I spent a lot of time this week thinking about the gift of marriage. A lot can happen over the course of the decades, both for the good and the bad. When my husband and I were starry-eyed teenagers, we thought we saw Beauty when we looked in each other's eyes.What we really saw were dreams … Continue reading Let Me See You
Look Up!
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you … Continue reading Look Up!
When Worry Wastes Beauty
The springtime sun revealed the sad state of our yard this weekend. And while my husband mowed the lawn for the first time this year, I tried to be thankful for the abilities that are still mine, and enjoy the small containers that I had filled with pansies. They were my Mom's favorite spring flowers, … Continue reading When Worry Wastes Beauty
Stillness at the Cross
"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" John 14:6 NIV The way of life is a mystery to me. How is it that something long lost is suddenly revived and found beating again?How is it that the dead brown leavesmake way for … Continue reading Stillness at the Cross
In Awe of Wonders
The early morning quiet was shattered by the pounding of hail on the roof, and I knew my sleep was finished. So I turned on the light and checked outside: sure enough, there were the little white balls, bouncing in the pouring rain. Even though fatigue still had the better of me, I put on … Continue reading In Awe of Wonders
Stillness and the Slow Word
Did you write out Goals for yourself at the start of the New Year? Or did you, like many of us who have a hard time looking ahead at a sea of possibilities, choose a #OneWord for your theme this year? How are you doing with the practice of that word?It's hard to imagine, but … Continue reading Stillness and the Slow Word
After the Fire
It was a cloudy, grey day, but my heart longed to hear the early spring birds that were gathered at the lakeside, so we drove again to our favorite spot. What a difference there was at the lake this week! The Park District had managed their "controlled burn" over most of the land there. The … Continue reading After the Fire
He Gives Us More Grace
"Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness."Luke 11:34 NIV This branch is from my Flowering Almond bush. It has had its share of suffering and disease. At one point, several … Continue reading He Gives Us More Grace
The Gardener Must Prune
Hydrangea ArborescensHave you been smitten by the Hydrangea-Love that seems to be overtaking many gardeners? I know I have, but living here in a cold hilly pocket close to Wisconsin lakes, it takes a gamble to risk most varieties. I wrote about my sweet neighbor and the hydrangeas in her Secret Garden here,and the summer that … Continue reading The Gardener Must Prune
Preparing for Wonder
Psalm 131:2 This little creaturequivers and groansas she tries to please her people."Place!" is the commandAnd she runs to her spotAll noiseless and still. Oh, but if you only knew! This little Grandpuppy of mine is anything BUT still! She is a force of nature bursting with energy. Chasing her human-boy-sibling, … Continue reading Preparing for Wonder
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