
Hi, Friends.
I’m sorry I haven’t kept up with my newsletter. I’m going to try again to get on a schedule to write at least once a month. I hope you’ll stick with me!
How is your fall weather? Here in San Antonio, we’ve had a few cooler days. They revive me!
About my writing journey . . .
I’ve spent the last few months editing and publishing books for others. Now I’m excited about buckling down to write my fourth BIZ book! It’s my first Christmas book—called All Wrapped Up in Christmas!
Some of you have heard how God really came through for me a year after my sweet hubby Greg was sent home from the hospital on Christmas Eve to die.
Tears poured down my cheeks as I watched a Christmas movie, and I asked, “God, will I ever love Christmas again?”
Immediately, the Holy Spirit brought a response to my mind: “Barbie, stop thinking about what Christmas was and think about what Christmas is!
What a difference that makes! Because of Christmas, we will see our loved ones again one day. Because of Christmas, we can have peace in our souls even when we walk through the dark valley of the shadow of death. Because of Christmas, we can celebrate God’s precious gift of his Son Jesus Christ and the salvation He has provided for us!
I turned a corner in my grief process during that heavenly conversation.
That’s what my fourth Biz book is about—the power and gift of Christmas!
To whet your appetite, I’ve included a short scene below.
Have a blessed fall and Thanksgiving!
We’ll talk again soon.
Barbie
The dry squeal of metal on metal sent my blood pressure soaring. I swiped my sudsy hands on my jeans and hurried upstairs. “Robert, don’t push my buttons!”
Too late. Robert had lowered the steps to the attic into the hallway and stood on the second rung in a sweatsuit with a wicked grin on his face. “Biz, I’m fine. Go away.”
“You’re not fine, you crazy old goat. You were just in the emergency room a week ago with that broken arm, and you’re back on a ladder again? Now, get down from there.”
Robert didn’t budge. “I just want to look around up there so I can tell Robby which tubs need to come down to decorate the outside of the house. I should have done a better job of putting everything away when we moved in.”
“Are the tubs marked?”
“Yes, but—”
“But nothing. I’m pretty sure Robby can read. Please get down. You’re going to spoil Christmas if you fall again and break a leg or your other arm.”
“Biz—”
The oven timer buzzed. “That’s the homemade rolls I worked on all morning for dinner.”
Robert climbed another step. “Well, what are you waiting for? Go take them out of the oven.” Again, that Cheshire cat grin.
Crossing my arms, I shook my head. “Not going to happen until you are down.”
He didn’t budge. Time for action. I grabbed the waistband of his sweats and yanked until they were curled around his ankles. I knew he could not pull them back up with one arm.
“Is that the way you want the grandkids to find you when they get here?”
Robert leaned into the ladder, resting his elbows on a rung. “This isn’t funny, Biz. If I fall, it’s going to be your fault.”
I stretched out a hand. “Let me help you down.”
About that time, a cacophony of voices entered the back door downstairs, and our son Robby called out, “Mom? Dad?”
Transfer that Cheshire cat grin to my face. I called downstairs. “Vickie, will you please take my rolls out of the oven right away?”
I got the giggles as Robert begged me to hurry up and help him with his pants. As I did, I said, “Don’t you ever push me like that again, sweetheart.”
Robert’s grin returned. “Or what?”

One Dot at a Time
Barbara E. Haley
6/22/2026
"All Wrapped Up in Christmas"- 4th Biz book coming soon!
Barbara E Haley
11/4/2025
Today's the Day!
Barbara E. Haley
11/3/2024
God Has Great Ideas!
Barbara E. Haley
10/10/2024
A Ticket to Ride
Barbara E. Haley
4/29/2024
Why I Write . . .
Barbara E. Haley
4/24/2023
A New Morning Awaits!
Barbara E. Haley
3/5/2023
A Peek at my Biz 3 Book
Barbara E. Haley
3/1/2023
When Bad Things Happen to Good People ...
Barbara E. Haley
2/20/2023
"Love is ..."
Barbara E. Haley
2/13/2023
Read Between the Lines
Barbara E. Haley
2/5/2023
Just because . . .
Barbara E. Haley
1/29/2023
When Bad Things Happen to Good People
Barbara E. Haley
1/23/2023
Ever Been Visited by a VIP?
Barbara E. Haley
1/15/2023
God-Moments
Barbara E. Haley
6/8/2019
When Life Happens!
Barbara Haley
1/23/2019
Great Deals for Christmas!
Barb Haley
11/24/2018
Guardian Angel to the Rescue
Barbara E. Haley
9/16/2018
Biz On the Go Now Available!
Barb Haley
6/10/2018
Nothing Compares!
Barb Haley
4/5/2018
STUCK in your Comfort Zone?
Barb Haley
2/5/2018
There's a Song in the Air!
Barbara E. Haley
12/15/2017
When you think you're finished, and then . . . God!
Barb Haley
8/6/2017
Those Branches HAD to Go!
Barb
5/30/2017
Eight Years Later ...
Barb
1/9/2017
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Barb
12/16/2016
O Holy Night
Barb
12/15/2016
A White Christmas
Barb
12/13/2016
We Wish You a Merry Christmas!
Barb
12/12/2016
We Three Kings
Barb
12/11/2016
Birthday of a King
Barb
12/10/2016
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Barb
12/9/2016
Hallelujah Chorus
Barb
12/8/2016
Joy to the World
Barb
12/7/2016
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Barb
12/6/2016
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Barb
12/5/2016
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Barb
12/4/2016
Angels From the Realms of Glory
Barb
12/3/2016
Silent Night
Barb
12/2/2016
A Closer Look at the Christmas Carols
Barb
12/1/2016
When Prayers Take a LONG TIME to be Answered
Barb Haley
10/19/2016
Anybody Up for a Bit of Transformation?
Barb Haley
9/24/2016
Diving in the Wind
Barb
8/16/2016
Because I Can!
Barb
7/12/2016
Baby Steps
Barb
6/30/2016
No Help From Me
Barb
6/12/2016
Day One: Do I Need a Blindfold, Lord?
Barb
6/10/2016
Depression? I'd Kick It if I Could
Barb
6/9/2016
God Has Our Backs
Barb
2/8/2016
The Winner Is...
Barb
11/30/2015
Sample sections from A Second Wind
Barb
11/28/2015
Has Anyone Heard From the Lord Lately?
Barb
9/13/2015
The Emotional Strain of Chronic Pain
Barb
9/8/2015
Why does God test us?
Barb
1/29/2015
Inciting Incident-What?s That?
Barb
9/1/2014
Act One?the Ordinary World
Barb
8/24/2014
Tell Me the Story of Jesus
Barb
8/14/2014
Story or Plot?
Barb
8/8/2014
True Light
Barb
4/15/2014
Words of Love Last Forever!
Barb
7/19/2012
Alzheimer's-Not the Only Way to Let Go
Barb
7/9/2012
The Hunger Games
Barb
6/26/2012
What Would God Say?
Barb
6/13/2012
Keeping It All Inside
Barb
6/3/2012
The Rest of the Story
Barb
5/29/2012
Trust and Obey
Barb
5/25/2012
Hidden Dirt
Barb
5/22/2012
One Layer at a Time
Barb
5/17/2012
Welcome!
Barb
5/15/2012