Archive for the ‘Marriage’ Category

In a world of ever-growing technology that is constantly opening doors of communication in new and innovative ways, I still prefer reading books. I will always prefer reading books. There’s just no other satisfaction that compares to holding an actual hardcopy and savoring meaningful words in a way that challenges my mind and ideas. And  [ Read More ]

Where to Find the “Virtuous” Woman

Posted by Susan On February 23, 2018 ADD COMMENTS

A couple of years ago, my younger sister Dale gave me a necklace, and I love it. I’m wearing it right now as I write this. I wear it a lot, actually. It wasn’t expensive– I think her church was giving these out to mothers and grandmothers on Mother’s Day one year. It’s very simple,  [ Read More ]

There are No Steps to a Successful Marriage

Posted by Susan On March 23, 2017 ADD COMMENTS

Recently, I was asked to give a presentation to a group of women on the topic of investing in a “Godly Marriage.” Perhaps you’re wondering why. No, of course you aren’t “wondering why!” It seems so obvious. Marriage as we have known it is under intense attack these days, so you’re probably assuming that when  [ Read More ]

A couple of years ago, my younger sister Dale gave me a necklace, and I love it. I’m wearing it right now as I write this. I wear it a lot, actually. It wasn’t expensive– I think her church was giving these out to mothers and grandmothers on Mother’s Day one year. It’s very simple,  [ Read More ]

A Tribute to My Sister Dale

Posted by Susan On January 27, 2016 ADD COMMENTS

Deep pre-dawn darkness wraps tightly around my little house on this first early morning after returning from my cross-continent flight. Dan and I just returned from a sudden trip east to grieve with my extended family and hold them all very tight, all of us devastated by the loss of my beautiful sister Dale Nikkanen  [ 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 ]

So This is What It’s Like, 38 Years Later

Posted by Susan On October 26, 2012 1 COMMENT

To start the celebration–and it is a celebration!– of our 38th anniversary this morning, my sweet husband offered to bring me coffee in bed. This gesture is far more significant than you are thinking it is because after 38 years together, Dan is still a serious non-coffee-drinker– so this was unquestionably a sincere and meaningful  [ Read More ]

Rain… for My Wedding??

Posted by Susan On June 28, 2012 1 COMMENT

It’s June. And from notes and prayer requests I’m seeing on facebook, it’s clear that the greatest fear that a bride faces as her big day approaches– is rain. And sure enough, after such sunny, warm, beautiful weather all of last week, those miserable clouds began to gather and forecasts sounded ominous just as we  [ Read More ]

The Greatest Lessons of Love

Posted by Susan On February 14, 2012 ADD COMMENTS

Love. Gratefully, it came early in my life and stayed long, honing its definition and penetrating its reality deeper with every chapter that went by. My earliest memory is of my Dad’s arms around me as he gushed, “I love you so much I could eat you up!” A confusing concept of love, for sure.  [ Read More ]

Keep Our Eyes on the Shore…

Posted by Susan On October 25, 2011 ADD COMMENTS

“In 1952, young Florence Chadwick stepped into the waters of the Pacific Ocean off Catalina Island, determined to swim to the shore of mainland California. She’d already been the first woman to swim the English Channel both ways. “The weather was foggy and chilly; she could hardly see the boats accompanying her. Still, she swam  [ Read More ]