Here in South Florida many homes have a sliding glass door leading from the interior of the home to a screened-in lanai. The other night, my husband invited me to sit with him in the lanai. Though it was a beautiful evening, I am not the best at being still and quiet. And I could... Continue Reading →
Walking by Faith
My grandson is learning to walk. As he toddles forward, he pauses every few steps to clap for himself. He is also fond of holding a yellow microfiber cloth while walking, as one never knows when the floor might need cleaning. For me, the funniest sight is when he drops the cloth and tries to... Continue Reading →
Our Inner Emily and How to Live in the Present
My eighth grade English teacher had us read the play, Our Town by Thornton Wilder. Mr. Greco was trying to teach us how to identify the theme, or the author’s message - that which lies beyond the mere retelling of a plot. My thirteen year-old brain, which up to this point had leaned toward Betty... Continue Reading →
Yes, YOU!
Are you familiar with the childhood clapping-chant that begins with the query, “Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar?” This is followed by a pointed accusation and a subsequent denial. (“Mama stole the cookies… Who me?… Yes, you!… Couldn’t be!… Then who?”) Moral ambiguity aside, the exchange is a fun way to practice clapping... Continue Reading →
A Word from Wordle?
I was headed to the kitchen of my parent's Florida home, when I noticed their bedroom door was ajar. It was after ten, past their bedtime, which was curious. I peeked through the opening and caught sight of the two of them on their knees side by side, heads bowed. They were in their late... Continue Reading →
On Waiting
I'm holding out a treat out for our six-month old puppy who sits with great expectation. (Did you know there are "high stakes treats"? For Lena, it's a morsel of smoked chicken.) But then comes the challenge. "STAAAAY!!" I back away and stare her down while counting slowly. Our goal is five. But Lena loses... Continue Reading →
A Celebration of Weakness
When God told Moses that he was the one God had chosen to lead the Israelites out of slavery and into the promised land, how did Moses respond? He basically countered God with everything he had. Who was he to do such a thing? He had spent the last few decades as a lowly shepherd... Continue Reading →
Post-It Notes and Mailbox Prayers
Sometimes we are reminded of God's presence through a brilliant sunset, a waterfall, the moon emerging amid a starry backdrop. Other times these reminders are more obscure, intended just for us Yesterday I was walking our new puppy through our new neighborhood feeling, well, new. Friendships have been slow to develop and family is in... Continue Reading →
God Sent Me a Card
Well, not exactly. On a recent Sunday afternoon an Amazon box was plopped at our front door. When I opened it, I was disappointed. I meant to order a box of individual note cards with Bible verses on them. Instead, what Amazon thought I wanted was one single giant card with one giant verse. I... Continue Reading →
Where is he?
“Thank you for this food. Thank you for our family. And thank you for being with us." I placed a bowl of mixed vegetables and chicken nuggets in front of my three-year-old granddaughter. “WHERE IS HE?“ she demanded. She looked around the kitchen as if to find God sitting on a nearby bar stool. “Well,... Continue Reading →
A Trust Fall
Last Sunday during church, Wendy (pseudonym) leaned over to me and whispered a prayer request. Her three-month old grandson was in the hospital, struggling with a respiratory virus. "Please pray!" Then she did something unexpected. She put her hand over her mouth and said these words into her hand, "Lord, I trust you for baby... Continue Reading →
Held
Natalie Grant has a song called Held which reminds us that even when life is at its lowest, we have the promise of the hand of God holding us up. When I am feeling low, I think of verses that support this message. In Isaiah 41, God declares, "For I am the LORD, your God... Continue Reading →
Foundations
It was October 12, 1964, and we had just moved from Long Island to Jupiter, Florida. I was a fourth grader at Palm Beach Day School, some 45 minutes from our home, struggling to make friends among the self-assured girls with their beachy blond hair (mine being brown and with bangs cut by my mother... Continue Reading →
Hide and Seek
There is nothing better than playing hide and seek with a toddler! When it's your turn to hide, they stare at you wide eyed as they count to ten, skipping a few numbers here and there for good measure. And when it's their turn to hide, they shout, "Here I am!" Or they simply stand... Continue Reading →
Adverbs
In his memoir, On Writing, Stephen King expresses an aversion to adverbs. He does so unequivocally (sorry, Mr. King), saying, “F…k adverbs!” I read Mr. King's book as an assignment for a class called Writing for Teachers and sadly the only thing I have retained is this colorful phrase about a certain part of speech... Continue Reading →
Shadows and Shelters 