My Favorite Writer’s Conference – It’s Coming Up!

March 7, 2012 in: Writing

If you are a writer, or have have entertained that idea, and live anywhere in the Midwest, you have an amazing opportunity. The Called To Write Conference will be April 13-14 in Pittsburg, Kan. At just $80, it is one of the most affordable conferences you’ll find. It also has an uplifting, Christ-centered Spirit that [...]

continue reading

Live Beats A Recording

February 20, 2012 in: Devotions

The Martins concert did not disappoint. The group’s appearance in St. Joseph Friday night kicked off the Northwest Missouri Gospel series. It was one of the most moving concerts I have been to in some time. From the moment they stepped out on to stage, the Spirit of the Lord was evident. As another concert [...]

continue reading

Signs of the Old Times

February 2, 2012 in: Reflections on the River

IMAG0329

I learned about some “signs” of times gone by during the Tuesday Night Talk at the Pony Express National Museum this week. Some were more obvious than others. Ruth Rother, a retired school teacher, gave a presentation about the Underground Railroad.                             [...]

continue reading

Music Review: The Martins New Day

January 21, 2012 in: Book Reviews

I just found out The Martins are coming to St. Joseph on Feb. 17. I am thrilled to see them in concert and if you listen to this CD, you will be, too. In the first line of the first song, Joyce Martin sings, “If we could clear the stage, if we could kill the [...]

continue reading

There’s A Baby Up There

December 22, 2011 in: Devotions

NativityScene-300x235

At Christmas Eve services last year, we crowded into church, the night filled with both a sense of contentment and anticipation that is unique to December 24. The service was simple and moving, two teenagers portraying Joseph and Mary, gifted musicians singing old carols and new worship songs. In the row behind me, young Emily [...]

continue reading

Book Review: The Merchant’s Daughter

December 21, 2011 in: Book Reviews

I am delighted to tell you this book by my friend is being offered for $1.99 on the Kindle. If you believe in fairy tales, or just enjoy the magic of romance, you’ll love Melanie Dickerson’s newest book The Merchant’s Daughter. This Christian fiction is loosely based on the classic tale of Beauty and the [...]

continue reading

Book Review: Christmas With Tucker

December 12, 2011 in: Book Reviews

Christmas With Tucker was a gift from my friend last year – because my dog’s name is Tucker. A box of Kleenex later, I made it through this touching story that still warms my heart. Christmas With Tucker is a pre-quel to Greg Kincaid’s very popular A Dog Named Christmas ($9.99). It’s 1962 in eastern [...]

continue reading

Reflections on Mark Twain’s river

November 28, 2011 in: Reflections on the RiverWriting

Mark Twain, Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer having a conversation

The first time I read Huckleberry Finn was in third grade. If memory serves correctly, I had to get special permission from Mrs. Gates the librarian to check it out for an extra week so I could finish. She was good at encouraging kids to read that way. Much of the symbolism was lost on [...]

continue reading

A few hundred gifts of thanks

November 23, 2011 in: Book ReviewsDevotions

This year I’m giving thanks, a little bit at a time. I have been engrossed reading The Hunger Games Trilogy thrilled to find it really is as good as promised. The main character is a teenage girl who sneaks under a barbed fence to hunt to feed her family. I’m in the middle of Book [...]

continue reading

Night at the Museum

November 18, 2011 in: Reflections on the RiverWriting

JoeHouts

The St. Joseph Women’s Press Club met at the St. Joseph Museum this week and hostess Jackie Lewin helped us experience the Civil War. We started with an authentic Civil War era meal made by club members.                         Jackie made “interpretive” tags for each [...]

continue reading

About Susan

I'm Susan Mires, writing reflections from my perspective on the Missouri River in St. Joseph, Mo. I am a newspaper columnist, free lance writer and aspiring novelist. I enjoy keeping up with local issues and the things that make everyday life so interesting. Book reviews and devotions are also featured here. Find out more on the Reflections page.