I sat in the cold, blank hospital room and talked with my sweet friends, an elderly couple. I had visited them before in their warm, cozy home. The man had chronic pain since I’d known them, in his back and in his heart. His heart because he lost his only daughter at a young age […]
Debris by Amy Jung, Mormon Row/Grand Tetons/Wyoming Weeding and yearning for it to be done for good this year, I pick what seems to be the last, living clematis in my front flower bed. It’s a day that needs […]
“That is mine! It belongs to me!” Those words (or something like them) have been heard by every person who has lived if they’ve lived in community with others. Parents cringe when they hear them. We all say them though…even if it is merely through our attitudes and actions. It can be seen in our homes, school […]
Look at these two little stinkers. They look like they’re up to something here don’t they? We enjoyed a beautiful fall day on Sunday. After church, we went apple picking and pumpkin grabbing. The kids wanted to go in the hay maze at the pumpkin farm. Papa got them started but they ALL decided it was […]
A peek inside my Journal: 6/18/13 “Do you, the good shepherd, also protect me? Do you protect me and care for me too?” That is all I’ll let you see! Sorry…no further details! My journal has become, not merely a recording of my thoughts and the events in my life, but my side of a life-long conversation with God. I try to […]
Just a short post this week. I was feeling particularly discouraged yesterday. The day I normally post on this blog. So much so that I didn’t finish my article and gave up. I decided to let it go and write next week but I was encouraged this morning and thought I’d share. So…did I mention […]
I was tired. The dishes weren’t done. My girl was looking sleepy and my boy was knee deep into a project. Both were sick. From the looks of us, you’d never know that in five minutes we’d be trying to imitate Christ. But it is Easter weekend and I didn’t want to miss the opportunities to reflect on our […]
“Mama…why does God let me be sick?” He groans. I had to steady myself because a couple of weeks ago…when that question was asked…I was asking the same questions inside. There is no kid-sized answer to that question. Not for a week like that week. So what do you say to a boy who is racked with nausea when […]
“Any fool can be happy. It takes a man with real heart to make beauty out of the stuff that makes us weep.” – Clive Barker, Days of Magic Nights of War We should say…it takes a real woman to do that too… And that real man or woman’s heart is first tranformed by Jesus […]
The Mayfly: Sometimes called the dayfly. For most of her life – two to three years – she swims in a pond. Her wings grow all of this time. These beautiful wings are kept shut up in a tight case getting ready for one, precious day in the air. This week, as my son and I studied […]
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We weave thick vines in and out of and around our circular, amateur base to create a decorative ball. Soon, solar lights will be added to make it a visible yard ornament for the dark fall and winter nights that stretch ahead of us. It seems to be an illustration of our friendship. By now, […]
Do you ever feel ashamed or disappointed that you have lacked faith or confidence in God…or even doubted Him? Our doubts, lack of trust, or weak faith may tempt us to think our faith isn’t strong enough. Let’s look at some scripture passages that might encourage us – even if our faith feels small today. […]