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I have a couple of church friends who often ask me, "How are your mom and dad?" Three years ago, my father spent four months in the hospital, after which my parents moved into a retirement residence. It was a busy, stressful time as I advocated for his care, found them a suitable new home, and sold the house where they had resided for 52 years. So, when my friends ask for an update, it means more than they probably realize. Amid all the busyness and concerns of their own lives, these six ... Read More about The Lost Art of Following Up

March has finally arrived, bringing warmer temperatures and melting snow. The thing with March is that it can be so unpredictable. For some unknown reason, I still vividly recall a particular day in March 1995 when my oldest daughter was not even one year old. We were out and about, enjoying the balmy weather and shedding our coats for sweaters. But then, years later, there was that day during March break when my daughters and I met up with friends at the movie theatre. The drive back home was ... Read More about Life is Unpredictable but God is Not

Last week, I looked out my kitchen window and smiled at the patches of grass in my backyard. Not three days later, it looked like a winter wonderland again. We can all agree that this winter has been harder than most. While we wait for spring, it still seems far from reach. I admit that I’m no good at waiting. I can be known to scowl in a grocery line, sigh when the drive-thru is moving slowly, or get agitated in a traffic jam. Waiting can seem like such a waste of time. It's even harder when ... Read More about We Can Thrive While We Wait

I grew up in a Baptist church where Lent was never recognized. It was reserved for more liturgical faith communities, such as Lutherans or Catholics. Of course, the two biggest Christian holidays on our church calendar were Christmas and Easter. But whereas Christmas was a full-blown season of celebration, Easter seemed contained to a long weekend. My fondest memories include a special Easter Sunday service and a brand-new spring dress, often sewn by my mother. It didn't matter if it was a balmy ... Read More about Should I Practice Lent?

My granddaughter turns five years old today. On the day she was born, things did not go as planned. A routine check-up with the midwife quickly escalated to an emergency C-section. When I received the phone call from my son-in-law, telling me that they were on their way to the operating room, I admit that I wanted to panic. Because this happened in 2021, COVID rules meant that only my daughter and her husband could be at the hospital. Here I was, over an hour away, knowing there was nothing ... Read More about When Our World Starts to Crumble

Meal trains must be one of the best digital creations of the 21st century. With just a few clicks, meals can be organized for a family or friend in a season of need. Although I enjoy hosting, I have to admit that I am easily intimidated about dropping off dinner for someone else. The idea of preparing something that can safely be taken to another house makes me slightly anxious. So the day I realized that a Costco chicken, side dish, bagged salad, rolls, and store-bought cookies were acceptable ... Read More about It’s More than a Meal Train