People write for many reasons, and I (selfishly? 🤔) write mostly for sheer pleasure – but, sometimes I also write to help me make sense of the world.
Be that as it may, creative writing is a personal journey to which I’m deeply committed to… and I made sure to receive a blessing from my spiritual father regarding the idea and launching of Blisswood.
Please note – I don’t claim to speak for the Church, nor do I hold any theological degree.
Blisswood is simply an Orthodox Christian Blog sharing faith and experiences – through my poetry, music, stories, photo art, and encouraging quotations from Scripture, Saints, and the Holy Fathers.
Like my writing – I, too, am a work in progress… and with God’s help, am moving forward – albeit it seems, at the pace of a tortoise!
What is the meaning of the title “Blisswood”?
The word Bliss comes from 12th century Old English, blisfulle, meaning “glad, happy, joyous; blessed, and full of the glory of heaven.” And, through the Wood of the Cross, Joy came to all the world. Hence, Blisswood!
Some of my work has been published locally and abroad: Orthodoxy Today, Orthodox Christian News, Boulevard Lifestyle and Issuu Magazines, the Times Colonist, and copywriting for local businesses. I’m a lyricist, an amateur composer, and editor of a monthly newsletter. In early January 2023, I had the wonderful opportunity of being interviewed by the Morning Edition of NPR (National Public Radio Broadcast) to share some Orthodox Nativity Traditions.
I’m blessed with a wonderful husband who’s a deacon in our church. We have two delightful adult children with marvellous spouses. There are amazing grandchildren, a grand-cat… and a generous, brilliant brother, who’s always had my back… except when baking brownies.
It’s a blessing to be a parish youth choir director, and when duty calls, an occasional relief adult choir conductor too… who (mea culpa), sporadically struggles with the fascinating, albeit seldom-used (for good reason) Byzantine Tone 9.
When not pecking away at my laptop on some magnum opus, I’m either in the garden, or wishing I was.
Thanks for visiting Blisswood!
My Top 4 Favourite Scripture Verses
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. ~ Romans 8:28
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus… I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. ~ Philippians 4:6, 7, 13
Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”~ St. John 20:29
And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen. ~ St. John 21:25