Blog

A Lifetime of Memories…12-31-25 When someone goes into an assisted living facility, nursing home, or passes away, the process of going through their things becomes sometimes monumental. It is emotional, heartbreaking, sweet, and precious all at once and slowly, throughout the process. The love in each item, as they are held, touched, and remembered with connections to the object and the person associated are bittersweet. The memories flood as the pieces attached to them are a

Laughter…12-27-25 My grandson and I laugh. He is always doing or saying something that causes me to chuckle and laugh. There is joy in our relationship. I treasure these memories and moments. I fully understand that in joy there can also be sadness and sorrow. Proverbs 14:13, “Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief.” This scripture reached off the page to me this morning. Why? Perhaps Christians believe there can’t be joy in sorrow. That, as a be

A Light In The Dark…12-25-25 It is Christmas morning and I have been awake off and on all night. It’s early, I’m in my spot with my coffee; and the house is dark, except for the tree, and my grandson’s candle. The house will be full in a couple of hours with our kids, grandkids, and grandmother. I have to stop here and say that I have a cold, stopped up nose, coughing, and hoarse voice. Up off and on all night has partly been due to this. It’s not the anticipation of presents

Gingerbread House…12-24-25 My grandson and I make a gingerbread house together each year. This is our 9th year. We have made traditional houses, dog houses with the dog and bone, Santa train, and cabins. This year is a pyramid house. We started late last night. So far the sides are staying together with the kit icing. The icing holding as glue. You see, we have a running joke about the actual glue used on many of our houses. I have used everything from wood glue, school glue,

Quiet Time…12-20-25 i love to get up early, go sit on my porch in the summer, or couch in the winter, and be present. It is my time to think, pray, talk to God, and contemplate. Before the business of the day begins, I have these few moments without extraneous factors to just be. In Mark 1:35, Jesus prayed in the quiet. “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” Jesus provided our example

Don’t Be Afraid…12-23-25 I would love to say that I freely speak the truth in every situation. The truth is, I quite often keep my opinions to myself. I don’t lie, I just don’t put myself in the position that I need to give my opinion without someone asking. Colossians 4:5-6, “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” That being said, ther

Little Boy Antics…12-22-25 Our grandson is with us quite often. He is full of energy. Yesterday, he came to spend the night after being at his maternal great-grandmother’s for their family Christmas gathering. Hiding behind doors to scare me, tooting where I could smell (he is an almost 10 year old boy), and asks a million questions. All expected, all welcomed. When we lay down for bed, our routine is something I treasure. We pray, first he does, and then I do. We tell “ghost

Eggs = Smiles…12-21-25 A friend of mine often brings me eggs. She will wait until she has a case or two and send me a text for drop-off. She knows I take them to church to share. Yesterday, she texted me she had some and could she head my way. “Absolutely!” I said. When she arrived, she unloaded a case, and another, and a third. I was so excited. You see, these are double yolk, farm fresh, and delicious. The main thing, I get to share. I sent the word out on our church info p

Grandma…12-19-25 My mom, the mother of my heart, passed away on March 23, 2001 at the age of 78. I miss her every day. She found out she had cancer and wanted to adopt me before her passing. So, the judge came to her house and she signed my adoption papers. I was 37. She passed away just over a month later ensuring that I would forever be legally bound to her. If I had a person who I would want to be my mom, it would be Grandma. That’s what she is called to her grandkids and

Food Insecurity…12-18-25 It is reported that 1 in 5 children in America suffer from food insecurity. That is what they call it now. I called it hungry. In some rural counties across the United States, that 20% rises to above 50% or even higher. Matthew 6:31 tells us " Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’" That is hard to say to a child who doesn't know what he will have to eat or if he will eat. Tha

Unmoved…12-17-25 Hebrews 13:8 tells us that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." He is not moved by the world. He is constant. A young lady who is a fellow educator recently became engaged. She is a woman of faith. Her fiance' works in Texas. When she came in today, she told me that her fiance' had a car wreck earlier this morning. He typically drives about an hour and a half to work. He drifted off to sleep and crashed. The car, a VW Beetle, be

Speaking Boldly...12-16-2025 Ephesians 6:19, " And also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel," In this world today, many Christians are persecuted for their beliefs. I have never worried much about this being in the United States, that is until now. At this time, we are seeing more persecutions toward those of faith than ever before. In this chaos, I am inspired and uplifted by those who are speaking boldly

The Christmas Story...12-15-2025 Yesterday, our Children's Church presented The Christmas Story during the morning service. My grandson was Joseph. He takes everything he is a part of very seriously. He may play around during practice, but when it comes to the performances, he is all in and focused. "Locked in" as my students say in class. The children have practiced for over a month. His dad and mom have begun to come to morning service occasionally. This morning, he w

Miracles...12-14-25 I have known the man in this photo for over 44 years. 43 of those years, we have been together. He told me once a couple of years ago that he didn't have a story. You see, I had given my testimony at church. He had also heard Ben Fuller's and Austin French's testimonies as well. He talked about his story not being one of struggle, addictions, extreme poverty, or abuse. Although his mother and father didn't go to church, his father knew the Bible and is wai

If Not Me...12-13-25 I was watching TV this morning with my husband. The story was about The Jay Fund. It is an organization that has been in existence for over 30 years. Funds raised are for families of children with cancer. It was started by Tom Coughlin. Coughlin was most notably head coach of the New York Giants from 2004 to 2015. He spoke this morning about starting the Foundation after he was head coach at Boston College, and a player was diagnosed with and passed

A Knock...A Door Opened...12-12-25 A woman and her husband have been working deligently with the Wildcat Booster Club this past year. They are intentional about doing anything that will bring motivation, joy, and uplift the students. This Christmas, they decided to do a Christmas Riddle Challenge during Semester Test. The woman sent me a screenshot of each day and the photos of students looking for the prize, as well as, the antics that went along with the Challenge. As I

Eastern Sky...12-11-25 This morning when I left for work, God's beauty was on full display. I looked to the east as I walked out of my house, and I was immediately struck with an image that was only created by the Master's paintbrush. I have heard the old saying before, "Red sky at night, Sailor's delight", but there is another version that is so appropriate for this time of year. It just simply says, "Red sky at night, Shepherd's delight.". How beautiful is that? I can

The Tree...12-10-25 My grandson and I put up my tree together each year. This is our 8th year to do this. The first year only included a few ornaments that could be put on at the height of a one year old or maybe a little higher by lifting him up. He enjoys this, as do I. Yes, most of the time the ornaments are too close together. I don't move them. What would that tell him? He loves them in their place, and so do I. The little things that we do together are the things that w

A Puzzle...12-9-25 My grandson is a puzzle loving boy. He has just begun the first few days of a two week grounding. My husband and I had already decided there had been way too much screen time in his life and this was good way to begin his new life with the Grands. Now mind you, our grandchild is more than happy to do anything, but requires someone to do it with. He is an only child and has never liked to be by himself, play alone, or find ways to entertain himself as we

Holy Spirit...12-8-25 Yesterday, in Sunday School, we talked about the Holy Spirit leading us. We were reading in Psalms and then in 2 Timothy. The discussion was about doing what was right and following the path that we have learned, learned from the scripture and teaching. 2 Timothy 3:14-15, " 14  But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15  and how from infancy you have known the Holy