A Book Review and Giveaway: Balance, Busyness and Not Doing It All
Great friendships are a two-way street. Both of you gain and both have something to offer the other. My friend Brenda Yoder is young enough to be my daughter (okay, let's say my younger sister), but she has taught me so many things about Godly womanhood and inspired parenting, in the same way that I've shared some of my life experiences with...
Yes :: I’ll Take Some ‘Joy and Fulfillment’
I did it again this morning. I ate breakfast in front of the morning news, flipped open my netbook, dropped in on Facebook, answered an e-mail and settled in to write this blog post. It was then the Lord gently tapped me on the shoulder and said "Yes?" Didn't I just say "Yes" to him on Monday -- on that day of fresh starts and new beginnings?...
Note To Mature Women: To Teach, We Must Be
Young women have been on my mind a lot lately. Over the past couple of weeks, I've spent selah* in Titus, Paul's letter to the young pastor he assigned to the Greek island of Crete. As I read slowly and contemplatively, and as I hear our pastor teach on this portion of scripture, I'm struck by some verses in Chapter 2, where Paul gives Titus...
When Life Sings a New Tune, Dance
I usually don't mind change, but it's funny the things you miss once they're gone. Things like the "boom, boom, boom" of a dump truck at 6:30 a.m. Or the air brakes of a semi tractor as it slows down outside our front door. Or the loud buzz of a wood grinder, turning scrap lumber into sawdust. And those dusty footprints across my kitchen...
When You Stand in a Circle of Quiet
The cicadas are singing. Like clockwork, they began trumpeting their end-of-summer tune on the first day of August, just as the first golden walnut leaves drifted to the grass. Every year, I'm surprised at how swiftly, yet gently, nature makes her moves. Black-eyed Susans line the pond, and as I walk to the cabin I want to gather a bundle to...
Try :: More Than a Summer Soldier
"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman." American philosopher, patriot and founding father Thomas Paine penned those words nearly 140 years ago. Some days, I...
What’s Brewing? In Search of the Perfect Blend
On a recent trip to Chicago to visit my son and daughter-in-law, I visited two coffee shops. In the same day. Whenever I'm traveling, I love checking out coffee shops, soaking up the unique ambiance, people-watching and, of course, snagging a good cup of coffee. A coffee shop that stands out in recent memory is Headquarters, a tiny sliver of...
Ten :: Putting Gratitude at the Top of my List
I read that book some years back. Just devoured it, actually. "One Thousand Gifts" -- counting all the ways the Lord blesses and actually THANKING HIM for the blessings. So I began my list: ten things I am grateful for every day. My goal was a thousand, and beyond. Where is that list today? Haven't a clue. When did my striving to stir up...
What’s Brewing? Knowing Which Hat To Wear
The internet has been down at our house following a patch of stormy weather. In some ways, the outage has been a blessing, but being disconnected has also been inconvenient. Hence, this late post on "What's Brewing" is brought to you from my favorite booth at Great Lakes Chocolate and Coffee (where the Pandora station is down but the Wi-Fi is...
Free :: The Simple Joy of a Flop in the Grass
Finishing a brisk 20-minute walk to the corner and back, I stepped into the luscious green lawn that needed mowing. On this beautiful summer morning, the grass beckoned. I flopped onto my back and lay gazing into the clear blue sky. Weeks of off-and-on rain made this clear, dry day even more welcomed. I took a deep breath and images I had seen...
