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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If the pen of a writer could write every dayEven this world could never containHow I have been blessed. I Have Been Blessed by Champion Baptist College Irritation had clouded my thanksgiving. Things were not going according to my plan – including breakfast, and I had had it. I had stuff I wanted, and I wanted it right now! Life was so hard (wink). Buckled up and pulling out of the driveway, I could hear the Lord speaking to my […]
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What are you doing? Making a memory. Years from now, when I am all grown up, I will always remember my grandfather and how he smelled of…peppermint and pipe tobacco.” Hayley Mills – Parent Trap 1961 The smell of charcoal on a hot summer day is an aroma that can stop me in my tracks. The smell of dew as it lingers in the fall mornings or fresh-cut pine gracing the family table warms me inside. The scent of a […]
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You have brains in your head. You have feet on your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. Dr. Seuss There I was, seventeen years old and sitting in the doctor’s office, waiting to hear the results of my anxiety tests. I had gotten myself so worked up over things out of my control that I was now shaking uncontrollably (or so I thought). What could I possibly be that stressed out about?! At seventeen, I still had […]
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“Can you build me a treehouse, Pa? Charlotte wants one, too, only she doesn’t know how to ask yet. I want it to have a front porch, windows, and a ladder with a pulley just like Mommy had when she was a little girl.” I could hear the conversation going and the soft answer from my father. “Of course, I can. Anything you girls want. Let me talk with your mother about it and see what we can do.” Months […]
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There I stood at my front door. Uneasy about a decision I was about to make. It involved my little girl, and I couldn’t shake these red flags I was having. Why didn’t this settle right with me? I couldn’t shake it. I explained all my reservations to Chuck, and without question, he said, “If you don’t feel right about it, don’t do it.” Growing up, my parents used to tell us girls, “When there is a question inside your […]
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