“Mama, I NEED the glue stick,” my daughter hollered from the kitchen table.
“Mommm…she took my sticker. I wanted the big heart,” whined Big Brother.
I remember standing at the sink, looking out on a yard that needed cutting and toys scattered in the driveway. Hands in hot suds, I sighed and wished away the irritation. Couldn’t the little people in the other room just get along? Did they have to argue about everything? This was supposed to be a fun Valentine’s Day craft.
We are GOING to feel the LOVE.
Like it or not.
I hurried to finish the task before Big Brother decided to give someone a hair cut with the sissors.
Continue Reading »
God sings over us? Have you ever thought about that possibility? Even the robotic and socially awkward Sheldon Cooper on “The Big Bang Theory” admits to needing the comfort of a song in times of stress or illness. He often asks his friends to sing the song from his childhood…
Soft kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur.
Happy kitty, sleepy kitty,
purr purr purr.
As silly as that little song is, it was easier to believe than the whispered song that I heard during a desperate time of struggle in my life. I am not musical, so I cannot translate the tune that accompanied this song, but it is in my head and heart forever.
Continue Reading »
Live well, laugh often, love much . . . three short phrases from the poem Success, by Bessie Anderson Stanley written in 1904.
Live . . . well!
Do something you love. Do what you love with someone you enjoy. Do everything to the best of your ability.
Once you lived in the dark, but now the Lord has filled you with light. Live as children who have light. Light produces everything that is good, that has God’s approval, and that is true. Ephesians 5:8-9
“Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can.
Continue Reading »
One of my all-time favorite quotes comes from four year old, Billy, who is definitely wise beyond his years.
When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.
Don’t you love it?
“Safe in their mouth.”
Don’t you want your name to be safe in someone’s mouth?
Think about it, when your name is safe….
- No secrets are betrayed.
- No rumors are spread.
- No lies are told.
- No cruelty is spoken.
- No anger is screamed.
- No ___________
You’re safe.
I want everyone I love to know their name is safe with me.
Continue Reading »
With dish in hand he stands in front of the cupboard. In a toddler voice he says, “M and M . . . M and M.”
As the magical bag appears his eyes open wide, and through a smile that covers his face he exclaims, “OH WOW!
My daughter blames me. It’s okay. We blame my Gram for my love of chocolate. I’ve decided it’s a Gram’s job. 🙂
Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.
Continue Reading »
Our son and grandson visited for a few days last month. We were thrilled to see the progress our little miracle man is making, and marveled at how God has taken a 1 lb. 9 oz. preemie and grown him into a four year old mischief maker. GLORY!
One of our favorite things from the visit was learning what JJ calls his daddy. He has names for all of the special people in his life. Momma, Nana, Granddaddy, Gram, and Rev, but when it comes to his daddy . . . he simply calls him, “mine.”
Mine!
There is nothing more precious or personal than being called “mine.”
Continue Reading »
It’s been one of those days.
Who am I trying to fool? It’s been one of those weeks!
I can’t really explain it. Nothing big. No major disruptions. Just the blahs. Lack of focus.
I’ve let little annoyances become pervasive distractions. My productivity is down. My organization is gone. My normally upbeat cheerful self is less than upbeat and cheerful.
Can you relate?
I wish I knew what caused days like this. I wish I knew when that switch was going to get flipped so I could avoid it.
Then my wishes turn into TRUTHS.
For I have chosen you and will not throw you away.
Continue Reading »
Rev and I are celebrating our 40th Wedding Anniversary today. It’s hard for me to believe. I can still relive the moment we met, our first date, our first kiss, and each and every milestone since.
We have a few do’s and don’ts that we’ve used over the years. We believe they have been helpful in not only having a marriage that lasts, but one that is happy and fun, too.
Our Top Ten Marriage Tips:
1. Laugh – We both love to laugh and we love to make each other laugh. Humor has gotten us through many of life’s difficult moments.
Continue Reading »
