“Tell me about the church you go to,” you say. The words hit me with an unexpected jolt; I realize that for the first time in my life, I do not see church as something I go to. If you're talking about connecting with other believers, church is so much bigger than a Sunday-morning event …
Category: Family and Friends
Love One Another
"Everyone thinks I am weird!" I swept the kitchen floor late that night and cried. The house was silent except for the small sounds of slumbering. I hung up my broom and restlessly moved around the living room, straightening a pillow, putting away a few forgotten pieces of laundry. I switched off the last lamp. The streetlight shone …
hodgepodge
This is sort of a hodgepodge letter about family life. Nothing particularly wise or profound, so read on at your own risk. We are working hard at fixing up our house in hopes of moving in a few weeks. This past week we worked on wiring, insulating, and sheet rock. These days have been long …
Temple Grandin
If someone you love is on the autism spectrum, I highly recommend that you watch the movie Temple Grandin. Temple Grandin is an autistic woman who overcame gigantic difficulties to use her exceptional mind to contribute to the scientific community. The first time I watched the movie, I cried the whole way through (and laughed, too!). Not …
A Time To Read
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven, says Solomon in Ecclesiastes 3:1. I take that to mean that somewhere in there is a time to read! I honestly don't understand when people say that they enjoy reading, but don't read because they don't have time. For me, it's …
When the Young Die
https://flic.kr/p/da62Wk We had in our yard a tree which lived through one season and then died, having no chance to spread its greenery upon the sky; (and its dying is both like and unlike the death of a child. She is an angel, they tell me, and happier now by far. Yes, oh yes, but--) …
Oklahoma City Adventure
Stuart had a birthday last Thursday. Being a quality-time sort of person, he asked if we could do something special together as a family for his birthday. Will and I had an idea that caught fire as we talked about it. Why not take the family on a little trip? Plans were made in secret, …
To my former church community
I'm sorry that you feel rejected, you mean more to me than you'll ever know. I grew among you, wrapped in love, cradled in grace. You laughed with me in my joys, and held my hand through my pain. When my unborn baby died, you brought roses and wept. Then later you dandled my fat, wriggling babies, …
Remodeling, Babies, and a Stray Kitten
We've been very busy lately, remodeling a house and preparing to move...again. While Will and I both enjoy fixing up run-down houses, I admit that I am feeling quite weary. In the last year and a half, this makes the third house we are fixing, and the second time we are moving! But we are …
A Pinched-off Piece Of Clay
After Job's three friends finished their rebukes, a firebrand named Elihu gave his piece. Elihu was angry at the incompetency of Job's friends, and unleashed his own tirade. These words from Elihu caught my attention: Behold, I am toward God as you are; I too was pinched off from a piece of clay. Job 33:6 …
arabah rejoice 