Cheerful. Kind. I know people like that, don’t you? People you just love to be around. People who make you smile and laugh. People you are glad you met. I met a beautiful couple like that just this week and their spirit reminded me of what I want my life to look like. They were not…
Yep. I’m a list maker. There’s just something about crossing something off a list that inspires me to do whatever it takes to completely eradicate whatever it is that’s ON that list! It’s kind of a love/hate relationship, isn’t it? 1. We love making a list. 2. We hate that the list is so long. 3. We love…
That song. You know–the one you can’t get it out of your head–and yet, you don’t really want to. “You’re a Good, Good Father, it’s Who You are…” “…And I’m loved by You, it’s who I am.” [Chris Tomlin] Being a parent is the hardest, most rewarding job on the planet, and the reality is–…
Every day you wake up thinking, “maybe today will be the day someone finds her.” Our story is a common one, unfortunately. Looking for a lost dog, we have heard all kinds of stories about beloved pets who decided to journey into the unknown. So I pray. Of course I pray. The creator of the…
It was a small thing, really, but when I swerved my car to avoid hitting it, somehow the image of that upside-down turtle wouldn’t go away. “Turn around.” It wasn’t a big booming voice, but a quiet whisper of reason. My reasons for not turning around went something like this: “You’ll be late–again.” “There’s no…
Oh yes you did. You rolled your eyes. And covered your face. And eagerly walked away from the one who carried you for nine months– and has carried you ever since. The hugs you once demanded are becoming rare, now that you think you’re “too old” for Mom’s affection. But time is slipping away, and…
It’s true, I’ve never seen myself as someone creative. I have a craft closet full of supplies, but I always feel like an imposter. A mimic. I can copy an idea or re-create someone else’s DIY, but I have never really see myself as a true artist. Until I started writing. Blogging is my creative…
It was just a bowl of soup. And a day with my grandson. Coming home at the end of the day, my drive time became a time of reflection and wonder at how blessed I really am. Not in the world’s sense, maybe, but in this girl’s heart I had just had the most beautiful…
Despite the not-so-uncommon view that the hope of this world is found in politics or prosperity or possessions, one brush with eternity, and your perspective can change in a heartbeat. Hope has a name: His name is Jesus. When our youngest was in junior high, he started complaining about pain in the side of his…
My story is not a dramatic one, but it starts in the shadow of pain. I was born 10 months after the tragic death of a sister, only eight months old. Pain has a way of shaping you, and my sweet mother was never the same after losing a child. I know. She’s told me.…
The words jumped out at me from the page. “Do the next thing.” As simple as this phrase might seem, some days life can stop us in our tracks. Whether we are struggling physically–or emotionally hanging on by a thread, our minds can be overcome by a sense of futility. “I’ll never (be/do/accomplish that)… so…
“When my husband died I started asking God for a hug. Not from Him, of course, but from a living, breathing person.” Because my sweet mother-in-law had been married to her husband for 50+ years, one of the things she missed the most besides his presence was the daily dose of physical touch, or affection.…
Compared to the wisdom of others, I could come out on the short end of the stick or I might look as grand as an oak. Proverbs has taught us that being “wise in our own eyes” is a sure sign that you are not wise at all, so if we see wisdom in its…
“It’s not fair!” Sometimes in life we come to a crossroad. Will I trust God or blame Him? Will I walk forward in faith or run away in rebellion? There are always curves in the road, roadblocks and even dead ends, but wisdom says, “even when I don’t understand, I will trust him.” Proverbs 29…
Courage is a funny thing. Some see it as bold, or daring. Some see it as the characteristic of one who is willing to take a chance or to embark on some grand adventure that appears risky (i.e. sky-diving or rock climbing), while others would call it crazy. Irresponsible even. When I read Proverbs 28…
