February is the month associated with love. Some people are easy to love; others aren’t. When you think of the term “hard to love,” does a person immediately come to mind? Perhaps this person is a family member, a “friend,” or acquaintance you see more often than you want to. Either way, loving difficult people […]
Snow Day Reflections
Here in the south, snow days are rare. But last weekend, we experienced a full day of beauty as falling flakes fluttered to earth. Navigating a snow day alone is different from one with family gathered around, or children in and out, rosy-cheeked, laughing, and dripping with melting snow. A solitary snow day is a […]
When Renewed Grief Caused Me to Lose My Lemons
I thought I was doing well with grief until January rolled around and sent me into a tailspin. With the new year came a resurgence of grief. After two years, I didn’t expect it, this spiral into missing, wishing, and remembering. All the emotions I felt two years ago resurfaced. Along with sadness came vivid […]
Recognizing and Utilizing Your Strengths
Do you ever feel you are lacking, that others possess qualities that you don’t? If so, you have failed to recognize your strengths. It’s common for us to compare ourselves to others and focus on what we view are our personal weaknesses. However, we all have strengths. Following are ways to recognize your strengths and […]
When the New Year Brings the Unexpected
Thus far, has the new year handed you something unexpected? Just in my sphere I know those recovering from heart surgery or heart attack, two who are trusting God through severe persecution, one waiting for a diagnosis, several racing toward death, and those mired in grief. Personally, I just passed the second anniversary of Jim’s […]
Building the New Year on a Firm Foundation
Construction is in my blood. My father was a builder, my grandfather a lumber yard owner. As a child, Sunday afternoons often meant a walk-through of Daddy’s houses under construction. I loved the smell of lumber and identifying each room as we moved through the house. Often, I saw houses at the foundation stage. It […]
A Season for Hope
What has this year been for you? Perhaps the year was filled with challenges, heartache, or health issues and you are ready to see 2025 in the rearview mirror. Conversely, maybe this has been the best year of your life, and you are sad to bid it farewell. My year has been a combination of […]
A Season of Love and Togetherness
Last Sunday, I had an opportunity to talk to a dear lady, who has faithfully served in our choir for many years. Now, health issues prevent her from singing with us. As I held her hands, we expressed our love for each other. She said, “When I look at the choir, I am right there […]
A Season of Music
For the last several months, I, along with our whole choir, have been memorizing the music for our Christmas concert. For the first time ever, we were “off book” for the entire program. Memorization for most of us was challenging, but our director encouraged us, and repeatedly said, “You can do this.” And we did. […]
A Season of Hospitality
Last year, the first Christmas without Jim, I had little motivation for decorating or entertaining. I couldn’t bring myself to put up a tree and only had enough energy for minimal decorating. I went through the motions of celebrating Christmas, but emptiness was the prevailing feeling. This year, I am grateful to be experiencing joy […]