Good morning... For our make-shift shop, nine of us laid out awesome gifts donated by many generous people in our community. Why create a Secret Santa Shop for vulnerable, at risk children to choose and to wrap gifts for their loved ones? For me, the best answer to this question is a story. ****** LOVE DOES THAT by [...]
Good morning... I love this Halloween photo of our nephew and his expectant wife. On the morning after Thanksgiving, many of us wake stuffed. "Today's average American lives more comfortably than the nineteenth century's wealthiest tycoons, who never beheld the sky from an airplane seat, browsed a website, heated soup in a microwave, or looked at a color [...]
Good morning... On Wednesday evening, a group of nearly one hundred of us gathered at PAWkids to celebrate the life of 7-year-old Hailey Harris who died in a house fire along with her grandmother and two aunts. The 5:00 pm balloon launch in Hailey's honor actually happened around 6:00 pm, followed by grilled hot dogs and fixings, sidewalk [...]
Good morning... "Hi Sue," a longtime church friend wrote several days ago. "Thought you might enjoy these pictures. I took them at Monet’s garden outside of Paris. It was such a hopeful place with all the dreariness in the world. Hope you are well and peaceful." "Oh, how gorgeous," I replied. "Such exquisite beauty. Life-giving. Breath-taking. [...]
Good morning... "God leads us with cords of human kindness," says Hosea 11:4. The God Almighty uses people - weak, vulnerable, powerless people - to guide us with reigns made of love. I am reminded of the book bag tag given to each child at church before the start of the school year. Weak, vulnerable, powerless kids can [...]
Good morning... Unexpectedly waking at dawn near Cleveland, Ohio, I shed quiet tears beside the bay window in my parents' villa. As I look out on their continuum of care community, gloomy rain turns to gentle, white snowflakes on this memorable late March morning. Soon we will visit my mom in the ICU, wondering whether her loving life [...]
Good morning... "Hi there," yesterday I texted a dear friend I have enjoyed quality time with for nearly thirty years. "I have our birthday season lunch on my calendar. What time do you want to meet at our special spot?" "Argh," she replied immediately, "was just going to write you. Spent five hours in Kaiser Urgent Care yesterday. [...]
Good morning... In every life there are mountaintop moments. The birth of a baby and grand graduations. Joyful engagements and fabulous weddings. Quiet "Ah-ha" moments experienced in private and loud celebrations swarming with loved ones. Once in a lifetime trips and breathtaking vistas. (See the photos and reflections taken from the mountaintop of my first trip to Israel, [...]
Good morning... Our post from last week What Is Mine To Do? has invited some very dynamic dialogue. Yesterday I shared one reader's response. Today I share with you another subscriber's perspective. ****** Dear Sue, Thank you for your thoughts today, and for your service in your community. I was anxious to read your post as soon as [...]
Good morning... I am taking my time dismantling December this year. I ponder meaningful memories as I quietly pack up our decorations. From December 2021, I am savoring many firsts. I cherish the photos from a gathering in Ohio with twenty-two of our extended family members the weekend before Thanksgiving (the first time we were all together since [...]
