She did a thing. All by herself. Though, strangely enough, she asked me to be with her. A big decision. A big purchase. What a joy it's been watching her as she has wrestled: How do I make Godly choices? How do I be responsible and make an educated purchase? What do I really need? And this process can be agonizing and produce desires to eat chocolate and other unhealthy things. How new of a car does one really need? Do I really need a new car now? Can I get through the winter? I'll just get through the winter. Decision making is crippling! These discussions rage on (and ... View Post
Don’t Underestimate A Visit
Don't ever underestimate a visit. Ever. He sat at my table. We drank tea. Conversation flowed easily. I laughed. He shared about the things he has been doing and where he is headed. Hopes and Dreams. A path. Unsure. Yet ready. All too soon it was time for him to go. I don't know when I'll see him again. You see, life has a way of taking our kids far from us. New adventures. The unknown. Excitement. This young man warmed my heart. I'd been having a few down days. Struggling. Grief. The loss of a child is hard. Achingly so. The holidays rear and the missing lurks in ... View Post
What is Joy Anyway?
What is Joy anyway? Really? There are song lyrics. Joy to the World. . . . I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. . . Joyful, joyful, We Adore thee. . . Almond Joy. Joy-a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. Rick Warren adds his own definition: “Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation.” While I agree with most of those definitions. I don't find that everything is going to be 'all right.' In ... View Post
30 Days of Thankfulness, Day #29 Those Name Tags
Those Name Tags. Every year. Every. single. year. They leave me undone. They make me laugh to see the cute art work by the kids. Lovingly those kids have made a name tag for every guest we've ever had. Those name tags humble me to the sheer number of people that have sat around this farmhouse table to break bread and give Thanks. They also make me weep at time gone by. At the changes that these years have brought. The name tag says, Handmade by Elijah and Clarissa. I've been cooking for two days. Pie crusts and stuffing. Turkey and gravy. Chex mix and coffee. The ... View Post
30 Days of Thanksgiving, Day #27 This Old Farmhouse
The list was long. I had mapped out how each task was to be accomplished. I have been doing this for 26 years! Cooking Thanksgiving dinner is fun, and I love it. I love flinging these farmhouse doors open wide. I love gathering around the farmhouse table with no room to spare. (and of course there's always room for one more! Always!) But it takes planning. Last week had been hard. I hadn't felt well and other circumstances put me quite far behind. Today was going to be my day to rise above and conquer the gap! With breakfast made and finished. I threw out my first request of my ... View Post
30 Days of Thankfulness, Day # 26 Just Before Dawn
These dark, early mornings are so holy. The just before dawn moments hang ever so gently. Squash is baking in the oven. Coffee; hot and steaming in my cup. I will head to the Ancient Word soon. These past few days have been so hard. Uncertainty looms. Unknowns are more than knowns. A direction not clear. We pray and ponder. We hold on to hope. Hope that God is working and moving in ways we just can not see. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. We step forward and do the next thing. Longing to know, yet not ... View Post
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