Quirky - Unconventional - Inspiring

She still remembers the day when she could barely hold the orange pencil that she carried over to her father. After taking a small carving knife from the yellow drawer in the kitchen, he sat in his chair at the red arborite table where he widdled the pencil and told a story from his past. As usual, his words captivated Darlene as she shook with laughter. "Haven't you ever been embarrassed Dad?" she asked, with wide eyed wonderment while she giggled behind her little hand.

"Only once," he said blushing, "in grade two, when I asked a girl something I shouldn't have..." His strong hands moved effortlessly with the wood as the story came to life. "Never worry about tomorrow," he said placing the sharpened pencil in her hand, "just laugh about today. God will take care of the rest."

She would always remember how the smell of the soft pink eraser was like the rubber soles of his shiny black shoes, and the freshly sharpened wood smelled like the dust of his workshop.

Centered in the long hallway of that house stood a cupboard, where inside lay a stack of fresh white paper, each sheet held a life of it's own within it's magical fibers. That night, before resting her head on the white pillowcase, a little girl waved her magic pencil over the canvas bringing the paper to life with each mark she took.

Encouraged by her father's humor and zest for life, Darlene continues to make her her mark on the world--bringing her own words to life. Her stories reflect on her family, her parents, being a woman, and being a child of the most high God.

"Life is a play," she says, "scripted by the hand of God. Given the chance to start again, would I dare to change a single line of something written so masterfully? No. But I would play the role quite differently."

With the Word of God shedding light on her path she's pressing on through a faith-focussed journey. There are unexpected bends and twists on this path, but one thing's for sure, she inspired by the Father every step of the way.

Darlene has written over a hundred humorous short stories, some of which can be read in her monthy column "DysFUNctional" at Christian Women Online where she has a strong Internet presence.