50 years ago on July 15th I married my hubby. A partnership with no regrets. Lots of love and challenges. Ups and downs. Joys and unforgettable moments together. I don’t feel old enough to be married this long – love must keep you young. I love you more today than ever before. And I would do it all again. This week we thank God for bringing us together, giving us both patience and wisdom and a companion for life. Love you, Sweetie! … [Read more...]
POOF! 50 Years Later
50 years ago – March 1971. I bet some of you reading this may have been alive then. Do you remember March 1971? I do. A significant event happened, but at that moment I never realized that this was a turning point in my life. Even you, my younger friends, have experienced a meeting, a word, an interaction that at the time seemed small. Maybe fun but not life changing. Another notation on the calendar, the to-do list. A minor memo that slowly and surprisingly took root and grew beyond any expectations. March 1971 – I remember riding back to my college dorm with my then current boyfriend. I recall saying to myself. "He is such a nice guy but just not the one. There is no spark here. I really should try spending time with someone new." A girl-ask-guy party was coming up on campus. I looked around at several meetings scanning the crowd for a possibility. I remember looking at tall blonde Paul, wondering about him when I noticed a shorter … [Read more...]
Who Are You? Insights from the 2017 Readers’ Survey
Who are you? You are part of the Healthy Spirituality community and a record number of you took the time to fill out this year’s readers’ survey. Thank you so much. As you read this blog, you get to know me, my story, my flaws, my quirky life. But unless we write in emails, talk in comments, or when the wonderful blessing happens that we meet in person – I don’t know many of you. I want to know you better. And I want this blog to be a place for you to connect, find inspiration, and maybe learn something that draws you closer to God. To achieve this mission, it helps to know your needs, struggles and joys as we walk together on this life’s journey. Today I am sharing with you just some of the insights I am learning as I analyze the survey. All answers were anonymous, so I have no idea who said what. Whether you completed the survey or not, I think you will enjoy seeing the responses. Lots of food for thought in these answers and I think a sense that we are on this … [Read more...]
How to Recognize the Unseen Heroes in Your Life
Ever suddenly realize the heroes in your life? Who they are? That they were there all the time and you never really notice? Or maybe you did see them, but unexpectedly the gratitude of their presence overtakes your heart and you know this relationship is something special and priceless. We just returned from a wonderful week in the Outer Banks. Yes, lots of beach, sun and surf. Fun and relaxing, but more importantly time spent with lifelong friends. Friends who entered and impacted my life at different crossroads of time - all intersecting together for a week in North Carolina. I spent the week with three friends from various points in my life. Being close to the same ages, we share common milestone events – weddings, birth of children, graduations, marriages of children, grandchildren and now even retirement. Yet more than just experiencing these same life stages, I noticed something unique about our friendships. All three of my friends were present and walked me through key … [Read more...]
Wise Lessons from a Four Year Old
I witnessed a wise lesson from a four-year-old last Sunday. Kyla, lower right corner, with friends making crafts My granddaughter, Kyla, celebrated her fourth birthday with a huge party. Both adults and kids attended. All the elements of a grand festivity took place: welcoming guests, playtime, craft, opening gifts, blowing out the candles while singing the traditional birthday song and lots of decorated cake. Everyday leading up to the party, if you would ask Kyla what she wanted, she only had one answer: a pink bike. I heard this multiple times. When I looked over the large pile of presents waiting for her, sure enough by the edge of the table was a large pink plastic wrapped gift. Kyla opened her presents, remembering most of the time to say thank you. About half way through the process, she turned to the large wrapped item, smiled and opened it. Pealing back the wrapping, a big garden set, complete with multiple tools appropriate for her age, awaited … [Read more...]
The Blessing of the Lord
The blessing of the Lord be on you. Psalm 129:8I cried last Saturday. In fact, tears dropped for over an hour.You see I held him as a baby, clear back in 1983.I cried then too.One day, full of self-pity in the midst of post-partum depression, I told the Lord through my tears that my arms were inadequate to take care of this baby He gave me. “I put him in Your arms, Lord. May the blessing of the Lord be upon you, young Brian.”As a mother I often put my children into God’s much stronger protection. Plenty of times my heart prayed, “May the blessing of the Lord be upon you.”When he first began to walk.When he skipped bravely through the kindergarten door.The first time and quite a few times, when he began to drive.May the blessing of the Lord be upon you.Prom nightGraduationCareer decisionsCollege admissionsFalling in loveBreaking upFalling in love – again.CollegeSeminaryMarriageCareer postponementsMay the blessing of the Lord be upon you.And now once again I cried as I put Brian into … [Read more...]
Sometimes Life is Two-riffic
We Interrupt this Blog for an Important Announcement. . .Life interrupted my routine this week.Life interfered with all my plans.Life stopped me in my tracts to behold a wondrous phenomenon.As Albert Einstein once said:“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”Miracle, yes indeed. I experienced a miracle this week.Actually two of them.On Sunday my daughter, Katie, gave birth to two little boys. Korbin arrived at 8:15 am, weighing in just a little below five pounds. His brother, Kastin, may have been born second, but won in the weight division topping a little over the five-pound mark.All are healthy and the boys are adorable.My heart overflows with thanksgiving and praise of our Creator for these blessings. Thank you, dear Lord. Thank you to the Giver of Life for new life.Yes, life engulfed me this week and love exploded.And sometime a miracle from God comes in pairs. … [Read more...]
Priceless Friendships
Friendship - I have been thinking a lot about that word this year.The etiology of this word comes from Old English combining obviously the two words – friend and ship. Friendship is the deep, close, trusting relationship between people traveling together on the same journey, on the same ship. No matter how difficult or fun, unexpected or routine, long or short the trip is, friends make all the difference.The Gospel a few weeks ago – one of my favorites – told about two people traveling together on the road to Emmaus, sharing their confusion and sorrow. Another friend joined them for their journey too.Then this quote struck my heart this week:“It takes a long time to grow an old friend.” John LeonardDeveloping and maintaining friendships does take time, but the result is priceless. Friendship can hurt too. We dig deep in our hearts to forgive, to give more when we feel depleted, and to just plain hold hands and be present for one another.My prayer of gratitude this week is thankfulness … [Read more...]