In the days since Barbara Bush’s death, I’ve read and heard additional details about her life. The family experienced many life changes, including over 25 moves, numerous job changes, and media and public scrutiny. But the event that most affected the family was the diagnosis of leukemia and subsequent death of their 3-year-old daughter, Robin. […]

  Recently, my husband and I visited Biltmore House and Gardens in Asheville, NC. I’ve been there so many times it feels like returning to a family home. The twists and turns of the approach road spark anticipation and the first glimpse of the house is always a delight. Once inside, the winter garden captures […]

Spring this year has been unusually beautiful. Although it began early, it’s seemed like a slow spring with incremental levels of greening and blooming. As I watched the slow unfolding of spring, I was reminded that some seasons in our lives are slow in coming, linger longer than expected, and are tardy in resolving. At […]

Waiting is not something that comes easily to most of us. Over the years, I’ve spent more time than I’ve wanted to in waiting rooms—literally and figuratively. I’ve endured long anxious hours in hospital waiting rooms as well as complicated emotional waiting seasons, praying for resolutions to situations, answers, or change. Regardless of the type […]

One of the best things about spring is the return of green. After months of browns, blacks, and grays, the landscape begins to change. At first, it’s an almost imperceptible shift as buds form, adding dimension to bare branches. Clumps of irises green up, interspersed with hints of purple flowers yet to bloom. The hydrangea […]

Often I sit on our deck to read my Bible and pray. For some reason, I’m in the habit of turning my chair toward to the left, but the view in that direction isn’t ideal. I see a bare patch where a dead tree once stood, the remnants of weeds at the edge of the […]

Last weekend, I taught at a writers’ conference. One of my classes was a preview, which provided information on how to make the most of the conference. My last point dealt with processing the information, following up with requests from editors, and following through with plans to improve their manuscripts and submit them. As these […]

Last Sunday, my daughter and son-in-law dedicated their son to the Lord, and themselves, as parents, to nurturing and training him according to the tenets of faith. To some, this may seem like a useless ritual, but for our family, it was day of celebration. When the dedication service was over, almost before he was […]

Last week, Billy Graham’s life on earth ended. In the days since his death, the word that has been most used to describe the farmboy turned evangelist is humble. For a man who preached all over the world, prayed with and gave counsel to presidents, and had a far-reaching impact in spreading the gospel, it’s […]

Last week, a sweet friend died. Although she was battling cancer, her death came more suddenly than expected. As odd as it sounds, Tammy and I met on the street. At first we nodded or waved as we passed each other on our daily walks. Eventually, one of us turned and joined the other so […]