Good morning... On Mother's Day morning, I received this photo, one of my favorites of all time. It's the mother-son dance at Kyler's wedding nearly four years ago. Now our first born son will soon have his first born son, what a regenerative gift from God. "Happy Mother’s Day!" his wife Chandler texted me on Sunday. "Love this [...]
Good morning... I received a special package this week from our former exchange student from Norway. Margit lived with my biological family for a year when she was a junior in high school, my sister was in ninth grade, I was in seven grade, and my brother was in fifth grade. Margit became a soul sister and a [...]
Good morning... When one odd word repeats itself, my keen awareness perks up. Yesterday, I reworked our post entitled Life Is A Patchwork. Then I climbed back in bed for my second sleep. When I woke again, I immediately read the following poem. Do you see what unusual word repeats itself? ****** "Rain Light" by W.S. Merwin All [...]
Good morning... At Scott's Antique Market, I found this Mother's Day gift for my mom. I sent it with a card for her to hang on a doorknob in their senior living community in Ohio. The cross stitched treasure reminds me of the many handmade creations my mom made as gifts over the years. The words share a [...]
Good morning... Walking beside the muddy banks of the Chattahoochee river, I was reminded of a quote from our final book of the semester, Let Your Life Speak by Parker Palmer. On page 79, Parker writes about the season of spring. "...before spring becomes beautiful, it is plug ugly, nothing but mud and muck. I have walked in [...]
Good morning... "These words from Frederick Buechner captured me this morning…enjoy!" said the text from my friend. ****** Grace AFTER CENTURIES of handling and mishandling, most religious words have become so shopworn nobody's much interested anymore. Not so with grace, for some reason. Mysteriously, even derivatives like gracious and graceful still have some of the bloom left. Grace [...]
Good morning... Feeling anxious about the unknown ahead is a common experience for many of us. In response to this very human vulnerability, a friend sent me the devotional message below. ****** Wherever the Path Leads Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters—a pathway no one knew was there! - PSALM 77:19 NLT [...]
Good morning... A quirky comment lingers from a conversation this week. I don't remember where I was, why it was said, or who spoke this odd truth. "You know, the invention of the elevator created the penthouse," she said. "Before then, the top floor was despised because of all the exhausting steps." What meaning does this statement give [...]
Good morning... In our spiritual growth group, she read this request out loud. ****** Circle me O God Keep faith within Keep fear without. Circle me O God Keep hope within Keep despair out. Circle me O God Keep peace within Keep turmoil out. Circle me O God Keep calm within Keep storms without. Circle me O God [...]
Good morning... This weekend's full moon passed quietly. With cloudy skies and thick overgrowth, inside me and around us, the power of God felt muted, present but subdued. This weekend, no one sent me gorgeous, glowing full moon photos, which people so often do. Grieving friends have lost loved [...]
