Nobody is going to say, “I had such a nice time at Debbie’s. Her baseboards were so clean.” unknown Some days feel more like chaos as I am cleaning goldfish and some sort of gooey substance off the back seats of our SUV. And yet, setting boundaries, schedules, and rules provides a bank for the river to run swiftly. The Queen of Sheba came to Jerusalem to see if the rumors of Solomon’s splendor were true. She desired to ask […]
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The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. Helen Keller Cleaning out Eva’s lunch box, I came across an empty wrapper of something I did not pack her. Inquiring about it, she told me, “Mom. It was the best snack! It was chocolate rolled up with cream in the middle!” “You mean a Swiss Cake Roll?” I asked. “Yes! That’s it! She exclaimed. I laughed, realizing how much […]
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Charlotte, what is this? Holding a clump of brown curly locks in my hand, she looked back at me and responded, “I not know.” Is this your hair? Did you cut your hair?! These were rhetorical questions because I could vividly see where she snipped her curls. My mood was beginning to dim. Growing up, we were not allowed mood swings in our home. It did not matter how we felt that day or what side of the bed we […]
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Half the things we worry about never happen. Then, some things happen unexpectedly in our lives that give us pause as we see how the hand of God went before us. On the way to school one morning, Eva asked many “What if” questions, to which I responded, “It seems like you are borrowing a lot of unnecessary trouble.” Toting Charlotte in the car seat carrier when she was six months old, Chuck slipped on the slick garage cement floor. […]
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“Oh, your girls are just adorable!” Remarked the Jeweler. To this, Charlotte smirked and said, “Sissy just got in trouble.” Eva’s eyes widened, and I politely laughed, “And to think I was glad when she learned to talk.” Hearing the steady beeping from my alarm clock, my feet hit the floor, ready to grab some much-needed quiet time before the girls and Tyson wake. Sitting in my chair upstairs, just opening my Bible, I hear Eva coming down the hall. […]
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Tell me a time He’s not been faithfulTell me a morning His mercies weren’t newTell me a moment. He wasn’t able to carry you throughTell me a day He was less than AlmightyWhen He could not roll back the tideChild, when you look back, you’re gonna findThere was never a time. Never a Time – The Perry’s Talking with my Grandpa and Grandma one afternoon, I asked them how they raised three children successfully. Grandpa paused and then joked, “Well, […]
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After one week with a newborn in the house, Chuck commented, “I see you are wearing the same sweater again today.” I slowly looked up from where I was stirring my steaming cup of hot tea and replied, “Yes, I am. Is that a problem?” “No. No,” he clarified. “Just taking notice.” It was next to my last checkup before Tyson would be delivered. “Please lay back, Mrs. Howard, so we can get another listen to the baby on the […]
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And heavy hearts grow lighter, and joyful voices ring to celebrate His birthday and worship Christ, the King. Alice Mackenzie Swaim Frosted window panes with snow-covered Christmas scenes grace each storefront along the town square. Each one looks like a vintage Christmas card embellished to capture the onlooker. Twinkle lights set the stage as individually unique designs come to life, and make-believe worlds sit smack dab in the middle of every child’s fantasy world. Mr. and Mrs. Claus were walking […]
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Believing in Santa is believing in the magic of Christmas Unknown Cleaning out closets will make you surprisingly aware of how fast your children grow out of everything. With this new information, I headed off for a day of closet restocking. Eva was hot on my heels. Charlotte wanted to go, but she had been sick and was unable to tag along. A steady rain fell as we drove to town and began our shopping debut. Through the store the […]
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Happy, Happy Christmas that can win us back the delusions of our childish days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home. Charles Dickens Making Christmas candy as a kid was always a delight. As a young girl, I remember Mom helping us make almond joys and pretzels dipped in white chocolate.; rich and creamy, and pecan pies would fill the kitchen as we baked our […]
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