That time of year has rolled 'round again. Lights are going up all over the neighborhood. Stores are playing Christmas music on repeat, and the Internet is rife with blogs and "grams" hosting virtual holiday home tours. As I write this, the dining room of my own little casita has our seven foot pencil tree perched in the corner, yet bereft of ornamentation, eagerly awaiting tiny hands to fill it profusely as high up as their small arms can reach. This approaching season spar

"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." - Isaiah 41:10 I've never been a fan of spending too much time looking backward. After all, life is forward motion, but every once in a while, I travel those roads back to see with fresh eyes the beginnings of God's story of my life. This week my oldest, my firstborn, had a birthday. Sometim

(Jesus said) "... and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." - Matthew28:20 "You've got to be brave." My children and grandchildren have all heard me say this to seagulls at the beach when offering morsels of bread by outstretched hand. The reward is there for the taking if only they are brave enough to conquer the fear that I mean them no harm, only good. Some hover for a moment, then dive in to take the entire slice. Others hover and approach tentatively, b

Last weekend Tom and I were able to meet up with our son and daughter-in-law and their three children at Riverbend Park in Smithville for some camping, canoeing, and fishing. It was a short trip, a bounce, really, but we made the most of the time we had and jam-packed the hours with as much fun as we absolutely could! Mark and Laura have a camping trailer, which is awesome. Tom and I on the other hand have a camping... tent, which is also pretty awesome except for all the add

I'm fairly certain the romanticized version of this dream, the idyllic vision that took root in my heart began with the seeds of those...

I suppose I'm a rescuer of sorts. Some people have a heart for rescuing stray animals, and honestly, I'd probably do that too if my...

I remember the illustration still. A 1950s ink drawing of a little girl, knees pressed against the back cushions of the couch, eyes wide...

"If you're worried and you can't sleep/ Just count your blessings instead of sheep/ And you'll fall asleep/ Counting your blessings." -...

Today's post may at first seem a little tongue in cheek, but I assure you it also has some real substance and practical applications for...

"Oh, to grace how great a debtor - Daily I'm constrained to be; Let that grace now like a fetter - Bind my wand'ring heart to Thee: Prone...

Three days ago Tom and I celebrated our fortieth anniversary. I still can't quite wrap my head around that. The years flew by. I know...

"Where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them." - Matthew 18:20 I debated about whether or not I should...

"...how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye?" - Matthew 7:4...

It was one of those lovely, lazy spring afternoons. Tom and I were coming back from a drive to Bandera. Windows down. Breeze, perfectly...

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God....

Sometimes I wonder about my sanity. I know my husband wonders about it. He sees the effects of my hamster wheel-ing and I'm pretty sure...

I remember sitting in a Sunday morning Bible class some years ago, watching a video by Max Lucado. I can't recall exactly what the topic...

If you've lived long enough, you may remember that phrase from a 1970s martial arts television show: Kung Fu. In the show, Master Po used...

Last week was a veeeeery interesting week, not only because Tom fell off the ladder while fixing the gutter and badly sprained his ankle...

I was on my way over to my daughter's house a couple of weeks ago for an outing at the Botanical Garden when I saw it. "IT." The For Sale...