Before Meeting with Friends and Family, Remember Empathy
This video has helped me remember how to listen to others and what to say to them when they are hurting. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw The best part of the short video is how Dr. Brown advises us not to say “At least. . . ” when someone shares something sad. Watch the video, and you’ll see what […]
Force Quit
Today a PowerPoint application on my mac freezes. I’m relatively new to the world of Macintosh, so I can’t remember how to “force quit.” I know I can override an unresponsive app, I just have to remember. Thankfully, I discover on my outdated keyboard that it’s Ctrl, Alt, Esc. Problem solved. I remember how just […]
Oh, So Ugly
We have a stubborn oak tree that won’t drop her leaves. She just won’t! These leaves endure snow, sleet, ice, and rain. They survive harsh winter winds, and they refuse to drop. It’s nearly Christmas, and they still hang on. They sit there in all their crispy brown mess, blocking my view. Ugly! I’ve wondered about […]
Inching Back to Clarity
I’m at a stoplight in town, and suddenly the radio station turns to fuzz. I inch forward, and it clears back to beautiful music. I inch back to fuzz and then forward again to clarity. If I go backwards a little more, I hear the music, too. I try this two more times. It’s funny–and […]
And I Quote Lumiere
This morning, I’m mopping the kitchen floor to the Beauty and the Beast soundtrack. Lumiere cries in despair: Life is so unnerving for a servant who’s not serving. He’s not whole without a soul to wait upon! I remember a conversation with my husband and others about the way we’re made to live best. As I read through […]
No Matter What Happens
Some mornings, I wake up and say, “No matter what happens today, God, I belong to you.” It’s something I like to remember especially if I have fear and anxiety in my heart. I can easily overwhelm myself if I think about accidents, failures, illness, or crime. If you battle any type of anxiety, you […]
Variation on a Theme: Three Kinds of Fudge
Today we made good old-fashioned Fantasy Fudge; this was the same kind my own mom made when I was a girl. We went nut-free, but traditionally, my mom added chopped walnuts. We decide to make three kinds for little holiday gifts. We choose butterscotch with crumbles of a caramel candy bar, white chocolate with crushed […]
I Didn’t Believe It
Today I made hot buttered popcorn with extra salt. I stirred homemade lemonade. Then, with lemonade and popcorn in hand, I watched an entire movie with my daughters in the basement. It was Smurfs 2 from Redbox. I laughed! It was cute! I remember being a new mom 11 years ago. I met an older […]
Snow on the Way, S’mores on the Stove
We’ve added another way to feel cozy and special on these cold winter nights: we make s’mores on the stove. We love them, and we feel comforted that we don’t have a fireplace in our home. We roast our marshmallows, put them on a graham cracker with some chocolate, and enjoy a treat. It doesn’t […]
You Need Only to Be Still
As I walk to my classroom today, I feel overwhelmed with various situations and dilemmas. I’m praying and asking God for the wisdom I need. What immediately comes to mind is the verse in Exodus 14:14: The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Here, Moses tells the people of Israel […]