Katie is six. Her hair is white-blonde, and she's missing four front teeth. I barely know the child; after all, I've only been in the house three minutes, and this is only the second time I've seen my cousin's daughter. But I know already that I'm about to be delighted. "Let me show you my Christmas gifts," Katie says. "First, I got this great Snoopy shirt," she says, holding out the hem of her dog-adorned shirt to help me get a better look. "And this Dora-the-Explorer doll ... and this ... continue reading...
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Christmas Fun
Merry Christmas, everyone! Did you love today? We have had the perfect Christmas. I love when Christmas morning lands on a Sunday. I kind of think there's nothing more appropriate than starting the celebration with a church service. What better way to set your focus where it belongs? I was so happy to see so many people at church this morning. I think Jonas Aley said it best: "It's so cool that we get to go to church on Christmas morning!" That blessed me, Jonas. I couldn't agree more. This ... continue reading...
Making Room
I wrote this article for HomeLife magazine ten or twelve years ago. We still have this jar of straw, and every time I see it, I'm reminded of the truth I learned on that long-ago Christmas. I remember -- distinctly -- how overwhelmed I felt the first time someone suggested an Advent celebration to me. Four nights. I’d have to set aside four nights during the busiest four weeks of the year. Lighting the candles sounded nice. I liked candles. Prayer was fine. I liked prayer. Sitting around a ... continue reading...
Home Again
No internet at home for awhile ... so I have to run to Starbucks or to the church office to get online. I'm speaking at two women's Christmas teas this week, so my very-little-time online is spoken for. But I thought since I don't have time to post something new today, I'd share this post from a few Decembers ago: I'm home from a quick trip to San Jose to speak at a Christmas luncheon for "Mothers Together," a ministry of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church. This was my second visit, and both ... continue reading...
Consider This
With Christmas rapidly approaching, I'd like to offer a suggestion. Instead of asking for socks, Starbucks cards, perfume, clothes ... the usual stuff ... why not ask that someone make a donation in your name to Gospel for Asia? You'd be amazed at what an $11 contribution can do. For $11, you can buy a pair of chickens or rabbits for an impoverished family in India and help them start a cottage industry. Lambs, pigs, goats, cows, water buffalo ... even camels are available for purchase, and ... continue reading...
Not Too Late
She was sleeping when I began slicing onions and celery and a Granny Smith apple; when I crumbled one tube of maple-flavored sausage into my heavy black skillet, and stirred, and watched the heat rising in savory wisps. She didn't see the coming together of a fresh batch of homemade poultry seasoning -- all those spice containers gathered in a huddle around my mortar and pestle, and the careful measurements of half-, and quarter-, and eighths of a teaspoonful of rosemary, sage, thyme, ... continue reading...