Good morning... While we were on the women's retreat two weeks ago, I snapped this photo of a heart shape on the sidewalk. Revisiting it now, I sense a profound epiphany. When the dirt and the residue of our broken lives gradually loosen and fall away, what remains is the heart of Christ. As the song in yesterday's [...]
Happy Valentine's Day... At PAWkids, we beaded bracelets with the kids on Monday and created Valentines for ourselves with the adults on Tuesday. I wrapped up my handmade gift and card, excited to open them this morning when I wake from my second sleep. My bracelet holds one bead [...]
Good morning... Yesterday, as I drove to the vet with our six month old puppy, a tiny dream of mine died. Honestly, I have always wondered if I would whelp at least one litter of puppies in my lifetime. In awe of the cyclical nature of life, I have thought that helping my dog to give birth to [...]
Good morning... This harsh winter has been the perfect season for us to be reading Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May. On page 68, Wintering "...offers us a cyclical metaphor for life, one in which the energies of spring arrive again and again, nurtured by the deep retreat of winter. We [...]
Good morning... As I walked with a young mom last week, we talked about the unique quality of friendships in the Atlanta area. So many amazing women come and go throughout the seasons of our lives. Without the regular overlaps which happen naturally in small town living, we need to be intentional about connecting with the important ladies [...]
Good morning... During this winter season that feels treacherous to so many, I happened upon a new music video. Jelly Roll and Lauren Daigle have paired up to produce Faithful Through The Ages. "A raw, soul-deep anthem about a God who never walked away — even when life broke us down," writes one listener. "Jelly Roll’s gravel-hearted honesty [...]
Good morning... On Sunday at church, I noticed a left-handed first grader filling out a coloring sheet entitled "Things I like to do in winter." After the service, I asked a staff person in the Children's Ministry if I could have a copy of the coloring sheet to use with our first classes of the semester. We are [...]
Good morning... "Good morning, Sue!" her text greeted me first thing yesterday. "AHHHH!!! I can’t stop thinking about the ZESTY women and the ZESTY honest sharing yesterday - I feel one thousand percent closer to God in that transparent space than certain times in the past when I had all the perfect answers and impression of total certainty! [...]
Good morning... My favorite Monday of the year is when we set up a Secret Santa Shop at PAWkids for the kids in the afterschool enrichment program. This past Monday was the day and my car was loaded down like a sleigh! This year we simplified our giving, relying solely on the donations of our Thursday morning class, [...]
Good morning... "Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning." This old adage came to mind as I looked south over the city of Atlanta yesterday morning. Even from a distance, I could tell it was going to be a doozie of a day. Sure enough. Computer concerns. Internet issues. Reworking yesterday's [...]
