I love flowers in my home. People who know me know that. Flowers are visual reminders to me of beauty of the LORD’s divine design and the intricacies of the power and presence of the LORD in our lives and our world. When I look at a flower, I am filled with wonder. And when I get flowers, it brightens not just the room in which they are displayed but my being. And so, when my daughter brought me a bouquet yesterday it truly illuminated my space and me. The bouquet was actua

This morning I am trying to write down a recipe for Spaghetti for a friend. She’s having special company, and she remembers my spaghetti because I took to her and her family once when they were all together. I’m happy to share. Problem is I don’t have it written down; I don’t cook that way. I cook by sight and smell and texture and taste. I’ve written it out, and I’m going over it to make sure I haven’t inadvertently left out something. I don’t want my friend to think I’ve go

Knowing about someone isn’t the same as knowing them. I knew a great deal about my husband’s mother, Ruth, before I ever met her. I’d pumped my husband, Kenneth, with a myriad of questions. I wanted to know as much about her as I could. After all, she was his mother. But then I met her. And she was so much more than I’d realized. She had a way about her that made one feel comfortable immediately. Her smile said, “I see you.” She taught me a great deal about being a wife, a mo

In 1978, my family moved to Tipton, Iowa. My husband had taken a job with Louis Rich in nearby West Branch. We’d settled on Tipton because it was the county seat which meant it had a little more to offer. It was actually where my husband was born. And his grandmother still lived there. Shortly after our move, the doorbell rang. It was my husband’s grandmother whom our children called Grandma Grandma (their way of saying great grandma). She was carrying an odd shaped wrapped p

As I sat on the porch last night at the end of a long day that capped off a long week, I was serenaded by the calming rhythm of raindrops on my porch roof. I found the patter soothing, not just because of its steady pattern but also because I know how much everything and everyone needed it. It has been too long since the last rain in these parts and the earth was parched, and our souls’ roots needed rain. Isn’t it wonderful how small things like raindrops on a porch roof can

When I was younger, I loved to draw and paint. There was something about that blank space and no limitations on what could fill it that urged me on. I was also a writer who never met a blank piece of paper I didn’t want to make into a log of thoughts and dreams. But this morning I find this blank screen intimidating. What can I make of nothing? Age doesn’t always give us wisdom; sometimes age brings with it doubts. What do I have that will matter? What am I being asked to sha

This morning as I sat on my porch pondering the day, the week, the month of July, I found myself asking “Why me, Lord?” But it wasn’t a question in the face of difficulty, it was a question in the face of awareness of just how blessed my life has been. My mind and heart were full of moments with family, moments with friends, moments when I knew the LORD was with me, and I honestly wondered what I ever did to deserve the LORD’s loving presence and blessing in abundance. I pi

This morning as I read the readings for today on the Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus, I must admit I felt a bit of a twinge, that unpleasant feeling that lasts only for a moment. I knew what it was. I associated with Martha. I, too, have questioned Christ at times in my life. I have several favorites among the people in scripture, but I must admit that among the women, Martha is second only to the Blessed Mother. I loved when she went to Jesus to complain about

When my children were small (ages 1, 2, and 3), I did laundry every day. When my children were teens (16, 17, and 18), I still needed to do laundry every day. Then came the “empty nest,” and laundry moved to twice a week. On that laundry schedule, my husband and I have learned the necessity of collaborating with one another. You see, my husband has favorites, and if he misses laundry day, he either must wear his favorites dirty or do without his favorites. Understanding this,

Recently, I was watching an HGTV special as a couple went through different homes in search of the perfect one. And a big item for them was the number of bathrooms. And I caught myself talking out loud to the television screen, “More isn’t always better.” I couldn’t help it. I cultivated patience waiting in the bathroom line. Why would they want to rob their children of that opportunity? I am one of six children. Our family of eight had one bathroom with a shower/tub combo,

Last night I caught myself doing it. I was saying my evening prayers including intercessory prayers for others. As I’d bring an individual to prayer, I’d mention the specific need for which I was praying and then I’d think longer about the person and memories would give rise to additional prayers for that person as well as gratitude for their gifts to me. I found myself going on and on, treasuring and sharing that with the LORD. As I prayed, my prayer drifted from formal to

Last weekend my family gathered together to celebrate the marriage of my grandson, Jacob, to his beloved Stephanie. We began at the church for the marriage ritual then we traveled down the road a bit to lovely venue that featured an air-conditioned barn (thank you, LORD) and beautiful grounds. I looked forward to that gathering for such a long time. And the memories of time spent with my peeps will remain with me. We gathered together, checked in with one another, caught up o

I grew up in Waycross, Georgia. Every spring from the early 1950s to 1965, the Milwaukee Braves held their spring training in our city. My dad used to take us out to watch them. He had a favorite player; it was Hank Aaron. Then in 1966, the Braves moved to Atlanta. That was the final year that they had their spring training in Waycross. My dad missed it because he was traveling for his job. But I was able to make it. That summer as part of the special honors program I was in,

I have several “favorite” flowers that make me smile whenever I see them. One that was missing from our small garden just outside my prayer porch was forget-me-nots. I’d had them in our previous two yards, but they hadn’t made it to this one yet. I mentioned that to my husband about a month ago. And then one morning as I was taking in the flowers in the garden and savoring each sight, I saw them. He had planted forget-me-nots in the corner of the garden closest to the porch.

I called like I try to do daily. She was more chatty than usual. After a couple of minutes, she told me she had gotten a card from her nephew and his wife, then she read it to me. She ended by telling me how they had always been kind to her. I agreed. And we both agreed that kindnesses like that matter. When my husband came upstairs after bible study that night, he went to the fridge to see if there were any leftovers for him from our dinner. He spotted the pint jar of peac

“Give us this day our daily bread.” I would wager that most of you have known that line like I have since childhood. It is buried in the center of the prayer we say more than any other. And sometimes I think we miss its importance. I know I did for the longest time. That was until a wise woman pointed out its centrality to my life – calling me to set down my anxieties about the future and acknowledge the LORD as the source of my existence and sustainer of my life. “Give u

Yesterday, as I stepped onto my porch with my cup of coffee and so in need of a good, long conversation with the LORD, I immediately spotted a huge puddle in front of my fountain. Fortunately, my son was visiting and he was able to help because frankly, without my coffee and my prayer, I’m pretty useless. He assessed the situation, figured out there was an algae clog in the line, then he asked for a large paper clip and vinegar. In moments, He had the line clear and the probl

He knew she was struggling with the move from assisted living to skilled care and from her own apartment to “a room.” So, he started visiting her frequently, helping her with her phone, bringing her a special treat like her favorite malt. The time spent was meaningful, it had great value. Daily we are called to be preachers along the way, individuals who share the Good News with others. The thing is, we can do it most effectively without citing chapter and verse. As St. Franc

There’s a new family in the neighborhood. Watching them move and settle reminded me of another time when it was me who was trying to settle. It was October 1973, my husband and I moved our 1- and 2-year-olds and our household belongings to Beloit, WI, because he had been assigned to start up the food lab in the new Hormel plant being built. Headquarters didn’t care that I was nearly due with our third child. And to make matters worse, the day after we moved into our new home,

Yesterday, I had an appointment. When I arrived, I discovered that I’d written the time down incorrectly; I was actually a half hour early. Oh, well, I thought to myself, let me make the most of this unexpected “free time.” I picked up a magazine to catch up on what others are talking about when a woman came in and sat down next to me. And we struck up a conversation. I learned that she’d been widowed unexpectedly. As she shared about her struggles and challenges to provide f