“Do not expect to be treated fairly in this life.” This is how one of my devotions began today. When I hear the phrase “That’s not fair,” I immediately picture an elementary school playground and a teacher who drew the short stick with playground duty. My mom was an elementary school teacher. I can remember… Continue reading Life Isn’t Fair

I have a sock puppet that I have had for decades from a camp we led years ago. It is called “The Gospel Puppet.” Each finger is a figure from the creation story…Adam, Eve, the tree, the apple, and the snake. When our granddaughter Jude was 2 she found it in a closet with other books… Continue reading The Snake in the Story

My husband, Bill, made a statement in his sermon Sunday that I have thought about this week. “ 99% of how we live is based on how we see ourselves!”  How do you see yourself?  That is very thought-provoking to me.  Today was back to school around here. A new year, a new start, full… Continue reading Who Are You

I went to our grandkids VBS family picnic in the park this week.  The first thing our Jude (4) and Sam (3) spotted was the face painting.  They stood in line patiently thinking about what they wanted the lady to paint on them.  It was an easy decision for Jude, she wanted a pink and… Continue reading Ignorance Can Be Bliss

Many of Grimm’s fairy tales start the same way:   “Once upon a time…” These stories also seem to have the following components;  children, a scary witch, a dark forest, a path, and a hero.  As the reader, I, first of all, think, why did someone write this terrifying story and call it a children’s story?… Continue reading Rewrite My Story

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be… Continue reading The Prayer of Saint Francis of Assis

“Lions and tigers and bears, Oh my!”  There is no tiger in this story, like from the Wizard of Oz song, but we do have a lion and a bear, which is still quite impressive.  Have you ever killed the lion and the bear?  I have. I’m not a big game hunter, so, allow me… Continue reading The Lion and the Bear

  I’ve been packing this week, as our new house should be ready to move into on Friday.  This is our fifth house to build, and I guess you’d have to say we enjoy the process.  I don’t enjoy the packing, though … but, honestly, I don’t know anyone who does. It is hard work and… Continue reading A Box in the Basement