Is God in the details? Or is cosmic energy and coincidence responsible for the outcome? Either answer requires faith. A few years back, my daughter Reegan had major knee surgery to reinforce loose ligaments. She…
My gardens lie frozen underneath a white blanket of snow as I dream of things to come. The breeze twists last year’s foliage, taunting it to let go, but it stubbornly clings to the branch….
Music has a way of tugging memories from the back of your mind and dropping them in your lap. 🎄“Up on the rooftop” brings me back to my first solo in our annual school Christmas…
Can I be thankful when life is too complicated, when grief and the unexpected knock down my door? When my emotions are raw, and I am misunderstood can I be thankful? Maybe it’s been a…
It was a full day yesterday, blanching the garden beans, defrosting the freezer, and making applesauce long after everyone was asleep. It’s the beginning of the “squirrelling away” season. I imagine pulling out a bag…
We have so many expectations for ourselves and our children. We strive to do all the things required to nurture tomorrows adults. We read books on best methods we follow advice (and sometimes the crowd…
Palm Sunday begins the week known as Passion week. It’s a week filled with triumph, tragedy and the greatest victory known in history. The Jews of Jesus’ day were looking for someone to save them…
As the new year approaches, we look for ways to improve ourselves. There are many self-help recommendations and how-tos, from organizing your home to weight loss and healthy living. Here are my eight surefire ways to…
I don’t remember what I was thinking. I just know I was in a deep fog of shock and sadness. When our fourth child was born eighteen Decembers ago, life went out of focus for…
There were no wrapped presents for me underneath a sparkling Christmas tree. In fact, in my early years, we did not have a Christmas tree in our home. Christmas Eve, all of us kids would…
How could the birth of a baby thousands of years ago impact my life today? How can this Child bring peace to my chaotic world? The answer is in the Name given to this baby…
I am sitting here by my lit Christmas tree, a fire in the fireplace, sipping coffee, and my mind has a hard time computing all I have experienced in the last few weeks. The juxtaposition…
You might say it’s just a play on words, but hear me out. If happiness is a feeling, let’s consider JOY as its older, more mature, stable cousin. JOY doesn’t leave at the first hint…
Here are a few things I have learned in my fifty-plus years: ☕️ coffee. It’s a great way to start the morning. And afternoon. And evening. 😻 pets. They are cheaper than therapy and soothe…
The words crashed through my mind as my gaze landed on the baby quilt folded at the end of the crib. My body, numb with shock from the turn of events, was slow to obey,…
They have found a rhythm, and change introduces unfamiliarity and fears they have no desire to face. Even if a new direction is potentially a wise choice and an improvement to their lives, they have…
I can’t be the only one sitting here pulling on the reins of August, begging for the long summer evenings with its golden hour to stay a little longer! The crops are turning colour, the…
How do you stop playing the comparison game? It’s a game with no winners, only discouragement for the participants. We’ve often heard, “Don’t compare yourself to others!” “but do we listen? Just this morning, I…
“Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.” Psalms 25:4 NLT Are you stuck in a rut of indecision? Sometimes we need to start forward momentum even if…
I’d like to give you a glimpse into some of the lighthearted interactions between Reegan and Uncle Otto in the last few years. You have to know Uncle Otto. He has a dry sense of…
When we come before the Almighty In prayer isn’t it absurd how much we talk about ourselves? Dear Lord like a salutation please bless please protect please help please heal please please please In Jesus…
As we celebrate Easter this year what do we make of the day in between? The day after Christ’s death, but before His triumph? How do we contemplate each day giving it the significance it…
How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How…
Stability. We crave it in this ever-changing, unstable climate we currently live in. Everywhere we turn, we hear bad news. We want someone to tell us that good news is just around the corner. Is…
“People love at their level of self love.” This is a quote by Dr. Caroline Leaf, a communication pathologist and cognitive neuroscientist. It struck me as relevant. We all need to be loved and accepted,…
The tree has been taken down, the decorations stored in their boxes under the stairs for another year. The kids have left, gone back to work or school. The house is oddly quiet again, the…
You know that moment when you feel like Jesus literally took the wheel? You have to admit that you did not escape harm without the presence of a higher power. It’s in those times that…
Did you read about the 17 missionaries who escaped their captors in Haiti? It is nothing short of a Christmas miracle! The group, including women and children, walked out in the middle of the night,…
And there was in the same country… a stressed-out mom needing a rest, an unemployed single drifting through life, a weeping, broken heart, an empty nested mother needing a hug, a frail gramma whose children…
Happy 18th, girl! How can this already be so? You are skipping into eighteen with glee, and I’m dragging in, fingers clenched around the reins, white-knuckled, holes torn in the knees, dirt on my face…
I write a lot about trust and faith in God, not because I have an abundance of it, but because I am familiar with the struggle. I understand what it is like to doubt the…
All the popular catchphrases such as “live in the moment,” “be present,” “live intentionally”; do they leave you feeling slightly confused and a little frustrated? They sound warm and fuzzy, but how do you put…
“Lord, you have examined me and know all about me. (Ok, I’m squirming a bit here. You know ALL about me? I’m not sure we should be friends…) You know when I sit down and…
I watched my 82-year-old friend dive into the summer lake while I sat in the boat with my fear. As a child, it was ingrained in me to be afraid of deep water, and I…
There are many reasons why someone might say that they don’t need the church to be a Christian. 1. The top most relevant reason has come to us thanks to the health crisis of this…
As we celebrate Easter this year what do we make of the day in between? The day after Christ’s death, but before His triumph? How do we contemplate each day giving it the significance it…
Today Christians solemnly unite to remember the death of Jesus, the suffering Son of God who hung on a cruel cross to bring us life and freedom. Some of us will be gathering in half-empty…
The week leading up to Easter is called Passion Week. Why the word Passion? How does this word depict the week leading up to the death of Jesus? Could it be because of the passion…
We all believe in something Do you have faith? No, I’m not religious, you say. But I say you do have faith. Do you not sow a seed in the ground and patiently wait for…
Depression is something we don’t like to talk about, but most of us have either dealt with it personally or know of someone that has. Depression feels like darkness. It feels like all hope is…
It may be February, but there’s still time for “new year/new me” changes. Are you living in a rut that you are struggling to get out of? Can I improve something in my life without…
It’s Valentine’s Day…again. Some of us love the romance, flowers and chocolates. We dress in pinks and reds, adorned in pretty little hearts, giddy for the day. Some of us groan and go along with…
Merry Christmas from our home to yours! Christmas day is winding down; darkness is falling. Some people hold onto each lingering moment, feeling the sadness of a happy day gone too fast. Others can’t wait…
The people were all busy. They dragged themselves from their beds when the sun came up and fell exhausted, into sleep at night. They scurried around all day with their planners, schedules, meetings, deadlines and…
Bundled up against the frigid winter air, I lay on the snowbank beside the homemade skating rink and gazed up into the black sky hanging full of glittering stars, like ripe cherries ready for the…
Hi Boys! How are you doing these days? Are you keeping up with all your studies? Have you been eating well? How’s the cafeteria food? I hope you’re eating your fruits and veggies! Remember what I…
The pastor in church this morning tells me that there are two things I’ve got to know. There is a God. I’m not it. Are you twisted with worry that the thin veneer of control…
My soul is like a pot of soup; if left unstirred, everything settles to the bottom. But if I let God’s word stir me up, things begin to float to the surface. And when the…
I asked Siri for the definition of “mind games”. Her response was that it is “a course of psychologically manipulative behaviour intended to discomfit another person or gain an advantage over them”. It’s an ancient…
The new year often brings about a renewed desire to do better, be better, exercise, organize, eat healthier…generally just being a better you. It’s reflected in the stores too…if you buy that new item, this will…
Is God in the details? Or is cosmic energy and coincidence responsible for the outcome? Either answer requires faith. A few years back, my daughter Reegan had major knee surgery to reinforce loose ligaments. She…
My gardens lie frozen underneath a white blanket of snow as I dream of things to come. The breeze twists last year’s foliage, taunting it to let go, but it stubbornly clings to the branch….
Music has a way of tugging memories from the back of your mind and dropping them in your lap. 🎄“Up on the rooftop” brings me back to my first solo in our annual school Christmas…
Can I be thankful when life is too complicated, when grief and the unexpected knock down my door? When my emotions are raw, and I am misunderstood can I be thankful? Maybe it’s been a…
It was a full day yesterday, blanching the garden beans, defrosting the freezer, and making applesauce long after everyone was asleep. It’s the beginning of the “squirrelling away” season. I imagine pulling out a bag…
We have so many expectations for ourselves and our children. We strive to do all the things required to nurture tomorrows adults. We read books on best methods we follow advice (and sometimes the crowd…
Palm Sunday begins the week known as Passion week. It’s a week filled with triumph, tragedy and the greatest victory known in history. The Jews of Jesus’ day were looking for someone to save them…
As the new year approaches, we look for ways to improve ourselves. There are many self-help recommendations and how-tos, from organizing your home to weight loss and healthy living. Here are my eight surefire ways to…
I don’t remember what I was thinking. I just know I was in a deep fog of shock and sadness. When our fourth child was born eighteen Decembers ago, life went out of focus for…
There were no wrapped presents for me underneath a sparkling Christmas tree. In fact, in my early years, we did not have a Christmas tree in our home. Christmas Eve, all of us kids would…
How could the birth of a baby thousands of years ago impact my life today? How can this Child bring peace to my chaotic world? The answer is in the Name given to this baby…
I am sitting here by my lit Christmas tree, a fire in the fireplace, sipping coffee, and my mind has a hard time computing all I have experienced in the last few weeks. The juxtaposition…
You might say it’s just a play on words, but hear me out. If happiness is a feeling, let’s consider JOY as its older, more mature, stable cousin. JOY doesn’t leave at the first hint…
Here are a few things I have learned in my fifty-plus years: ☕️ coffee. It’s a great way to start the morning. And afternoon. And evening. 😻 pets. They are cheaper than therapy and soothe…
The words crashed through my mind as my gaze landed on the baby quilt folded at the end of the crib. My body, numb with shock from the turn of events, was slow to obey,…
They have found a rhythm, and change introduces unfamiliarity and fears they have no desire to face. Even if a new direction is potentially a wise choice and an improvement to their lives, they have…
Some of the big questions in a Christian’s life are: – What is God’s will for my life? – How will I know what He wants me to do? – How do I know if…
I can’t be the only one sitting here pulling on the reins of August, begging for the long summer evenings with its golden hour to stay a little longer! The crops are turning colour, the…
How do you stop playing the comparison game? It’s a game with no winners, only discouragement for the participants. We’ve often heard, “Don’t compare yourself to others!” “but do we listen? Just this morning, I…
“Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.” Psalms 25:4 NLT Are you stuck in a rut of indecision? Sometimes we need to start forward momentum even if…
I’d like to give you a glimpse into some of the lighthearted interactions between Reegan and Uncle Otto in the last few years. You have to know Uncle Otto. He has a dry sense of…
When we come before the Almighty In prayer isn’t it absurd how much we talk about ourselves? Dear Lord like a salutation please bless please protect please help please heal please please please In Jesus…
As we celebrate Easter this year what do we make of the day in between? The day after Christ’s death, but before His triumph? How do we contemplate each day giving it the significance it…
How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How…
Stability. We crave it in this ever-changing, unstable climate we currently live in. Everywhere we turn, we hear bad news. We want someone to tell us that good news is just around the corner. Is…
“People love at their level of self love.” This is a quote by Dr. Caroline Leaf, a communication pathologist and cognitive neuroscientist. It struck me as relevant. We all need to be loved and accepted,…
The tree has been taken down, the decorations stored in their boxes under the stairs for another year. The kids have left, gone back to work or school. The house is oddly quiet again, the…
You know that moment when you feel like Jesus literally took the wheel? You have to admit that you did not escape harm without the presence of a higher power. It’s in those times that…
Did you read about the 17 missionaries who escaped their captors in Haiti? It is nothing short of a Christmas miracle! The group, including women and children, walked out in the middle of the night,…
And there was in the same country… a stressed-out mom needing a rest, an unemployed single drifting through life, a weeping, broken heart, an empty nested mother needing a hug, a frail gramma whose children…
Happy 18th, girl! How can this already be so? You are skipping into eighteen with glee, and I’m dragging in, fingers clenched around the reins, white-knuckled, holes torn in the knees, dirt on my face…
I write a lot about trust and faith in God, not because I have an abundance of it, but because I am familiar with the struggle. I understand what it is like to doubt the…
All the popular catchphrases such as “live in the moment,” “be present,” “live intentionally”; do they leave you feeling slightly confused and a little frustrated? They sound warm and fuzzy, but how do you put…
“Lord, you have examined me and know all about me. (Ok, I’m squirming a bit here. You know ALL about me? I’m not sure we should be friends…) You know when I sit down and…
I watched my 82-year-old friend dive into the summer lake while I sat in the boat with my fear. As a child, it was ingrained in me to be afraid of deep water, and I…
There are many reasons why someone might say that they don’t need the church to be a Christian. 1. The top most relevant reason has come to us thanks to the health crisis of this…
As we celebrate Easter this year what do we make of the day in between? The day after Christ’s death, but before His triumph? How do we contemplate each day giving it the significance it…
Today Christians solemnly unite to remember the death of Jesus, the suffering Son of God who hung on a cruel cross to bring us life and freedom. Some of us will be gathering in half-empty…
Do I cause righteous anger over my casual disobedience?
The week leading up to Easter is called Passion Week. Why the word Passion? How does this word depict the week leading up to the death of Jesus? Could it be because of the passion…
We all believe in something Do you have faith? No, I’m not religious, you say. But I say you do have faith. Do you not sow a seed in the ground and patiently wait for…
Depression is something we don’t like to talk about, but most of us have either dealt with it personally or know of someone that has. Depression feels like darkness. It feels like all hope is…
It may be February, but there’s still time for “new year/new me” changes. Are you living in a rut that you are struggling to get out of? Can I improve something in my life without…
It’s Valentine’s Day…again. Some of us love the romance, flowers and chocolates. We dress in pinks and reds, adorned in pretty little hearts, giddy for the day. Some of us groan and go along with…
Merry Christmas from our home to yours! Christmas day is winding down; darkness is falling. Some people hold onto each lingering moment, feeling the sadness of a happy day gone too fast. Others can’t wait…
The people were all busy. They dragged themselves from their beds when the sun came up and fell exhausted, into sleep at night. They scurried around all day with their planners, schedules, meetings, deadlines and…
Bundled up against the frigid winter air, I lay on the snowbank beside the homemade skating rink and gazed up into the black sky hanging full of glittering stars, like ripe cherries ready for the…
When we have no grounds for believing something good might happen, we begin to feel hopeless. We feel like we are stumbling in the dark.
Is Christmas a “hope reset” for 2021?
The pastor in church this morning tells me that there are two things I’ve got to know. There is a God. I’m not it. Are you twisted with worry that the thin veneer of control…
My soul is like a pot of soup; if left unstirred, everything settles to the bottom. But if I let God’s word stir me up, things begin to float to the surface. And when the…
I asked Siri for the definition of “mind games”. Her response was that it is “a course of psychologically manipulative behaviour intended to discomfit another person or gain an advantage over them”. It’s an ancient…
The new year often brings about a renewed desire to do better, be better, exercise, organize, eat healthier…generally just being a better you. It’s reflected in the stores too…if you buy that new item, this will…