As we drove away from the house which had been our home for fifteen years, my heart whispered a prayer for the new owners: May their time in this house be blessed with sweet stories and rich memories. Since we’ve been married, my husband and I have lived in five different homes. While I don’t…
Chuckling, I watched as my three-month old granddaughter fought her much-needed nap. Just as her eyes started to close, she shook herself and erupted in an angry cry. With clenched fists, she glared at me as I continued to rock her. She must be afraid of missing out on something. I’m not sure if babies…
Recently a friend and I reminisced about children and the funny things they say. One memory continues to play in my mind. When I began my career as a Kindergarten Teacher, we started the year discussing the importance of classroom hygiene habits. I explained at length how we don’t want to share our germs with…
“That looked like it hurt.” Unable to answer, I gripped the counter with both hands and whispered, “Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!” Finally, I lifted my head and smiled at the customer behind me, “It sure did.” He stooped down and picked up the 28-oz bottle of Powerade and placed it carefully on the…
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV) From the first time I read this verse on a wedding invitation, I loved it. Its words eloquently express God’s heart toward us….
If only… I understand why some people refer to these words as the saddest in the English language. They open our hearts to the sting of the “would haves”: If only I knew how little time she had left. I would have made the effort to go visit her. If only I listened before jumping…
“I didn’t realize they only accepted cash. I only have my debit card.” Turning around, I located the speaker, a young lady about my daughter’s age. Glancing at her modest bag of apples, I smiled. “We have extra cash. I’m sure we can cover your purchase.” Chatting easily, we made our way to the cashier….
Focused. Hard-working. Conscientious. Determined. Results-oriented. These adjectives pepper my resumes and performance evaluations. They accurately describe my work ethic. For many years, I believed in this formula for success: Set Goals + Work Hard= Desired Results For years this formula worked like magic, fueling my drive and ensuring my success. Until it didn’t. I prepared…
As I publish this post on Christmas Eve, my family will soon participate in one of our final traditions of the holiday~exchanging gifts. According to legend, we give gifts to remind us of the first ones given to Jesus by the traveling magi. They offered three gifts, each of them a fitting tribute to the…
