Last week, our family gathered to celebrate the life of an amazing woman. Technically, she was my cousin-in-law, but I thought of her as blood kin because she was like us. Any time you were with her you felt special. Her laughter and smile were contagious. She was a great storyteller, but more than that, […]
Is Your Life Puzzle Missing a Piece?
Several friends enjoy working jigsaw puzzles. Often, they post pictures of their completed puzzles on social media and mention if the puzzle had an extra piece or a missing piece. When a piece is missing, the satisfaction of completing the puzzle is diminished. Our lives are as intricate and multifaceted as a multi-colored, many-pieced jigsaw […]
Living Life on the Edge of Uncertainty
For the second week in a row, I spent the day in the ER with my husband. His health has been a rollercoaster ride since November and has left us feeling as if we are constantly on the edge of the next emergent situation. We would happily give up our ER frequent flier designation. Much […]
Gaining Perspective on the New Year
With the dawn of a new year, many expected immediate improvement. But as we flipped the calendar to 2021 many things remain unchanged. The weariness of the old year clings to us. A year-long pandemic still rages. Overwhelming grief is an unwanted companion to many. Uncertainty is still present. So how do we gain perspective […]
The Heart of Christmas
Have you noticed Christmas doesn’t feel like Christmas this year? Everyone is trying hard, but despite early decorating and attempts at festive social media posts, Christmas 2020 just isn’t the same. To say this year has been hard is a massive understatement. And just when you think you’re doing okay handling the strangeness, isolation, and […]
4 Tools to Tame Fear
Coronavirus. A plummeting stock market. Political bickering and banter. Wars and rumors of wars. If you look at the headlines, fear could easily wrap its tendrils around you, squeezing you into nonstop panic mode. Fear overtakes thoughts and overwhelms life, if you allow it to, but you don’t have to succumb to fear. Following are […]
Finding Identity
Yesterday, a precious little man entered our lives. His name harks back generations, echoing his forebearers. Yet he brings new identity to his name. Although he carries physical traits of his parents, grandparents, and beyond, he is unique, formed by Creator God in His likeness to fulfill plans and purposes designed specifically for him. We […]
When Looking Back is a Catalyst for Moving Forward
My father was born January 19, 1919, during the Spanish flu pandemic that claimed over 500,000 lives. A few days following his birth, my father, and his mother, contracted flu. Both were extremely ill, but survived. My grandmother had two children before daddy’s birth and six more children after. My grandfather, father, and his two […]
5 Reasons Why Faith is Hard
Life is full of questions, uncertainties, and things that don’t make sense. Often, circumstances slow you down or halt forward motion altogether. One element that is often overlooked in life struggles is the power of faith. Some think faith is a crutch, and others never fully utilize its power. While it isn’t easy, faith is […]