Just as I had imagined, Civita di Bagnoregio– one of Italy’s amazing medieval hilltop cities– was everything I had read about and anticipated as Dan and I researched and planned every detail we could think of in preparation for our recent trip to Europe with good friends. But as it turned out– far beyond anything [ Read More ]
Last month, three of our grandsons stayed with us while Mom was recovering from a C-section after the birth of their adorable baby sister. As the boys looked through my book shelves, they discovered “Robinson Crusoe” and enthusiastically asked if I’d read it to them. So each night before bed, it became our pattern to [ Read More ]
We were just wrapping up the Bible Study at our house when Dan’s phone rang. It was one of his sisters, and he intended to tell her he’d call her right back when our guests had left– but as he stepped out of the room, he was taking much longer than I’d expected he would. [ Read More ]
This past week, I slid far outside of my comfort zone and read “The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert”– the story of Rosaria Champagne Butterfield, a woman who was transformed from the life of a lesbian university professor actively promoting the homosexual agenda, to a life totally committed to Christ by way of what [ Read More ]
There was a youth rally when I was in my late teens that generated considerable attention when it advertised that the speaker, now converted to Christ, was a former member of a very notorious street gang. The school auditorium where we gathered to hear him speak had a good turn out, and I was eager [ Read More ]
My cousin and I walked past a floral shop way back when we were in college together. Simultaneously, we were both drawn to the very same arrangement among several that were displayed in the window. Surprised, I couldn’t understand why she would possibly be so drawn to an arrangement that so beautifully featured white Shasta [ Read More ]
When we woke this morning, six more inches of fresh snow was gently and peacefully falling onto the several feet of sparkling white already piled high on the ground. Almost too beautiful to be real, the rugged Cascade Mountains surrounding our town paint a stunning winter-white backdrop almost everywhere. “On stage,” our pretty little town– [ Read More ]
A fresh, young New Year has now arrived on the scene! But, man oh man, I sure wish this one could have been delivered with a little more optimism… Truthfully, I’ve found myself struggling with discouragement as the infant days of 2013 make their appearance. The picture isn’t a very pretty one as we tighten [ Read More ]
Having spent more than 60 years living on this earth, with a large part of it in serious pursuit of knowing God, I still find it pretty amazing that after all this time, some of the most impacting revelations of God to me are derived from discussions with a seven year old. It happened again [ Read More ]
Less than a week ago, we celebrated a day of Thanksgiving. Like families everywhere, we gathered around our big dining room table and feasted on roast turkey and pumpkin pie as we consciously thanked God for the amazing blessings He has given. At one point, I remember wondering, “Am I dreaming this? Is it only [ Read More ]