The Coziness of Dark Storms
The sky darkens, and we hear the thunder echo across the neighborhood. We feel so bundled up, so cozy inside the house. It’s always this way with storms. They are scary, yes, but we are in a position of safety. The darkness cannot hurt us; it just makes us draw closer and light more candles. […]
Maybe I Wasn’t Ready
Three weeks ago, the robins fledged. On that very day, I began work with the Cru Grad Summer Mission. This morning, the team and the students departed, and I found myself alone in the quiet, still morning. I was sad and tearful and uncertain. There’s always this moment of disorientation and a need to recalibrate, […]
You’ve Been Here Long Enough
I love rereading Deuteronomy and the beautiful words of the Lord that it’s time to move on. I read these words in my twenties when I was literally breaking camp to leave the mountains of North Carolina to attend graduate school. It was time to break camp, advance, and take possession of the new territory […]
Today
I remember a quote from Frederick Buechner in his book The Longing for Home: “In the entire history of the universe, let alone in your own history, there has never been another day just like today, and there will never be another just like it again. Today is the point to which all your yesterdays have been […]
Passed Down
My older friend passes down her sourdough bread starter that’s at least 30 years old. She’s teaching me how to feed it and then make weekly loaves of delicious bread. I feel connected to ancient rhythms and ancient wisdom. Perhaps, 30 years from now, I’ll stand here with grandchildren to teach them about my bread. […]
Learning to Scale Up
This summer, I’ve been cooking for a group of 25 people as part of our Cru Grad Summer Mission. I’ve learned to take my recipes and scale up. When you realize that your’e doing the same old little thing, just on a bigger scale, your work becomes manageable and less stressful. You simply need larger […]
I’ll Be Your Sunshine
Today, I find the rare Monotropa uniflora, also known as ghost pipe, Indian pipe, or the ghost plant. The ghost plant contains no chlorophyll; it cannot take energy from the sun. It depends upon photosynthetic trees nearby for energy. Since it doesn’t need the sun–but desperately needs those that do need the sun–it tends to grow […]
A Great New Recipe Blog: Little Miss Finicky
You know I love sweet treats and new recipes to try with my daughters. Well I’m so excited that my baking friend started her blog, Little Miss Finicky, that will showcase her delicious recipes. Her first two, Strawberry and Cream Scones and Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies are already up for you to enjoy! […]
“I have made you and I will carry you.” Isaiah 46:4
In my daily routine of reading the psalms, I forget the beauty and precious promises of Isaiah. As I turn there today, I find this gem that makes me laugh because I have recently found more and more gray hair. The Lord says in Isaiah 46: 3-4 that His people are the ones “whom I […]
Stand with Wisdom
When I think of the way people communicate on social media, I find my stomach in knots. It may seem smart, but it never seems wise. I read James 3: 17-18 this morning: But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown […]