Because life is easier when it’s simple, I have decided to merge that principle into my holiday celebrations. What used to be a November and December filled with activities and the traditional holiday set-ups, I have now prefaced with the following questions: How can I simplify the holidays? What gives me the most joy about …
Throughout our city, wherever we traveled, we heard it. In grocery stores, libraries, Target and Wal-Mart – even during church services where it occurred in stereo sound – one person in the aisle echoed by someone across the room. The Great Cough of 2016. In spite of our vitamins, clean eating and daily spraying through …
The calendar reminds us how deep we are into the holiday season. Our waistlines expand while the stresses of family dynamics emotionally stretch us. As much as we enjoy the family time, the abundance of good food and the reminders to be grateful — we also need to remember how stressful this time can be …
My puzzle reflects the colors and design of the Southwest United States — a region I love. Turquoise moccasins, Native American pottery and a sunset of desert textures. Yet beyond the stress-relieving act of fitting my puzzle pieces together, God teaches me precious lessons of faith. Think about the Big Picture. Once I found the …
A recent exercise in our Saturday Sisters group resulted in an a-ha moment. We were given a sheet of paper and asked to list our treasures. This exercise was a different thought process than just listing what we’re grateful for. We all know how to answer several ways to say, “Thank you.” But this was …
As I stood on my deck, a tree unloaded its entire leaf burden. It was as if God said, “It’s now 3:24 on this date I created. Disengage.” Within seconds, every leaf had let loose from its moorings. The tree stood naked in the autumn wind. Since then, I have made more of an effort …
My son and I joke about October being the best month for sports with multiple choices. College football begins with all the usual rivalries. Depending on the day and the teams, we wear the appropriate T-shirts. Baseball winds down with the World Series. Sadly, we are not cheering for the Royals this year. The NFL …
Oh, God! I was so afraid! During the sixth month of pregnancy, thirty plus years ago, I finally ventured out of the bed where I spent the first five months — hoping, begging God to let me keep my baby. With years of infertility and two miscarriages in my medical chart, the chances for a …
He was a large, muscular man and when he sat down on the bus, the leather seat expelled air. I peeked at him around the pages of the book I read. My writer brain started to invent a character sketch: He’s a construction worker by day, a bartender by night and his feet hurt. It …
As I drove home after meeting with a coaching client, I noticed a white van ahead of me. The logo of its business was printed across the back doors. Faith Panting. What? As I adjusted my progressive lenses, I realized the name was actually “Faith Painting.” Somehow the tiny “i” had disappeared in my first …