Her voice carried through the house. That soft, small voice, struggling to sing on pitch and the hands playing a new and choppy song, stopped me in my tracks. In the midst of a busy Christmas moment I discovered this girl preparing a gift for me, a special song to be sung for a mother’s heart.… Continue reading Breaking Through the Silence of Your Christmas Night
My house smells amazing as the scent of pumpkin pie floats from the kitchen into my little work place. Christmas music is playing and all feels right with the world. But if I’m honest some things in my world are not all right. Your world probably has a few things not all right, either. I… Continue reading Dancing in the Dark and Learning to Give Thanks in All Circumstances
Life has a way of turning on you at times, doesn’t it? Out of nowhere it hits you with the unexpected and leaves you wishing you could just stop and get off the merry-go-round for a while. Unfortunately, you can’t. The world keeps spinning and everyone else keeps moving. Somehow you have to try… Continue reading Life’s Unexpected Twists and Living with the Shame of it All
I’ve been in ministry for a long time. I guess I’ve been in life a long time, too. Perhaps that makes me old, though, I prefer to call it seasoned. My husband and I have led a variety of people over the years. Most are amazing people to lead. But there is one population that… Continue reading Knocking the Chip off the Shoulder: Defeating Defensiveness
A title like this is probably a bit provocative. People always love to know other people’s business, and I especially think they love to know the pastor’s business. After over twenty years in ministry with my pastor husband, I get it. People like to know what makes him tick and what makes him different from… Continue reading Perils of a Pastor’s Wife: When You Find Yourself in a Crisis of Faith
Some days I have to take a break from social media. The news, the grapevine, the problems, and the constant opinions of others agitates me. A full diet of social media is information overload and emotions overwhelmed and can leave one vacillating between guilt, anger, and fear with the simple scroll of the mouse. As a… Continue reading A Note to My Daughters about Life and Living
I’m not sure how it happens but you know it always does. Your child says they want to do something and somehow you end up working hard to make it happen. My oldest daughter recently decided she wanted to run a 5k. I had decided that due to some physical issues and a general lack… Continue reading Mama Bear Patrol and Cheering on the Next Generation
I’ve been working with horses for a few years. My first and favorite horse, Sky, has been a great joy to work with. Some would say that she trained me and I would agree. I was introduced to natural horsemanship shortly after I adopted Sky and I’ve never looked back. I love it for a… Continue reading Staring Down Those Insecurities
Dear Time, Maybe it’s middle-age. Maybe it’s the chaotic pace of life, or maybe it’s just me, but I find myself angry with you. You loom over me, always reminding me I’ll never finish all that needs to be done. I’d like to play fair, but how can I when you care nothing for me? No matter… Continue reading My Unresolved Anger with Time
It’s easy to love people who love me. I feel so good inside when I’m with those people. Elated and strong; I’m on top of the world when I find someone who returns my love with more love. And then there is everyone else. The not-so-nice, not-so-friendly, not-so-happy, porcupine people who are just very difficult… Continue reading Loving Those Porcupine People
