June is the month of brides and weddings. So it seems appropriate to choose this month to confess that one of my guilty pleasures is watching Say Yes to the Dress on the TLC network. I enjoy watching brides select their wedding dresses, and try to predict which gown...
Mother’s Day is over, but for some, the emotions –happy or sad – linger. I recently spent some time with a young friend who is struggling with her role in the family and in the Church. Her feelings were exacerbated by the calendar – Mother’s Day happened to be the...
Putting up our Christmas decorations is a simple enough task. Bring in the boxes from the garage and spread their contents around the house. It should take a day at most. But it’s not so simple for me because of the memories evoked by the decorations and ornaments......
Everyone has a favorite piece of relationship advice. In honor of my 34th wedding anniversary coming up in a few days, I thought I’d share a few relationship quotes: “No matter how long you have been waiting, the man God has for you will surpass your expectations. You...
Three of my friends lost their mother this past weekend. Three times in two days, I received a message saying John or Pat or Sonia’s mother died. These three losses remind me that death cuts through all the things we think are important, and bares what is truly...
Have you heard of the Tate family? They can be found in almost every organization… Dic Tate wants to run everything. Ro Tate tries to change everything. Agi Tate stirs up trouble whenever possible. Irri Tate always lends him a hand. Hesi Tate and Vegi Tate pour cold...
Quick – who was the winner of the: - 2010 Nobel Peace Prize? - 2009 Miss America pageant? - 2008 summer Olympics archery gold medal? Now identify: - the high school teacher who motivated you to be your best? - the Sunday school...
During this past week, I either watched or learned of the following: A friend’s husband removed political bumper stickers from the family car because of safety concerns for his wife and children. A politically active local group is seeking to have a newspaper...
Do you ever get discouraged at how problematic the world has become? Does your heart sink at the avalanche of troubles burying you, your family, or your friends? That even if you wanted to help, you wouldn’t know where to begin? I love the story, ascribed to Loren...
There’s something heart-warming about giving or receiving a Thank You. When someone tells us thank you, we feel acknowledged, affirmed, and appreciated. We’re encouraged to go the extra mile, to keep on truckin’, and to persevere through inconveniences. When we tell...
Love, Care, Share In a world where love, care, and sharing seem to be in short supply, a friend’s prayer...
Keeping Unity as We Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. As Christians, we don’t make unity, we keep unity....
Summer Memories: Love’s Journey This week marked a sad anniversary for me, but also reminds me of precious memories....