When you think of summer, what comes to mind? Are there memories that bring a smile to your face? The older I get, the less tolerant I am of the summer heat; once it’s above 80 degrees there’s a serious possibility that I’ll resemble the Wicked Witch of the West. MELTING. But I definitely don’t […]

I’m preparing to take a trip. Not just any trip. Probably a once-in-a-lifetime kind of trip. I’m going with my sisters and mom to NYC. Now I’ve traveled with them before, but I don’t recall anything more than one night. This expedition is SIX nights. And did I mention we’re driving? Oh, wait! And we’re

A few weeks ago, a friend and I were apparently having a similar day. Interactions with our spouses left us somewhat frustrated. As we shared our experiences it became obvious that the timing of our conversation was no accident. She had specifically prayed asking God to filter the words coming out of her mouth; even

My porches are some of my favorite places to just sit and listen. No music playing. No baseball game on the radio. Only the chatter coming from the chickens, the distinct call of a Bobwhite Quail, or maybe another airplane taking off or landing. Until that unmistakable buzz. It’s very familiar to me now. I

There are some things in life you’re never prepared for. No amount of study or conversation or therapy or prayer will suffice. I began one of those journeys 23 years ago. My brother died March 9, 2001. Shortly after that, I received a call from Karen Spaeth. She heard that I sang at Michael’s funeral

I thoroughly enjoy a well-manicured lawn. It makes my heart happy. Taking off my shoes and walking on this plush landscape almost feels holy. It’s highly therapeutic, too. There are studies that even suggest health benefits such as better immunity, increased antioxidants, and improved sleep. Sign me up for all of those please. So I

The following weeks turned into months and our hearts were heavy. We were seeing and experiencing things that no amount of training could ever prepare us for. We had initially launched our daily prayer time at noon. Many were attending and tangible evidence was being seen as a result. I had failed to consider that

It’s pretty common for me to say something like, “I need a little Jesus” when I’m having a rough day. Maybe someone at work has lit my last nerve on fire. Or the lady at the service desk at Kroger was unbelievably lacking in professional skills. Maybe I just received some bad news. To some

I’ve said it before. I’ll probably say it again. Life is hard. Really hard. When you’re a teenager and can’t fathom that your parents know anything. When you’re having kids. When that job just isn’t what it was made out to be. Your spouse is testing your vows. The call came unexpectedly. None of us

April 8, 2024, was a day most of us in the path of eclipse totality won’t soon forget. Businesses closed or were open with extra activities and services available. Schools weren’t in session. We made sure we had special glasses for viewing. We made it a big deal. I was working that day (you can’t