It’s too bad I wasn’t counting my steps. I would have gotten that cute little trophy icon award on my walking app. My wandering had taken on a life of its own. I sat at my desk. Walked to the fridge, opened its door, and took a peek. Closed the door. Checked on mom. Back to my desk. Got up to see if NCIS re-runs were scheduled. Threw out the garbage. Back to my desk. Up and down. Around and around. Two things were unsettling me: I was starting a new, exciting project. I’ve been waiting to start it for the last month. Now it’s time. Continue Reading
A Soul-Soothing Summer Plan
Hey, Friends! Just a little different format this week…with a few simple messages. You know that weight that’s sitting on your shoulders? Carrying it around 24/7 isn’t going to make it go away. Or make it easier to move through. Release it. Let God take care of it. Breathe again. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) You know that big deal thing you accomplished this week that may not be such a big deal thing in the eyes of others? Celebrate it. Like it’s the biggest deal Continue Reading
Why Wait Until Tomorrow?
This has got to be the most extreme case of procrastination ever recorded. I mean, really. The “Plague of the Frogs” story in the Bible is almost too much to comprehend (Exodus 8). Check this out… Pharaoh is the new king of Egypt, and he really does not care for God’s people, the Israelites. He’s worried about the growing size of their group and potential strength. So, he “put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor.” Then Moses is born. (And if you haven’t read this guy’s story in a while, it’s a fantastic read. Continue Reading
Planks for the Muddy Messes
It was a trip back home with Steve and our good friends, Pam and Barry. I was truly in My Happy Place as I showed off my hometown of Climax, MN. Once we saw “the town” and they graciously listened to me speak excitedly, passionately, at 7,148 words per minute about the people, events and wonderful memories, it was time to show them “our land.” We drove onto the narrow dirt road between the fields a mile out of town, noticing that it was still quite muddy from last night’s rain. And then it got muddier. And even muddier. And Continue Reading
Messy and Mindless Messages
I wonder about the person who wrote the nursery rhyme, “Humpty Dumpty.” What do you suppose was going on in his life that prompted him to write a riddle about a personified egg? An egg who fell down from sitting on a wall, broke into pieces, and couldn’t get himself back together again. Then there’s Jack and Jill. They were simply walking up a hill to get a pail of water. But Jack fell down and banged up his head. Jill tumbled after him. As a young girl, I didn’t notice that these jingles didn’t have happy endings. I’d hear the first Continue Reading
Toes, Girdles, and Faith Journeys
I never thought my toes would become a faith lesson for me. (I never thought girdles would either, but a moment of girdle-consideration provided insight into my faith journey.) Anyway… I’m reading Hebrews 10:23 today, and I realized…my toes are an example of my lack of trust in God’s faithfulness. Here’s what I mean… My toes look fine. But! My toenails can be pinchers. And when they start to pinch…OUCH! Little nerves in those little tootsies can create all kinds of trouble. When the trouble starts, I’ll make an appointment for Continue Reading
Small Parts Matter
The movie credits splash the names of the stars across the screen. We know who they are; they are the ones who producers depend on to get us into the theaters. The biggies. I’m more intrigued by those whose names show up in smaller fonts. The actors whose parents lean forward in their seats and squint their eyes when watching for their son’s or daughter’s names roll up at the very bottom of the list. Sally Jones…Townsperson #1 Rob Johnson…Bystander #2 Mary Monson…Girlfriend #2 Unless we were specifically watching for that Continue Reading
Please Remember
It’s a month filled with busy stuff. Endings and beginnings. And with those changes, we celebrate the events that make us smile, and sigh with the moments that disappoint. I’m guessing that more photos are taken during the month of May than any other month of the year. (Well, maybe December sends more images into the iCloud.) Those moments that we want to capture can be filled with so many emotions, can’t they? Continue Reading
Questions I Ask
There are a few things I wonder about. (Actually, more than a few things, but space is limited here and I don’t want to bore you with too many trivial “I wonders.”) Thinking about Pa on Little House on the Prairie (AKA Michael Landon, AKA Cutie-Patootie) – why did his hair never get messed up? Why does my body never tan but only turns a bright shade of red except for my legs which will remain translucent white forever? Why can’t I be awake when I sleep so I can know how much I’m enjoying my sleep? (You may need to read this one Continue Reading
Checking My Heart
It was one of those mornings. My intentions were good, the desire was there, I was ready. Ready to study, consider, pray, prepare. Ready to talk to God about my joys and my messiness, share my gratitude and listen for direction. And yet, the distractions came like the thunder shouts outside. I heard mom in the other room and I got up to check on her. Then I got cold and wanted a blanket on my lap. Then I got too hot and had to crack open the window. Then I worried that the rain would dampen the sill. Then I remembered something to Continue Reading
Life is Good
Today...whatever comes my way... In the joy...God leaps and high-fives and brings the balloons. In the tears...He brings the Kleenex. In the sadness...He sits on the floor next to me and holds my hand. Life is not good because of the circumstances. Life is good because He is with me. We were never promised a life that didn't have the tough times. God never told us to expect lollipops, sunshine, and rainbows every single moment. He told us to expect Himself. To expect Him to show up and understand and care. That is Continue Reading
Reset for a Better Day
Ok. Let's review. (She says to herself first.) Here are phrases that do not show up in The Good Book. These words were never said by The Great Promise Keeper... You've got a big load of stuff to do today. Good luck with that. Sure wish today was over. It just keeps getting worse. You always mess up. Can't you just get your act together? You've been struggling with that situation for years. It's not going to change. It's never going to end, you know. Bad stuff happens. This is just a really bad day. And you haven't even gotten Continue Reading
Learning Who to Trust
Why do I think I have to do everything? By myself? With only a glance at what it might cost me? “I can do this…I can do this…I can do this…” And then I crumble. Because I can’t. I’ve been trying to look at how I work and live from an outsider’s perspective. How I strive to do everything I think is expected of me…on my own…without asking for guidance or help. Because…hmmmm… Because why? Why do I place so much importance on being self-sufficient? Strong. Capable. Why is it hard to ask for help? Why do I forget that God has Continue Reading
Miss Beadle – Behind Closed Doors
It's my 2016 favorite book in the pure entertainment and fun category. And it's a memoir. (That's my always favorite category.) Little House in the Hollywood Hills: A Bad Girl's Guide to Becoming Miss Beadle, Mary X, and Me by Charlotte Stewart. I remember Charlotte Stewart as Miss Beadle on Little House on the Prairie, and vaguely remember her as Betty Briggs from the Twin Peaks TV show. As Betty, she was the eternal optimist who wore a smiley face button to Laura Palmer's funeral. Miss Beadle was the delightful school marm that taught Continue Reading
Messiness…Jesus…Peace
There was nothing remotely fancy about the place of Jesus’ birth. Stables are never voted “Cleanest place in the world to have a baby.” Wet, dirty straw. Snorting cattle and braying donkeys. No turned-down sheets on a bed; no little chocolate mint on the pillow. And you have to believe that Mary and Joseph would have loved a good, hot shower after a long, dusty, dirty road trip. Seems rather messy, doesn’t it? Continue Reading
You Are Not Alone
I was tapping on the keyboard, considering the words and moments I had planned on sharing with you. But then the words stopped. And pictures began floating around in my brain, creating different words. My writing plans changed. From my heart… Continue Reading
Just What I Need…Today
It happens most often when I am tired. Or hungry. Or hurt. Or when I’m feeling just a bit self-absorbed. I want someone to fix my world because I’m tired of dealing with the icky stuff. Have you been there? We could probably wear matching t-shirts, right? Perhaps I’m overwhelmed with work. Worried about life issues, people’s hearts, and disappointments. I’m tired of it all, and I want someone with a Superman or Superwoman cape to swoop down and make it all better. The problem is, whoever that “someone” happens to be in that Continue Reading
Living a Full Life
Loved. This. My friend and I were sitting at a small table in the coffee shop, reminiscing about our days at Northwest Airlines. Catching up on where life has taken us since then. In the middle of updates and future plans, my friend very nonchalantly said, "I have a full life." Oh my. Those words made me pause. When was the last time I heard someone say that? Most conversations include... "Life is crazy busy." "We're hanging in there." "Too much going on." How my friend described his life was an ah-ha moment for Continue Reading
Hope and the Early Morning Swirl
It’s in those early morning first-moments when we make one of the toughest choices of the day. Do we swirl in the messiness and worries? Or do we hope in what has been promised? Here’s what it looks like in my world… Before my eyes even open (or try and open during this allergy season!), I am thinking about the good things ahead of me in the next few hours. Work I enjoy and connections that encourage me. It’s going to be a good day. And then…as if someone grabbed the clicker and changed the channel in my mind… I start thinking Continue Reading
Plan Goodness
We spend so much time planning, don’t we? Writing out our to-do lists. Scheduling. Planning the weekend…the vacation…the work priorities. Busy, busy, busy. Work, work, work. Get it done, check it off, move to the next to-do. And at the same time – at least a lot of the time – we are bracing for the hurdles and challenges that get in the way and bump us from our happy planning place. We expect disruptions to our planning to show up at some point. Very easy for me to do. I am the master of having a Plan B and a Plan C in place Continue Reading
Putting Life Together Again
Who on earth thought this was a great little jingle to read to children? Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men, Couldn’t put Humpty together again. Really. It’s not cute. It’s scary. {I also have a problem with Little Jack Horner who sat in a corner intending to eat a whole pie. He stuck in his thumb and pulled out a plum and decided that eating a pie with his fingers made him a good boy. Good grief.} But back to Humpty Dumpty… We usually imagine Humpty Continue Reading
Just Give Me…
Her cheeks were flushed and her neck was covered with the red blotches that I know all too well. Her name tag read Renee - Trainee and I think the reindeer antlers she wore on her head made her feel even more self-conscious as she tried to figure out how to enter no whip with my hot chocolate order. Oh, Jesus, please help her remember that this is just one day. Bring grace-filled people into her line this afternoon. The lady in the purple parka with the big hood could have used a cart. Or a counter. Or a shelf. Anything on which she Continue Reading
Be Not Afraid
If an angel suddenly appeared out of the starry sky and started talking to me, I’d probably freak out. Just a bit. That’s just not something you see coming, right? I wonder what the shepherds thought that holy night thousands of years ago, as they leaned on their walking sticks, checking their sling shots, while standing in sheep doo-doo. We have to believe that when “the glory of the Lord shone around them,” things got pretty bright! I can imagine them squinting, covering their eyes, while trying to figure out what they were protecting Continue Reading
Fear Not Tomorrow
It’s the fear that stops my breathing and causes a very unattractive rash to start spreading on my neck… Being caught in a storm at sea. Or on a lake. Or even a backyard pond. I have no intention of ever being in a situation where I have to whack seagulls on the head with a paddle for lunch while clinging to a strand of seaweed. Perhaps it’s past experiences that create this almost irrational fear of being lost in the middle of a body of water in a storm of It’s never been this bad proportion with the boat capsizing. …There was Continue Reading
What I Can Do
There is something I can do. It hurts to watch the news, doesn’t it? The shootings. Grieving families. Unimaginable tragedy. How can this happen? The answers just don’t come. So what can I do? I don’t know what to do today about Colorado Springs, CO and San Bernardino, CA and Roseburg OR, and the list continues…and that’s only a few in just the U.S. But I do know what I can do in St. Paul, MN. I can show up with Grace. Every single day. With every single person. In every single situation. I can choose to live from a Continue Reading
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