I have a friend who loves new school supplies. Perhaps it’s a carryover from her childhood … but I agree with her that it’s exciting to anticipate a new school season. Purchasing new pencils, pens, clean notebooks, paper and calendars means starting afresh. We can begin again, re-organize, enjoy the opening of a new chapter. […]
Read More
Happy early New Year everyone!!! Only two days left in 2019! You may be dismantling your tree and putting away all the lights and ornaments … or maybe not. I have a dear friend who leaves her tree and lights up through January… so, what is your preference and tradition? How have you changed your […]
Read More
A gossamer veil between this world and the next, division of temporal and eternal seen and unseen . . . Pierced. Light of the world sent by God, broke through, came to us. Emptied … became microscopic, past the curtain to our side entered the chosen cell. From that other world— more real, substantive than […]
Read More
Beautiful Savior, What more could be done than Thou has done! Thy death is my LIFE, Thy resurrection my PEACE, Thy ascension my HOPE, Thy prayers my COMFORT. Help me give thanks today and forever. Amen. Valley of Vision, page 87 The incarnation of Jesus … His first coming to earth … incognito … as […]
Read More
The first promise of hope after the fall, “Her offspring will bruise your head.” Eve, sure her firstborn was the promise fulfilled … but Cain killed Abel, her heart and hopes dashed, crushed . . . But God . . . Like bread crumbs along the path more hints, clues, promises sprinkled. Deliverers, kings, prophets […]
Read More
Overlapping precariously close this year are Thanksgiving Day followed three short days later by the first Sunday of Advent. Preparing for Advent has always taken a back seat for me because our Thanksgiving holiday is like a family reunion. It’s the one time a year my three brothers and their families, all our married kids […]
Read More
Dear Barbara, how do I still respect my husband when I feel like his lack of faith negatively affected the plans God has for our family? Don’t get me wrong; my husband is a strong believer. And there’s not a big sin issue. I just feel like he isn’t believing and relying on God in several areas where […]
Read More
By: Janel Breitenstein Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids Create a paper chain to countdown to Thanksgiving. As the links are daily removed, kids can write something new for which they’re thankful. Keep the slips in a jar, and have them read random selections at Thanksgiving dinner. Craft thank-you cards together to send to meaningful people in […]
Read More
Contrary to popular sentiments, Christmas isn’t for children. Nor should the focus be all about kids. Christmas is actually an annual opportunity to introduce your family to more and more understanding about the Babe in the manger, without whom this holiday would not exist. Games of hide and seek are lots of fun so here’s […]
Read More
Hey everyone, Tis the season to be getting your family’s photo taken for your Christmas cards this year! It’s never as easy as we hope or imagine. In our family someone was always unhappy about it. My daughter-in-law told me one year she and her husband, my son, were having a big argument as the […]
Read More