“The world isn’t falling apart–it’s falling into place.” –Ann Graham Lotz When 2024 rolled in, I was facing the second anniversary of my father’s death and the very real possibility that my mother wouldn’t be with us for much longer. I am, by nature, what I would describe as a realistic optimist. I really do want to see the best in others, look for the good in a situation, and plan my day in such a way that I would hope to be an encourager to at least one person. But life happens, doesn’t it? And it’s not always good, and we can’t always smile. But God. One my favorite sentences in the Bible ..read more

I first posted this blog back in 2017, but felt that it was one that deserved to be repeated. The years pass and things change around the Christmas tree, don’t they? Traditions new and old, young children that have grown up, and faces that are missing. I pray that someone out there is encouraged today. If you like it, share it with someone you know that is lonely or struggling. You never know when your words will bless others! When Someone Is Missing at Christmas ..read more

As Christmas is rapidly approaching, I can’t ignore that it seems as if I know more people that are hurting than are not. I have so many thoughts related to this swirling around my head and I just came to a point where I asked God outright “why is there so much pain?” and it’s almost as if I heard him whisper back to me, “that’s why Jesus had to come.” You see, Jesus didn’t come just to see what life on earth was like. He knew full well, as He was there in the beginning when He perfectly created life, and every day since. God gave man his first breath. He saw when we gave into temptation and t ..read more

It was a horrifying sight–my one year old Toy Aussiedoodle came in with what looked like blood all over his white paws. Shocked, I grabbed him up only to discover that the red stain on his white paws was actually just food coloring that had transferred off of a new treat that I had given him. Whew! Love, Satchel Though fully relieved that he hadn’t damaged his paws in some serious way, you would have thought that I was killing him as I tried to clean up the mess. I’ve had several dogs in my lifetime, but this little guy has serious sensitivity issues. Some stains are easily removed, but this w ..read more

I was walking a gravel driveway in Texas talking to my hubby at home in Illinois when he suddenly discovered that our sweet Shorkie had passed away. It was a shock to our system because she hadn’t been sick at all. Our ten year old pup was gone–and I wasn’t there. While I know there are some things that would have been harder to face and memories harder to forget if I had seen her, it was still difficult to grieve at such a distance. My heart was broken for her, but for my sweet husband too, who was having to deal with it all alone. Such a trooper he was, having to take care of her all by hims ..read more

“I was very glad to find some of your children walking in the truth, in keeping with a command we have received from the Father.  So now I urge you, dear lady—not as if I were writing you a new command, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk according to His commands. This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: you must walk in love.” 2 John 1:4-6 This walking stuff takes time. I have been blogging through the Bible for quite awhile now, and nearing the end of this journey will be bitterswee ..read more

It is not an uncommon thought. I know that I am not the only one that has experienced this epiphany. Often in life there comes a moment of realization, whether through crisis or failure, or some other life event, that we realize “this is not what I thought my life would look like.” I started this blog when my father-in-law was nearing the end of his life. I saw it as an outlet for writing down the thoughts that were swirling in my head. I wrote with the idea that by processing the passing of a good and godly man, my words might possibly be an encouragement to someone else going through a diffi ..read more

I can guess what you’re thinking. “She’s a pastor’s wife, so she’s going to write about why we should go to church on Sunday.” But I’m not. I’ve been home a week from “Baby Boot Camp”, where, for four weeks I was helping my daughter and son-in-law move–and to help with their six girls while mama had surgery. While there were many reasons that I was glad to be back home, one of the things that I missed was gathering with my home church on Sundays. I looked forward to that first Sunday back and the gratitude I felt standing next to my pastor husband had me all emotional. And now, one week later ..read more

“I had a bad dream!” My sweet little granddaughter was crying and this Nana ran to the rescue. Even though she had not even been to sleep yet, she was imagining things in the dark and called it a bad dream. Unfortunately, this will more than likely happen again, even though I told her she had nothing to fear. Telling a child that they don’t have to be afraid is one thing, but telling it to myself and actually believing it is quite another. Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will ho ..read more

Can you remember a time when you got the breath knocked out of you? It is a scary moment when your brain tells you to breathe, but your body says, “I can’t!” Many have had a moment like that. When you realize that, if you can’t take a breath, you will go unconscious. I can vividly remember a time that I was unconscious and in my mind was thinking, “You have to wake up, or you will die!” It was a strange feeling to have my mind working but my body not cooperating. My will was to wake up, but I had no power or control over what was happening to me. Life can be like that can’t it? Circumstances c ..read more