Good morning... Last Sunday, I worshiped with my friend at Swannanoa Church in Swannanoa, North Carolina. Hurricane Helene devastated much of the area one year ago this week. Friendly, multi-generational, bursting with authentic connection, the community church felt real and restorative. "There is nothing like living through tragedy together to create a lasting bond," I thought to myself. [...]
Good morning... Last weekend, I visited a friend in Black Mountain, North Carolina. I asked her to take me around to see places devastated by Hurricane Helene, and I listened as she shared her experience of the tremendous tragedy. The vicious storm struck in the middle of the night on September 27, 2024, (one year ago right now) [...]
Good morning... At church this week, I stopped in the hall and talked a while with our Director of Student Ministries. I told him that I had heard he had done a really good job supporting the students who came to youth group on Sunday night. The night before, one of our own, sixteen year old Benji Reiser [...]
Good morning... For two fertile hours, I held it all, touched the joys and honored the sorrows. Our second fitness class, The Ministry of Movement, brought creative connection to about twenty-five vibrant women. Some have been through knee and back surgeries. Some are grieving the loss of loved ones. Some are living with a dreaded diagnosis. Some are [...]
Good morning... Wow! Yesterday was an incredible day. I started out at Mend Coffee with thirty friends from Northside's Morning Mission Circle. I took notes in the back of my Hope Heals book, as author Katherine Wolf told her life-changing story of narrowly surviving a massive brain stem stroke at age twenty-six. Forty days in the ICU. Disfiguring [...]
Good morning... Yesterday afternoon, I spent quality time with a friend who grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She's been to Annunciation Catholic School where this week's school shooting took place. She described loving her hometown and the people with whom she grew up. One high school classmate, Mark Donicht, is now a published author who writes under the [...]
Good morning... Last Monday morning, the room was abuzz with the voices of about fifty to sixty women. Catching up. Sharing stories. Starting a new school year. I felt honored to be the kick-off speaker for the Lovett Moms in Prayer group, an annual commitment I enjoy every fall. Each year, I prayerfully consider what I feel led [...]
Good morning... The Westminster Class of 2024 hosted a gathering to honor the memory of Audrey DeShetler on Wednesday, August 6th, celebrating her impact on their class and our community far and wide. The next day, I texted with Audrey's mom. Me: How was the gathering, Jennifer? Jennifer: I literally started crying before the service even started. I [...]
Good morning... "Sue, I love that Marilyn picked 'when we all get to heaven,' for the final song at her funeral," Jennifer DeShetler texted yesterday. "That is what we picked for Audrey's service as well. Although Audrey's is more to the tune of Alan Jackson. I love his Hymns collection and played it often. My kids memorized the [...]
Good morning... Whenever I think of July 2025, two words will always come to mind. Grief and Galapagos. In June, the daughter of my dear friend, Audrey DeShetler, went to heaven the day before her twentieth birthday. Then, within the same week, our family put to sleep our beloved dog, Tate. Both Audrey and Tate battled cancer. Both [...]
