My Water Is Off!
Yesterday, we had the heat pump repaired, and the repairman noticed a “tiny” water leak under the house. Groan! So…..my husband crawled under the house and turned off the water valve to repair the small leak. However, when he turned off the water, pressure built up in the line and caused another fitting to crack at a different location under the house. If that wasn’t enough to cause my husband frustration, he found a third leak at the barn when he went looking for a pipe wrench. Sigh! That reminds me of a fact I’ve heard about lying: “One lie...
read more“A BABY!”
The house is quiet. No water running … no music playing … no baby crying … yes, I said “baby.” Not my baby, but my daughter’s. I am finally a “Nana.” And, this Nana, has had the privilege and fun to be staying at my daughter’s house for the last week, helping out after her baby boy was born. I can’t tell you how full my heart is right now. This little boy … and I do mean “little,” has screamed, cried, frowned, smiled, smirked and laughed his little way into the deepest portions of my heart. He only weighed 6 pounds and 14 ounces when he was...
read moreWriting? Painting? At My Age??
Since I love to write books … and I love to paint portraits … I often think about how these two activities are similar. What is it in both pursuits that interests me enough to keep me coming back for more? First of all … although I enjoy painting and writing, I believe with all my heart that without God, I am nothing! God gave me the ability to do both, and I believe He expects me to use those abilities. Therefore, when I use them to honor Him, obedience makes me happy. Secondly … I enjoy how happy it makes others. It’s a true joy...
read more“Rolling With the Flow”
How are your New Year’s Resolutions coming? This year I only had four. And, unfortunately, I’ve already broken three of them. Lol I relapsed on the third day of the year, started back up the next day, and so far, I’ve attained all of my listed goals … to this date. (Knock on wood.) But sometimes, if life throws me a curve ball, I give up. Are you that way? I get so busy trying to accomplish a certain thing, that when God throws a monkey-wrench into the works and messes up all my plans, I tend to forget that He must have let it happen for a...
read moreWould You Like A Smile Today?
This Christmas season, we think about giving to others more than usual, but have you ever thought about tithing more than your monetary income? Think about this: Of the 1440 minutes you live each day, how many of those did you give yourself? NONE! And the talents you might have… a perfect musical pitch, a beautiful singing voice, a talent for drawing or painting, a talent for making others feel at ease … how many of those did you give yourself? NONE! If God gave us these things, why shouldn’t we please Him by sharing them with others? We...
read more“I Forgive You”
Isn’t it nice to hear those three little words? “I forgive you.” Forgiveness has been defined as the “intentional and voluntary process by which a person experiences a change in feelings and attitude toward an offense, letting go of negative thoughts such as revenge or anger and thereby gaining the ability to wish the offender well.” Forgiveness is an intentional decision, and I can think of three reasons why I should make a daily decision to have a forgiving spirit: One: I am not perfect. Sometimes, I do things that...
read moreUnexpected Kindness
The other day, Ben and I stopped by Dairy Queen (my favorite place) and placed an order for two small blizzards. When we pulled up to the window the cashier informed us that the lady ahead of us had already paid for our order. We just looked at each other with our mouths open. Ben turned to the worker and asked, “Why?” She said she didn’t know except the man in front of that woman had paid for her ice cream, so she wanted to return the favor. 🙂 So……guess what we did? Yep, you got it! We paid the money for the order of the car...
read moreGod Loves Frogs Too!
Every year, around Mother’s Day, my children buy me four ferns to hang between the posts on my front porch. This year, not long after I hung my ferns on the porch, I was petrified to see two little bulging eyes staring back at me from the bottom overflow section of my hanging pots. Tree frogs! When I first pulled back the fern fronds and saw those eyes, I was terrified until I realized they weren’t monsters living in the bottom of my pots, just harmless little tree frogs. But now, watering my ferns became a problem. I was afraid I would drown...
read more