Good morning... On a ninety degree evening in June, my husband Steve performed a wedding for one of his former Lovett wrestlers in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. The setting could not have been more perfect, as the slowly descending sun snuck behind a mammoth tree on a bustling street corner beside the historic waters. Walking down the [...]
Good morning... Yesterday, June 9th, hosted two special birthdays. My mom turned 86 years old in Ohio, and Audrey DeShetler turned 19 years old here in Atlanta. Born on the same day, sixty-seven years apart, both of these women have a strong drive to live life fully. After falling [...]
Good morning... Our deepest hope is Galatians 2:20, quoted here in the New Living Translation. My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. The [...]
Good morning... "Why bother?" asks Sean Thomas Dougherty. Then, he answers his own question. "Because right now, there is someone out there with a wound in the exact shape of your words." Painful wounds and healing words meet at the right moment. Here, at the crossroads of wounds and words, God's presence is palpable. Might the power of [...]
Good morning... When a friend from our Friday group sent the quote and image above, we collectively embraced the eternal truth. "Hearts united in pain and sorrow will not be separated by joy and happiness," says Khalil Gibran. "Bonds that are woven in sadness are stronger than the ties of joy and pleasure. Love that is washed by [...]
Good morning... Brewing coffee for my dad and myself, I drank from her "Yeah Mom!" mug. Before surgery to repair her broken hip, I was so grateful to see my mom, to kiss her on the forehead, and to share with her my love. After my sister took me to the airport for my return trip back to [...]
Good morning... We enjoyed a slow, low-key day after my parents' joyful Music Man performance at their senior living community in Ohio. Waking late. Talking over breakfast. Enjoying a relaxing morning together. Going to an appointment with the eye doctor. Grateful for good news, "Everything looks great." Stopping by Dairy Queen to order an ice cream cake for [...]
Good morning... Parents age. Heck, we all age. Might we enjoy supporting this natural process? As we mature, life's essentials become key. Eating. Sleeping. Feeling well. Nurturing friendships. Connecting with family. Remembering good times. I enjoy visiting my parents in Ohio, because I quite easily relax into their slower pace. Coffee. Banana. Peanut butter. Conversations about life. Planning [...]
Good morning... I walked by a little purple-white pansy peeking up through a lush sea of green grass. With rows and rows of neatly placed flowers looking on from a nearby bed, this one persistent pansy somehow appeared in a place it was not planted. Bold. Beguiling. Beautiful. Now I explore the meaning behind this dainty delight. The [...]
Good morning... Wow. Jet lag is a real thing. I just flew back two days ago from an amazing five day trip to California. I can attest, jet lag is a real thing. Uncharacteristic of me, the last two nights I've stayed up way past midnight, binge-watching my happy recordings of this season of American Idol. (Fortunately, Steve [...]
