Me. Tree. Eternity.
Good morning... In the morning, I took a walk through the fertile forest of fallen trees. I told you in yesterday's post, "New forms of life were sprouting up everywhere!" In the afternoon, we gathered for our session in The Upper Room, the amazing new building on the campus of the Ignatius House Retreat Center. Our retreat leaders told us that several trees were felled to make room for the sacred gathering space. [...]
Rising From The Wreckage
Good morning... As I walked the mile long trail around the Ignatius House Retreat Center, I noticed the restorative beauty of the fallen trees. Though the keepers of the sacred grounds clear the rugged paths, they allow the decaying debris to naturally rest on the fertile forest floor. Like meandering through a mysterious museum, I marveled at the new life rising from the wreckage. [...]
One Gut-Wrenching Photo
Good morning... The morning after snapping happy photos of our grandson Charlie last week, I looked down on our driveway and saw this gut-wrenching sight. A red frog had been caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, innocently squished by the tire of my husband's car. By no fault of it's own, the poor fella was instantly, permanently leveled by life. I sent the photo to a friend who, herself, had [...]
Charlie’s First Labor Day
Good morning... On Saturday, we received this photo of our three month old grandson Charlie with our son Kyler. His text read, "First time at the pool! He's wearing his hat from aunt Adri." What a great way to celebrate Charlie's first Labor Day weekend. Not living in the same town, we realize that our life as a family is lived from holiday to holiday, visit to visit, special moment to special moment. [...]
We’re Walking Margit Home
Good morning... "Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns, but will not encourage us to mistake them for our home," C.S. Lewis wrote in our post from yesterday. I have heard it said, "We are just walking each other home." Our eternal home awaits us beyond. For her junior year in high school, in 1975, my biological family provided a pleasant inn for Margit Steinholt. Living in the United [...]
C.S. Lewis, Dolly, And Jesus
Good morning... Following the past two posts about the DeShelters missing their daughter Audrey, who went to heaven ten hours before her twentieth birthday, a friend from Florida emailed me. "Good morning Sue," she wrote. "I cannot imagine what Jennifer and Ben are facing as parents. Blessedly God surrounds us with angels here on earth to comfort and encourage, and it is such a blessing that Audrey and her family are so well-loved. [...]
Beside Audrey’s Grave
Good morning... On September 1st, Jennifer DeShetler posted the tribute above to her daughter, Audrey. I zoomed in close and read the plaque resting in the right front corner of the photo. "She is a mountain moving, giant slaying, world changing warrior. She walks with Jesus. That is her game changing strategy." What a perfect description of audacious Audrey, who lived life to the fullest for nearly twenty years on this earth. The [...]
Audrey Is Deeply Missed
Good morning... Two weeks ago, our Fab 5 friend group circled up with Jennifer DeShelter over lunch. Jennifer is the mother of beloved Audrey, who passed away fifteen months ago after a fifteen year battle with pediatric cancer. Then last week, Audrey's dad, Ben, posted this moving message on Facebook. ****** This week would have marked the beginning of Audrey’s junior year at Notre Dame. It is difficult to even write those words. [...]
From The Ashes Of August
Good morning... The timing was perfect. We met on August 31st, softly celebrating the end before a new beginning. We began by reading a short Scripture. After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat [...]
What Is Being Revealed?
Good morning... The night after last week's lunar eclipse, we experienced the full moon of August. Bright. Plump. Rising high in the sky. The following day, I went on a long walk. I noticed a tree stump laying low in the dirt. Hollow. Decaying. Carved out to her core. Looking up, we see evidence of God. Looking [...]
One Lovely Lunar Eclipse
Good morning... A gorgeous sunset was followed by a rare phenomenon. "A stunning near-total partial lunar eclipse occurred overnight between August 27 and August 28, 2026," says Space.com. "At its peak, the Earth's dark central shadow, or umbra, covered 96.2% of the full Sturgeon Moon, tinting it a dramatic crimson or copper "blood moon" color." The Lord made the moon to mark off the [...]
Sit With The Broken
Good morning... Fires and floods. Earthquakes and wars. Disease, division, and death around the globe. Closer to home, our nearby neighbors face poverty, hunger, and homelessness. In our own families, we struggle with divorce, depression, and debilitating addiction. In recent days, it feels like hard things are happening everywhere. What do we do with all this pain? Henri Nouwen has a suggestion. ****** Fellowship Of The Broken by Henri Nouwen, from Life of the [...]