When I was a little girl, my mama was very intentional to find unique gifts and treats to include in my brother and my Easter baskets. She was a teacher so she always incorporated educational and creative gifts we could use, in addition to the usual chocolate bunnies and jelly beans. When I had kids of my own, I also tried to look for unique [...] Keep Reading
General
Create in Me a Heart of Hope: Navigating stormy waters
Bedtime was always a struggle. On a normal day, putting three rambunctious kids to bed can be challenging. After my husband died from cancer, I was left as a young widow with three daughters ages two, five, and eight. Bedtime often broke me. It was like a neon yellow highlighter stroke, a reminder that Ericlee was no longer there to help me. I [...] Keep Reading
Feasting or fasting: Learning to rejoice through Lent
The guitar and piano notes weaved together with the voices of our church family as we lifted the generations-old lines to heaven. “O come, O come, Immanuel, and ransom captive Israel that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear . . . ” I heard my youngest daughter’s voice rising next to me -- full of volume and unbridled joy. [...] Keep Reading
Walking toward healing: Rehab for the broken hearted
Pam and I are both writers who are part of a group called Hopewriters. We met in person several years ago at the World Conference for the American Association of Christian Counselors. I sat in on her workshop and listened intently as she shared her story and suggestions on how to help widows navigate grief. I resonated with so many of her personal [...] Keep Reading
How to Get Up Again After a Hard Fall
A few months ago, I was out on a training run on the trail near my house with a group of mama friends. The air was brisk. Rays of light danced across the path and through the branches of the trees. Jewel-toned leaves carpeted the ground. Then suddenly my foot snagged on a crack in the sidewalk. I went flying. I skidded on my elbows and knees [...] Keep Reading
Top 10 meaningful books I read in 2021
Reading is one of the most delicious and satisfying past times. I never seem to have enough time to read all the books my heart desires evidenced by the stacks of books on my nightstand and my overflowing bookshelves. I'm not a particularly fast reader. I like to highlight and underline and journal in the margins. I like to linger longer over [...] Keep Reading
