I’ve been lying in front of this window in our foyer for so long, I’m beginning to see faces in the tree trunks and branches. One face smiles broadly while shielding its eyes, looking out from under its leafy mask, no doubt an identity disguise. Tree trunk faces are piled up one on top of… Continue reading A Bluebird Sky
The wind is roaring outside this morning. I love the drama of March weather--sometimes winter, sometimes spring. It's mostly still cold where I am in the north Georgia mountains, but some days there’s a breakthrough to warm. It was wild rain and wind, tornadoes and school closings last week, and it was a balmy day… Continue reading March Madness
Our “baby” of five kids is just two short weeks away from being 21. It occurs to me that even though he’s living with us temporarily and working, he’s for all intents and purposes grown, though maybe not entirely gone. It also occurs to me that it’s the first time since I became a mother… Continue reading The Kids Are Grown and (Mostly) Gone, so Who Am I and What Do I Do Now?
I like imaginin’ praise comin’ outta my house, loud enough to wake up the sun and bring it runnin’ up my mountain, just to see what all the shoutin’s about. Inspired by Psalm 108:1-5 “My heart is steadfast, O God;I will sing and make music with all my soul. Awake harp and lyre! I will awaken the… Continue reading What All the Shoutin’s About
I was the family gift wrapper, the child asked to wrap even her own Christmas gifts. My mother would give me a taped box with an unseen gift inside. I liked nothing better than a stack of boxes, a bag of bows, and rolls and rolls of patterned paper. I loved the sounds of wrapping—the… Continue reading The Unwrapped Gift
Your words are heardWhile on this earth.A heart is stirred.So begins rebirth. My take away hereIs God for the win, The magic-mirror, And love never ends.I'm never nearerTo him than whenI let go of fearAnd let him in.When love shows the way,I can rest in the search,Hear what you say,Get down off my perch. Let… Continue reading The Win
Guard your turf,Avenger-God,Judge of earth.Pay back the proudfor their loud mouths.How long, O Lord,will the wicked be glad?How long will their wordsboast and brag?They pummel your people;they crush your kids.They kill widows and orphansand immigrants.They believe you don't see.Well, listen up, fools!Get a clue!God makes the rules. Give him his due!Ear creator hears.Eye designer sees.Knowledge… Continue reading Avenger God
I've begun to post my journal as a devotional for the One Year Bible on "I Want More," http://iwantmore.blog. I'd love to have you take a look. For my kind followers, let me relieve your minds: this is the only email you'll receive from me about it, unless of course you choose to follow the… Continue reading You’re Invited
When I stumble in my spiritual life, whether it’s a whole-hog wallow or just a baby toe in the dirt, my comeback is the same: I turn around and head home to the Father. And I receive his love and forgiveness. And then I head into the after-party. Pretty simple, really, regardless of whether it’s… Continue reading The Comeback
God, you’ve been our home since Adam. Before the mountains were born, before you birthed the world, before time began ‘til forever-- for it’s never over-- You. Are. God. You scooped dirt clods, breathed life into dust. You take back our breath, Say, “from dust-to-dust they must.” Mankind is nothing much. A thousand years in… Continue reading Home
I’ve discovered a pandemic phenomenon: The Covid-19-10 is a ten pound weight gain that creeps on in quarantine. In my defense, let me say that the fear of not being able to get My Beloved Treats at some point during quarantine had me pack-ratting Dove Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Promises and Moose Munch as if… Continue reading The 10 Truths I Found to Lose 75 Pounds no j
Where do I begin To tell this tale of love? I thought it was about What I was most proud of, How I'd love you best. I thought you were my pursuit. But the better story is I'm the broken one you choose. I did my duty all those years But missed you all along--… Continue reading Simple Saving Song
“Think, think, think...” (Pooh says, tapping his forehead.) What’s as good for Bears of No Brain at All as it is for Bears Who Fear Their Brain Is Going--or Gone? Using words, thinking, communicating. It's the last day of June, and I haven't posted anything yet. My goal is to write monthly, but I haven't… Continue reading Bears of No Brain at All
I was dragging my feet getting ready. For as long as I can remember, we've had an open mike for folks to share their thank-yous the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Children often go first and warm up the crowd with sweeping praises, "Thank you, God, for the whole wide world," and with smaller ones, "We have… Continue reading Open Mike
The sun was blinding me through the library windows. We've had rain, rain, and more rain for weeks on end, so the sunshine was a big deal this morning and was more than welcomed. It was worshiped. It felt like a long awaited vacation, like springtime and flowers, like a throwback to "normal life" at… Continue reading Wildflower
C. S. Lewis’s words from 1948 ring with relevance. Just replace “atomic bomb” with “coronavirus.” — Read on http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/cs-lewis-coronavirus/
Ransom Bruce Harris was born to doula-daughter, Sadie, and her hubby, Bryan on February 7. Sadie made sure to do all the training she’d been coaching her mamas to do over the years and was in wonderful shape for an easy delivery. Only there were other plans in place. After a nearly 30-hour labor and… Continue reading Writhing
Journal entry... I'm awake and up before The Cowboy has gone to bed. It's 1:21 a.m. and too darn early. I went to bed at 10, but I'm wide awake now. I'm afraid I'm getting weird. Unbalanced. And while I really love getting a jump on my day, I'm also afraid I'm getting pulled out of sync… Continue reading The Room
He walks to the door, As if he's just going out with friends. "Remember, mom, when I couldn't reach this lock?" His memory connects with mine. "Yes, I do," I say. The lock clicks, The door opens, He steps through. It's just an ordinary day. A little rain. Cloudy. "I love you, mom." "I love… Continue reading Limping Praise
No one made room for him, save the one who yelled, amidst hay and manure, blood and smells. And she prepared nothing, except to accept-- turns out was enough, she opened herself. The womb that bore him and the heart that said yes were filled with a Savior, to rule and to bless. "Prepare the… Continue reading Hungry and Full
One True Love 