One of the best things about gifts? They keep on giving. When I see the pillow from my sister, I think of her. When I drink out of the coffee mug Abbi gave me, I think of her. The gifts from friends and family bless me again and again. Often, I whisper a prayer for […]
Labels and Names
The world will label you all your life. Tall, short, smart, bossy, ugly, pretty, worth it, and not. But here is the only label that truly matters: “Now this is what the Lord says – the one who created you, Jacob, the one who formed you, Israel – Do not fear, for I have redeemed […]
Of Dreams and Truck Driving
Once upon a time, long long ago, seventeen-years-long-and-SHORT-ago, after a long, long wait and labor, a big-eyed baby girl was born. She had a soft wisp of dark hair, chibby-chubby cheeks and a little button nose just right for kissing. This girl was cuddled and loved and she grew into a chattery toddler cherub. She […]
Nothing Can Separate Us
I’d walked through the cemetery and I stood at the edge turning to leave. As I did, the backdrop of blue laced with clouds and edged with green trees caught my attention and pulled my footsteps to a stop. I turned more fully around to look at it and take in the contrast. The day […]
Capturing Story
Each photograph is a story captured in a single moment. ~ unknown Stories mean a lot. Stories matter. Stories teach. Stories make life interesting. Stories grab our attention. And we each are living our very own story. We all have a story we’re telling. Isn’t that exciting? The bad days, the sad days, the good […]
Waiting For Harvest
Waiting for harvest, Waiting this year, Wheat growing golden, Time’s drawing near. Listen? You hear it? Rustling stalks. Waiting for harvest, Wheat fields, they talk. They whisper “It’s coming. Coming quite soon.” Grain is a’drying. Stalks playing their tune. Dancing and waving and waiting too, Waiting for harvest, Skies are so blue. Wheat seed we planted, […]
All the Afraids
I snuggled a little deeper in my blanket and turned the page. The words and the book spoke inspiration and encouragement to me. Though Christmas was over, I’d begun reading Because of Bethlehem by Max Lucado. As my eyes ran over the page, my heart did a little turn as I read this story. We can […]
A Washer and A Dryer and a Memory or Twenty
Twenty years old. This washer&dryer. They’ve seen a few loads of laundry between then and now. They’ve churned away at a lot of dirt and grease from my farmer man’s jeans, cycled who-knows-how-many-times and fluffed a lot of loads to dryness. Blankets. Sheets. Dear, dear baby laundry. Load after load of everyday laundry. Laundry from […]
Walking Steadfastly, Doing What Is Right
The sun and the dew and the wheat all spun themselves into a glorious combination on this beautiful spring morning. I tried. But as smart as my phone is and as good as the camera contained within is, it could not capture the beauty and shine. I’d been sitting there in my chair under my […]
Ten Takes I’ve Learned About Living With Pain
Pain. Aches. Headaches. Wounds. Hurts. We all deal with them in our lives. There’s no escaping it. Pain is a part of life physically, mentally and emotionally. At sometime, in some way, we will endure painful things. Thankfully, many times the pain passes quickly. Other times it lingers. And sometimes it becomes an unwelcome part […]
A Piece of Time
Snippets. Squares. Segments. Call them what you will. These captured details from my day. A sliver-y slice of time held in pixels. The moon is glowing golden and glorious in the dark sky. It’s saying hello to me through the window in my living room. Lamps glow golden on the inside, casting cozy home and […]
Grateful for Today
Psalm 16:2 I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.” vs 5-6 ~ Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• […]
Life Will Not Always Be As It Is Today
Life will not always be as it is today. ~ I read this quote a few years ago and it lingers in my mind. A reminder that resonates with me often. It applies well to all the days. On the hard days ~ they won’t last forever. On the discouraging days ~ another day will […]
Ten What Ifs From My Friend
Last week I presented myself with Ten What-If questions and shared them for a Ten on Tuesday post. Later in the day my phone chirped its incoming text alert. Words from my friend and cousin, Danita, sprang up on my phone screen. She told me she’d enjoyed the post very much and then she shared a […]
Sanctuary Offered in the Ordinary
I sit with my ratty hair in my old rocking chair, the one I’ve had since before my daughter was born. I push with one foot, causing the chair to react with gentle motion. This double thickness fleece blanket is tucked on my lap, the one with the cute trucks and cars splayed out in printed […]
Ten What Ifs
1. What if….Instead of criticizing, I complimented? 2. What if instead of complaining, I gave thanks? 3. What if instead of frowning at the dirty dishes, I smiled happy because I have hot water and fragrant smelling dishsoap to wash them shiny clean? 4. What if instead of groaning at the alarm clock, I said […]
