

You wait for and love the feel of the girls’ kisses.  Your tongue can make funky shapes.  You absolutely love peaches.  You don’t say much, but you smile constantly.  You love reading stories… Read More →

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The Sunrise

Something very strange has been going on. For about a week now, I’ve had Aria, my character from an (thus far) unpublished book, on my brain.  Aria is one of my favorite female… Read More →

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A Letter To Our Pediatrican

Dear Dr. Ladd: I have felt particularly sappy lately. I don’t know why, other than the fact I’m a girl. Whatever the cause, I’ve spent significantly more time than usual lately thinking about… Read More →

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Thank You, Cinderella

Cinderella has been on my mind and heart for, oh, four or five months now. My 15 year old character Taya wrote an essay based on her story and last night my girls… Read More →

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Men & Lemon-Falls

Walking through my generous kitchen tonight, I tripped over a rogue lemon wedge my eyes failed to see and fell like a ton of bricks onto the hard floor. Upon standing and limping… Read More →

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You’re Not Faulkner

Have you ever found something in your life that honest-to-heaven really helped you every time you truly, soulfully needed it? Take a minute to think about it, it’s okay. Has there ever been… Read More →

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Dream Living

There are days that just have a fragile, delicate feel to them. Days so special and cherished it would take a catastrophe to disrupt it. Days when you get up at the crack… Read More →

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It’s Here!

I needed today in a way I can’t even begin to explain.  I needed today like you need a drink of water when you’re running a marathon on a hot Summer day.  We… Read More →

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Broken: Special Audio

A very special reading of one of my favorite  chapters, one that makes me very proud of Taya.  Broken is the story of 15 yr old Taya, and how desperation can lead to… Read More →

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Last Sneak Peak: Broken

   Below is  an excerpt from the forth coming novel Broken by Tiffini Johnson, tentatively scheduled to be released in late Summer 2013.  Broken compassionately portrays what can pave the road to teenage suicide. … Read More →

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The Quest

We’re on a quest, one that started the day we were born. We’re on a quest to find something more precious than silver, more lasting than a good day. We’ve sought to find… Read More →

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Hold My Hand

The waters that my boat has been sailing in tonight have been rough. I thought it was all going fairly smoothly until one seemingly benign–polite, even–act crashed through my heart, shattering it and… Read More →

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My Left-Handed Life

A few weeks ago, I was in Memphis where I gave a speech to a class. You can read that story here. After the speech, a whole line of them came to have… Read More →

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Do You Believe?

I received an e-mail yesterday that has stuck in my mind all day. I haven’t yet answered it because I want to make sure I say everything the right way, preferably the first… Read More →

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Broken: Sneak Peak II

From the upcoming release of “Broken” by Tiffini Johnson. Tentatively scheduled for release during Summer 2013, “Broken” compassionately portrays the effects of hopelessness that can pave the road to teenage suicide. This is… Read More →

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A Gift From Walgreens

Walgreens has long been my stomping grounds for a plethora of things. The photo lab guy who, bless his heart, practically lives there knows my name and can spell it correctly. One of… Read More →

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A Day in the Mud

Today, my girls and I went to the park. It’s not too far from our home and it is a special place for us–we have been going there since Breathe was born and… Read More →

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Thank you, Memphis

I don’t really have time tonight to write this. My daughter’s birthday party/sleepover is tomorrow. 13 kids aged 6-10 will be here from 1 in the afternoon to Sunday morning. I still have… Read More →

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The Creative Adult…

Yesterday, I was researching this never-ending book and stumbled across a quote that seemed to freeze my brain. The creative adult is the child who survived. Ursula LeGuin Ursula LeGuin is an American… Read More →

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10,000 Pictures in 4 years

I spent quite a bit of time tonight looking through my photo albums. It took awhile because, not counting the photos taken when I was a child or the ones others have taken… Read More →

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Ten Thousand And One Angels

Earlier this week, something very sad happened. Mindy McCready died from suicide. It has weighed heavily on me ever since, forcing my mind into flipping back the pages of my own life. I… Read More →

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A Love Story

Today was Valentine’s Day. Today was a good day. That second statement is important because, historically speaking, it has not always been true. In fact, last year, I accidentally forgot what day it… Read More →

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Bucket List: Freezin For A Reason

It is supposed to be very, very cold this weekend. Naturally. Because this Saturday happens to be the date for the Polar Plunge. The Polar Plunge takes place at Nashville Shores. Participants run… Read More →

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Giveaways Are Fun!

I have a couple copies of most of my books lying on the shelf in my room and spontaneously decided, just now, to host a giveaway. Because giveaways are fun. And because I… Read More →

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An Intravenous Iron Story

Most children love riding bikes, playing Tag and generally being active. Those who know me know I was just the opposite. I never liked sports or playing active games. I was the bookworm,… Read More →

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A Candle Is Burning

Candles: they are some of my most favorite things. Once every other week I fill my beautiful garden tub with steaming hot water and bubble soap. I light three Yankee Candles—Frosted Cupcake for… Read More →

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Dandelion Wishes

    Today, the girls and I were outside, taking a leisurely walk around the neighborhood.  There is a grassy meadow-like area in our subdivision  We go there to lay on blankets and… Read More →

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Soap Clouds & Happiness

I decided, rather spontaneously, to spice up bath time tonight. An hour after the idea hit, I ran to the store and bought 3 bars of Ivory soap. After dinner, I told the… Read More →

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Sneak Peak: Broken

    From the upcoming release of “Broken” by Tiffini Johnson. Tentatively scheduled for release during Summer 2013, “Broken” compassionately portrays the effects of hopelessness that can pave the road to teenage suicide.… Read More →

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A Pocketful of Sunshine & Pixie Dust

I’ve got a pocket full of sunshine. It’s Winter, but the sunshine inside me shines bright, lighting even the darkest day with a spark of hope. Hope that all is not yet lost,… Read More →

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Men!

I’m running out of oxygen–that’s how deeply I’m holding my breath in right now. I’m still holding it because I’m afraid that if I have air in my lungs I will use it… Read More →

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Thankful Tuesdays: Me

Something happened to me today. My life was touched by a stranger, as oft it is. My girls and I spent the morning shopping for birthday cakes and the majority of the afternoon… Read More →

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A Georgia Haven

I sat in the swing on the back of the wrap around wooden porch. My eyes soaked in the mountain ridge and a smoky sky; the fragrance of spruce pine and sugar maple… Read More →

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Rabbit Holes

What if….?. How many times have you asked yourself that question; imagined that when faced with a fork in the road, you’d chosen the other path? Have you ever wondered what you’d be… Read More →

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A Teddy Bear Remembers

I was about five, I guess, when after passing a car dealership, I said to my mother: “I’m glad we’re not going there: we’d never find a place to park.” My eldest daughter… Read More →

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“Truth” – Audio Excerpt HH

An audio excerpt from “Holding Home” that I read last night and cried over. I hope you enjoy!

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Cade’s Cove

I rarely (if ever) post “photo posts.” But this morning, we got up before the sun and drove in the dark around seemingly unending winding mountain roads at a snail’s pace (it took… Read More →

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Thankful Tuesdays: The Great Artist

We are in Gatlinburg this week. Today was our first full day here, and we’ve got loads of interesting and wonderful things planned. This morning, for instance, we went ziplining down 9 lines… Read More →

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Thankful Tuesdays: Talk to Me

This has been a busy week for us. We went to a harvest event at the Y that involved a huge rock climbing thing, free boxes of Papa John’s pizza, inflatables, face painting… Read More →

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Bucket Wish List: Catch a Frog

    This morning, we went to Cheekwood Botanical Gardens with three little friends.  Cheekwood is a beautiful, peaceful place full of meticulously maintained gardens that are stunningly beautiful regardless of the time… Read More →

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Lost In The Ghetto

      I had to go somewhere today that I don’t usually go.   Unfortunately, this place happened to be downtown.  I wasn’t so worried about that until I got lost. I… Read More →

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Help A Dream

Earlier this week, I became very excited when I received notification that one of my novels, The Character was just 26 copies away from selling an amazing 500 copies. Today, it is 23… Read More →

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Dear Mr. President

Dear Mr. President: First, you need to know that this letter is neither to commend or condemn the job you’ve done serving America. Indeed, I will attempt to keep my views of current… Read More →

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Thankful Tuesday: Birthdays

    Yesterday was my 32nd birthday.    After spending a wonderful day playing with the girls, I walked away feeling overwhelmed with gratitude.  Not for any of the presents I received but… Read More →

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Like A Buick (Audio)

I’ve posted this before, about a year ago, when I was emerging from a life altering crisis. I read the written form of it last night and it gave me hope again, so… Read More →

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A Special Prayer

  Dear Abba:   The book is about to be released, officially.   Like, for real.  The ugly negotiations with distributors, the back and forth on cover price, the endless nights writing, editing and… Read More →

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  • Stories That Matter

    Stores that matter are stories that make me feel, invigorate me or serve as a call to action for me. Stories that matter are stories that awaken my spirit to issues, be they spiritual, emotional, moral, social or a combination. Stories that matter are stories that call all my emotions into play: sadness, anger, grief, happiness, despair, joy, etc. Stories that make me think. Stories that provide me with indulgences, like romance, but that, at their core, have something important to say. Some stories are written with the intent of providing the reader with an escape from real life; stories that matter, however, are written to make readers --more aware-- of reality; to provoke compassion and empathy, love and hate, anger and grief. Stories that matter are the occurrences, catastrophes, triumphs, frustrations and joys of every day life: welcome to my collection of thoughts, feelings, idiosyncrasies, hopes and dreams---collectively known as Stories that Matter.
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