“It’s ready!” the sweet barista sets the mug in front of me. Whip settles on the foam and caramel drizzle runs ribbons disappearing into the cinnamon latte depths. I express my gratitude, smile, reach toward the warm mug. I’m ready too. I lean in, toward the latte, toward conversation. Flickers from the gas fireplace combine with Christmas […]
The Three-Fold Gift of Waiting
The calendar days do have to creep. Agonizingly.They tick along as if they have all day, meandering, ambling, lethargic at best.I press my nose against windowglass, focus on the snowflakes falling in flutters. This was the part of anticipation I didn’t appreciate. It meant awaiting, abiding, attending.As a child, the culmination of Christmas couldn’t come quickly enough. […]
Makers Are Chance Takers
Scooping the dough from the bowl, my hands shape it into a ball, smoothing, rounding, rolling. Flour dust hovers as I sift it across the silicone pastry mat. I pat. Flatten the ball into a disc, reach for my french rolling pin. The rolling pin, made by artisans in India, sold by Mercy House, with […]
Bits and Pieces to Delight In {October}
“Please Aslan,” said Lucy “What do you call soon?”“I call all times soon,” said Aslan.” ~ C.S. Lewis, Voyage of the Dawn Treader “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, […]
Wherein I Muse About True Devotion
True devotion in relationships is extraordinary. Not of the nature which wants to cover up faults or uphold evil or fan the flames of falsity. Rather, that which is true and beautiful and genuine. Heart-sharing vulnerability. Coming with open hands, carrying not agenda. I read a story once about a little girl who was her […]
Remain Galadriel
“Ding!” the bell warned the approach of the end of the line. Tapping out a few more letters, she briskly sent the carriage skating back to begin again. The ivory keys glided under her fingers as her thoughts flew furiously. Her eyes scanned the page, running over the questions she’d typed. Who are we when […]
Bits and Pieces to Delight In {September}
“Being scared isn’t really that much different than being scarred.” I read it on Ann Voskamp’s blog. It’s true. I nod my head. Read further.Tears prick my eyelids and squeeze at the corners. Scared and scarred both carry trauma and pain. Truth is, it doesn’t even have to be big or deeper traumas. It shows […]
The Illusion
The illusion bobs and bounces in a swirl of watercolor hues. Amidst teenage angst and insecurities and awkwardness, I believe middle-aged people have it all figured out. Life looks simple and easy. Effortless. Successful. Settled. Delightful. I’m not sure why this illusion beckoned me. Seemed believable. Goodness. I’d seen my mother burst into tears when […]
You Are His Masterpiece
Beauty in my week last week looked like…. Our local coffee shop + five lovely young women in our community who hosted a women’s evening consisting of ~ 🙏🙌💛☕🧁 faith + fellowship worship + words music + munchies coffee + conversation hygge + happiness @__grow.in.grace__ “Lord, I need you, oh I need you.” Our voices mingled […]
Bits and Pieces to Delight In {July}
Hello! Hi! July has been All The Summer here. High, high heat. The forecast hangs hot and heavy with the same heat forecasted and not a sign of a drop of rain!The sprinklers are running on our little patch of lawn by our basement patio and the irrigation systems churn water onto our beans. I’m […]
What Really Matters Now…..
What really matters now is linen overalls and Arnold Palmer and air conditioning…. What really matters now is ice and water and insulated jugs….. What really matters now is embracing the unexplained right next to the unavoidable and offering it all a measure of trust and hope and longing…. What really matters now is rambling […]
A Place For the Soul to Feel Safe in the Awkward Playacting of Life
You sit across from me on the cozy cerulean chair cushion, chatter, clatter, and espresso machine buzzing around us, your lemon-yellow kerchief corralling lovely curls.Me, legs curled criss-cross applesauce, snug on the vintage couch. My hands curled around a decaf cinnamon breve with whip while you sip a mocha complete with a lovely chocolate drizzle. My […]
Practices I’m Finding For the Word This Summer
I’d love to hear! When it comes to Bible reading and sitting with The Word in the Word, do you have one tried and true practice or do you find it shifting in different seasons, different stages, different ages? I find myself in the latter camp. Mine changes. {here’s another post about Bible + routine […]
Dear Me: Lines to the Person I Desire To Become
Compassion. Love. Hope. My fingers press against the words lettered in the journal in my lap. Why is it so much easier to heap condemnation, critique, and criticism on my heart, my mind, myself? And in so doing, really, I’m mired in myself. I may not admire myself, but self-absorption shows up in a myriad of […]
Pondering Life and Its Passing
Early this morning my uncle breathed his last breath, earthside. Honestly, I’m not sure what heavenside looks like, but I do see Jesus. I always picture Him as excited and delighted. Another one of His kids, HOME! Early this morning, 3 a.m. early, my kids headed to the city to board a plane: Destination ~ […]
Bits and Pieces to Delight In {June}
Every year we have wheat fields to walk and combat our nemesis known as rye. It waves, delighted with itself, a bit above our winter red wheat. We are not so delighted. If left, and consequently run through the combine, it will multiply in staggering amounts thereby consuming our clean wheat fields. Last October, we […]