We were sitting around in a circle at our little church’s summer mid-week picnic service, balancing the song sheets with our napkins on our knees. My friend, Dar, and I chatted and chuckled about the weather and other friends we’d recently seen. We listened to Leah tune up her guitar while we swatted the gnats and mosquitoes, crumpled up Arby’s sandwich wrappers, slurped the very last of our ice-cold drinks, and got up to add more plastic chairs as others joined. While heavy trucks and cars without mufflers rumbled past on the street Continue Reading
When Life Gets Messy
Easy. Carefree. I think about those words and in my mind I see a sandy beach with gentle waves lapping, a cool breeze that doesn’t mess up my hair, bright sunshine that warms my skin, and a good book with a happy ending. Yup. I sure could be content there. If only life was one big sunny beach. Real life happens and sometimes my hair gets mussed and my skin sunburns and there’s not a happy ending in the book. There are moments when I think, “This isn’t what I signed up for.” My sisters and I take turns staying with our mom. Continue Reading

