Every year I struggle with anxiety going to see the fireworks on the Fourth of July. Will we get stuck in the ditch? What if someone has to use the restroom, but can’t exit from our parking spot? What if we get thirsty or hungry? Why am I being so ridiculous? The anxiety is probably … Continue reading Higher than Fireworks… Jesus Shines Brighter!
Germany. The very first memory I have of Halloween, is when my dad helped the local teens paint the windows of our apartment building in Germany. I wanted to help, but I wasn't allowed to hang out with him on the indoor staircase. I have a photo of myself, around the age of four, dressed … Continue reading Celebration to Conviction… My Christian Halloween Journey
While growing up in Italy; Miss Chennault, my fifth grade teacher at Brindisi Elementary on San Vito Air Force Base, was my favorite. Years later, I've often reflected back and wondered if she knew of my struggles at home. She seemed to favor the skinny, neglected, stringy-haired girl who sometimes wore scarves to try and … Continue reading Witches and Mean Kids and Treats… My God!
As a young teen, I moved from Texas to Alaska; a huge change in climate, weather, scenery, and wildlife. Texas had been hot and humid, with temperamental storms coming out of nowhere, drenching us in the middle of a sweltering, sunny day. The sky was a vast, pale blue; the brown desert ground was flat … Continue reading Waiting for the Fireworks… and Waiting
I knew Jesus when I was very young, just five years old. I said, "Yes!" when he knocked at the door of my heart; and I invited him in. I began to write poems and songs about Jesus when I was only seven. I remember writing one of them on a brown paper towel, borrowed … Continue reading What the Sky Did When Billy Graham Went to Heaven Today
Bullies can be found everywhere and anywhere you go. Bullies are in the workplace, neighborhoods, and schools. They can even be found in homes and churches. Some bullies disguise themselves as nice people, hoping to be seen as moral, upstanding members of society. Many bullies are also narcissists. “These people are hypocrites and liars, and … Continue reading 6 Godly Truths to Help Gain Freedom from Bullies
It was late. It had been a long day of Christmas errands, wrapping, and preparing for my daughter's Christmas party the next day. We were ready for hosting her closest homeschool friends. The house was even... clean. My daughter and I were cuddling in one of our new chairs, in front of the fireplace. I … Continue reading Joy is EATING a Broken Gingerbread House!
The table was shoved over in a fit of rage when I was around eight. There'd been a bit of squabbling at the table, as happens between eight-year-old and four-year-old kids, but nothing out of the ordinary. It came as a complete shock. It was apparently the last straw; the one that broke the camel's … Continue reading When the Tables are Turned, is it Abuse… or Righteous Anger?
Yesterday, my daughter asked if she could give one of her ponies a hair cut. We had given a trim to one of her My Little Pony pets before, so I agreed. I reminded her that the pony's hair couldn't grow back, and gave her a small pair of scissors, and a piece of cardstick … Continue reading Pretty Ponies? A Mother’s “Short Tale”
So many hearts find Mother's Day to be a time of sadness and despair, instead of gladness and delight. Many have lost their mothers due to cancer or old age. Some have been abandoned or abused by their mothers, and are no longer a part of each other's lives. Some have never known their mothers. … Continue reading 15 Ways to have a Blessed Mother’s Day Even if Family is Not There
The Silver Lining 