Writer, Speaker, Editor, Blogger
This is a summer of parchingly high temperatures, punctuated by torrential rain. Even with irrigation, sections of lawn appear dry beyond recovery, and then, comes the rain. Often, we experience seasons when we feel parched, exhausted and disheartened by life circumstances. Following are reflections on thriving in a parched world: Sustenance In the last days […]
As a child, I remember a summer when rain was an everyday occurrence. We had a new swimming pool and I longed for sunny days and warm temperatures. But each morning, I woke up to the sound of rain pelting the roof and filling the gutters. Not only did the rain continue day after day, […]
Photo by Jessie Modlin Photography The last month involved a series of events, preparations, celebrations, ballgames, gatherings, and travel. All good, but also a little exhausting. It took me a while to realize the exhaustion was emotional as well as physical. Amid times of fun, joy, and celebration, an element of sadness lurked at the […]
One of the not-so-nice elements of accumulated birthdays is skin that easily bruises. All it takes is a tiny tap of a cabinet corner or some other hard surface for a bruise to immediately appear. Sometimes, I don’t even know what I’ve brushed against to produce an unsightly subdermal rupture, but there it is, blooming […]
Last week I had the pleasure of an extended visit with cousins. We enjoyed sweet days of fellowship together, a refreshing time of reminiscence and reset. Taking time to refresh mentally, physically, and spiritually involves intentionality. If we don’t plan for times of refreshment, our busy lives take over, leaving us parched and exhausted. Following […]
When I opened my laptop this week, I was greeted by a black screen with not even a brief flash of light or sound of whirring fan. I tried several different things, but my laptop remained silent and dark. For months, I set aside this week for a personal writing retreat. As I loaded bags […]
Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking at a ladies’ luncheon at a local church. The theme for the event was “Refresh.” All of us have times when we need refreshment, or areas of our lives that need refreshing. Often, we plow ahead, pushing through, rather than acknowledging that we are in a season […]
Do you remember crowded stands at ballfields where a snack and drink were referred to as “refreshments”? In our fast-paced, frenetic world, aren’t we all in need of a little refreshment? Refreshment is defined as the act of refreshing; the state of being refreshed. This week, our family is enjoying a time of refreshing, togetherness, […]
During these days of working outside in 90+ degree temperatures, I have experienced extreme exhaustion, the kind of fatigue that sitting for a while doesn’t relieve. Only re-hydrating refreshes, renews, and reignites. Today, when everything is different, uncertain, turbulent, and confusing, there are times when I feel parched mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Following are insights, […]
As a child, I remember a summer when rain was an everyday occurrence. We had a new swimming pool and I longed for sunny days and warm temperatures. But each morning, I woke to the sounds of rain pelting the roof and filling the gutters. Not only did the rain continue day after day, but […]