I am but a girl. Engaged to be married. Betrothed. Preparing for my life as a wife with Joseph, my Beloved. That is, until the angel arrived and turned our lives upside down. He spoke words my mind was not prepared to hear. Unbelievable words. Unfathomable. An angel? Really. Who would even believe this tale … Continue reading Mary’s Song
Inspiration
Defining Hope
The first definition of hope in the dictionary is “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.” When I think of hope, this is the definition I accept and think of most. It is certainly true during Advent, as we look forward to the coming of the Christ, both back then … Continue reading Defining Hope
Hope Deferred
To have a discussion of hope we must talk about the elephant in the room. Hope deferred. Hopelessness. The crushing weight of broken expectations. The relationship that didn’t work out. The loss of someone dear. The fractured marriage. The wayward child. The lost career. The illness that took over everything. The huge enormous hole that … Continue reading Hope Deferred
The Days of Advent
The days of advent are upon us. A liturgical season to which I never paid much attention until recently. A season of waiting. A season of anticipation. A season of light in the darkness. There is certainly enough darkness these days to have me looking for some light. It seems overwhelming sometimes, the heaviness of … Continue reading The Days of Advent
Snapshots of Thankfulness
Walking down the gravel road, stirring up the dust with each footfall I was sweating. The heat of the Nicaraguan day had me longing for shade. Our group of Americans, equipped with an interpreter, was on a prayer walk through the barrio. Speaking to the people, spending time with them was our joy. They had … Continue reading Snapshots of Thankfulness
God Cannot Forget You
When Bill was in the hospital all those years ago, I often wondered what was happening to him spiritually. He was out of his mind, so where was his spirit? When he came around, I asked him what he remembered, curious if he had seen or felt anything from the unseen realm. He didn’t remember … Continue reading God Cannot Forget You
Re-member
The rain urged me to sleep in. I complied with its wishes, longer than I’d intended. Once my eyes opened, wide awake, I still had no desire to scoot out from under the warm covers. Wondering why this lethargy covered me, I discovered sadness in my heart. The down armor of my comforter seemed to … Continue reading Re-member
A Thought Provoking Quote
I am on a creative journey which was started by an attempt to create a space for my own emotional health while caregiving. Melinda and I have been exploring art, specifically pottery. She picked up The Artist’s Way at a book store. I ordered mine on Amazon. The completed copy we found on Mom’s bookshelf … Continue reading A Thought Provoking Quote
An Educator’s Prayer
God, as we begin the school year we bring the heaviness of the past few years before you. We lay it at your feet and we let it go. We ask for a refreshing wind of your spirit to blow through the hearts of all who serve your children. Help us to see them as … Continue reading An Educator’s Prayer
Sunday Morning in July
It’s a humid July morning. A Sunday. The sun is filtering through the leaves, creating a picturesque effect of green and gold stained glass. The golden rays fall to the forest floor like water over rocks. They highlight some areas and avoid others. The speckles of light seem to move slowly across the underbrush, making … Continue reading Sunday Morning in July
Michelle's Mosaic 