Articles by: Crystal Ortmann
One Narrow Lifeline
Time dragged on at the labor and delivery ward where I worked as an RN. Our patient load…
Berate or Communicate?
Neither of us liked confrontation. Hurts and miscommunications piled up. I found myself snapping at my husband, sending…
Sharing Your Story
Everyone has a story, or do they? I ask many people about their life histories and often they…
Fulfilling a Dream
As a young woman, my heart’s desire was to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, south to north through…
Dusty Thinks It’s More Fun to be Good
BOING! Dusty’s ears shot straight upward and he stood on his hind legs to see if he could…
A Sweet Fragrance
Life is tough sometimes. Times come when there is hurt upon hurt and there seems to be one…
Procrastination and Other Habits (Good and Bad)
We’ve all been there . . . “I’ll do it later. I’ll get to it tomorrow or maybe…
What Will Dusty Wear?
“It’s time to get up and wash,” Dusty muttered to himself. He yawned and stretched each big foot,…
Dusty Loves to Hop and Leap
“Life is soooo goooood!” said Dusty as he leaped in the air. He ran down the hall, kicking…
Dusty Doesn’t Want to Share
“Dusty, come here,” called the lady. Two furry ears popped up. She’s calling me. Maybe it means a…
Dusty and the Bully
“Aah, this sunbath feels good,” Dusty murmured as he drowsed in the sunshine. He did not know his…
Perfectly Imperfect
“Look at that driver! Get off the phone!” “Did you ever see anyone so stupid in your life?”…
Everyone’s Life Has Meaning
“She’s far too old and is just a bother.” “He’s so deaf that I have to yell to…
Common Pitfalls for Writers
She leaned over the table as she spoke with quiet intensity to her friend and fellow writer. “I…
Becoming a Professional
Now that you’ve discovered you can write, it’s time for some soul-searching. What do you really want to…
Are You Right with God?
“I always thought Hilda was a Christian.” “So did I. She did so much for the church.” I…
Published at Last!
“I am happy to inform you we have decided to use your manuscript. It will appear in the…
Never Too Old
The crowded room and lively chatter intimidated me on my first visit to the Oregon Christian Writer’s Fall…
Laughing Your Way Through Office Fiascos
You may think having a home office will be a piece of cake and you won’t have to…
He Knows
My house bunny, Dusty, is allowed to run all over the house. We give him complete freedom, because…
Did You Hear?
“Did you hear what she said?” “I have a prayer request and wait till you hear what it…
Lonely, but Never Alone
Growing older isn’t much fun. For many, becoming older means more time at home alone, especially after retirement…
What Good is a Date Night
“How can we recapture the romance of our dating time?” I mused out loud. We celebrated our 27th…
God Provided the Lifeline
On the evening shift in the Labor and Delivery ward, quiet reigned. I felt somewhat bored. In another…
Handling Rejection
After many months of waiting, the letter arrives. Your pulse bounds with anticipation when you see the publisher’s…
Inner Strength
Just before midnight, I finished my work on the labor and delivery ward, wearily trudged from the hospital…
Still Flexible
Are you still flexible enough to think of others, to continue growing, and to deal with change in…