Knocked Down, but Not Destroyed

Spring is in the air. I'm a bit sleepy from losing an hour of sleep with the time change last night, but excited about the prospect of more daylight in my day. I spent yesterday working in my front yard, doing more manual labor than I have in months. After the ice and snow storms...

Preparing for Company (28 Minutes in Heaven)

My husband helped me get the guest bedroom ready for the long-awaited arrival of our daughter and grandchildren. We stocked up on groceries, bathed the smelly dog, and even hung a new clock on the wall, which had been bare for months since the old one broke. We cleaned up areas that seem to get...

Cards by Candlelight: Blessings in Disguise

It was a rainy spring evening as we awaited our friends' arrival for dinner. We planned to play cards and board games and just relax -- a rare treat for all of us. Thunder shook the house as we set the food on the table and finished filling the tea glasses. With seven people squeezed...

An Angel By My Daughter

It was late May 2015, just over a year ago. I was in my fourth month serving as interim worship/music director at a church in a nearby city, and had really been missing being with my family at our home church. My nine-year-old daughter, Jaycie, would ask almost weekly by then, "Mom, when are you...

The House That Love Re-built -Pt.1

[Part 1 of 2] There’s an old house sitting vacant in our town. It was a grand structure in its day, designed by the best architect, built by the most prestigious builder, and belonging to a prominent family. The six bedroom, five bathroom home is a “mansion” to most folks, including myself. However, it has...