James and John were fishermen by trade, the rough and tumble sons of Zebedee. With these two, everything must have been a competition. Jesus chose them to be among his closest followers and nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder.” (Mark 3:17) Even before they were called out by the Christ, these boys must have been pretty …
Peace Be Still
I slept through Hurricane Hugo on the couch in my parents’ living room under an open window. A tree fell, missing my car by inches. The wind left our yard strewn with downed limbs and debris but I was completely unaware until morning. To this day, I love a storm. I’m grateful for shelter, of …
Small Talk
Thomas, who is turning one, has discovered whispering. It started with one of his counting books. When I noticed his attention waning by the number four, I whispered that particular rhyme and since then, each time I read or recite this book, he looks to me for the whispered lines. This week, in an attempt …
In An Instant
Just minutes ago, rain and heavy gray clouded the lake behind my house. Puddles stand on the drive and a seven foot king snake seeks shelter along the stonework under my covered porch. The thunder still rumbles in the distance but suddenly the gray gives way to glorious light. My granny would’ve said that the …
Whose Agenda?
Everyone has an agenda. You do. I do. Ultimately God does. Simply put, an agenda is a plan of things to be done or problems to be addressed. More to the point, it infers underlying intentions or motives. We all have them, even if we don’t recognize or acknowledge them ourselves. The Bible teaches that …
Priceless – The Value of Knowing Christ
When you invite your mom to visit for the day and you offer to write a blog post for her - priceless! My 11-month old son, Thomas, is becoming more and more mobile every day. He can crawl across our living room faster than I can get up from the floor and climbing the stairs …
It’s My Choice
My almost eleven month old grandson is finding his voice and although he never uses the actual word, his “no” is crystal clear. Even more than when he shakes his head from side to side, his fits of temper show his frustration with his current situation. He grunts angrily or throws his head back or …
We Are All The Same
My girls tease me that I invent ways to tell people about my grandchildren. I work in an introduction every time they’re with me, and when they’re absent, I always have pictures. Of course, they’re right. I do love to make conversation and who doesn’t love a baby, but my intent is more than mere …
Reality Filtered
Photo by Ashley Goodlett The community grocery store near our first home had an automated coin sorting machine the size of a smart car. My husband took our children there periodically to cash in the pocket change he’d saved up for special adventures. The kids loved the clanking and flashing that followed their upturned paper …
Love Enabled
How can you love someone you’ve never met so very much? Our first granddaughter is making her way into the world as I write and though I’ve watched her momma’s belly expand and I’ve felt her move and seen ultrasound peeks, I can only imagine what she’ll look and act like once she arrives. Her …
A Fitting Reply 