My heart breaks—and my stomach lurches—over the hatred so graphically portrayed in the news. Yours, too? Why can’t we all get along? I’ve read articles and blog posts. I’ve watched news coverage. I’ve seen the finger-pointing. But friends, our problems aren’t caused by skin color, religious beliefs, or who’s president. Why can’t we all get along? The answer is right in front of us—and has been for generations; centuries. At the bottom of all the divisiveness, arrogance, bigotry, racism, name-calling, and hatred is a reality that has affected every generation of mankind since the very beginning. ... Keep Reading...
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PARTING WAYS: Goodbye Letter to Wild Rose Farm
My dearest Wild Rose Farm, I don't want to write this goodbye letter—and yet, I do. I must. You have poured so much of yourself into my life that I cannot walk away without pouring my love, gratitude, and treasured memories back into you. You may remember the day we first met. It was November 10, 2011. You were calm, and rustic—and it was love at first sight. 24-hours later, you were on the way to being ours . . . and we've never looked back! For the first several of our years together, you were my place of respite. The one place I could go to return calm to my otherwise overwhelmed and struggling mind and spirit. My everyday world at home was full ... Keep Reading...
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Tablescape Inspired by Anniversary Roses
The first blog post I ever put out in cyberspace was a tablescape, and it was over-the-top "dressy" with lots of *sparkle*. Back in those early days of blogging, tablescapes were an almost-weekly event around here—but that hasn't been the case lately. In fact, I just haven't been very inspired. Until . . . Renaissance Man surprised me with yellow roses for our 30th anniversary. While they still have some "pretty" in them, I'm ready to tablescape—even if it's quick and casual, so ignore the wrinkles! With their festive yellow and white bow, the roses are just the perfect pairing for a vintage tablecloth I've been wanting to share with you. This hand-painted cloth was a ... Keep Reading...
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ASK ME AGAIN! Happy 30th Anniversary to my Renaissance Man
I wasn't looking for love when we met. I was too busy being a single mom to two little girls—and preparing to go back to college. But somehow I fell for the introvert-leaning, storytelling, Ph.D. candidate (and interim chaplain) at Baylor University. And the rest, as they say, is history. On May 26, 1990, I married my Renaissance Man in a beautiful old house on the Baylor University campus in Waco, Texas. I’ve had old house love for a really long time! A few months prior, he gave a gorgeous diamond ring to me—and sweet little birthstone rings to my daughters—and invited us to join our lives with his. He promised to love, protect, and stand alongside us to the best of his ability . . . ... Keep Reading...
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Do you believe God wants to bless you? {Seeing God’s hand in the everyday}
There's only one place in the entire world where I've always felt a lack of distraction; not sometimes, always. Yes, in the world in which we live, I realize that's a gift! The place is Wild Rose Farm: ten beautiful acres just outside of town where we thought we'd build the Finally Farmhouse that wasn't. After almost 8 1/2 years as its caretakers, we're preparing to sell. It was a heartbreaking decision, but it's the right one for us, and so Saturday's experience was especially sweet. The backstory . . . Two years ago in mid-May, while living in the 300-square-foot fifth wheel onsite preparing to build, my Renaissance Man was dealing with some significant health- and work-related challenges, and the ... Keep Reading...
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PORCH WORK AND PLANTINGS: Another #stayathome project update
Here's the question I asked myself today: Should I keep my promise to you during a global pandemic? I promised to share our old house renovation with you wonderful readers, and so I will—even when I'm very much aware some of you are dealing with the "real" of this pandemic; it's not a mere inconvenience to you. If that's where you are, know that even as I'm working to bring this old house back to life, I'm praying for you. I'm asking God to meet you right there in the middle of your pain, your uncertainty, your grief and help you find a path through today's reality. I wish I could ask for a path around it (or make it go away altogether), but Life isn't like that, is it? Perhaps this post will be ... Keep Reading...
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THINKING AHEAD: What will coming together look like when #stayathome ends?
I don't know about you, but I'm a little nervous about what life is going to be like when these stay-at-home days finally end. I'll admit up front that this post is a very First World, American post. I'm not 100% comfortable with that, but it's where I live and who I am, so today I'm going with it. As I said my last time here with you, I do feel like we're being given another chance; a chance to make some intentional course corrections; a chance to incorporate into our future the lessons we're (hopefully) learning while staying home during these days of COVID-19. More appreciation for family time Healthier meals More organized—or less rigid—schedules, depending on which lesson we needed to learn. ... Keep Reading...
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Another chance to . . .
What if all of the changes we've experienced over the past several weeks are really a chance for our future to be different? Not a do-over, exactly, but a reset. An eye-opener. A let's be honest about what's working—and what's not—in our families, our communities . . . our countries, our world. What's working in me—and what's not? In time, hopefully sooner rather than later, we'll all find a new routine. I have no idea what that will look like. But I hope and pray that all of the loss, heartache, sacrifice, and humility we're seeing during these unprecedented days will not be for naught. I hope these days of feeling like every day brings another change will be seen as another chance to make some ... Keep Reading...
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WANTED: A FIRM FOUNDATION {Rebuilding our old house porch}
It's something we'd really like right now, isn't it? A firm foundation The assurance that when we take a step forward, we're not going to fall. That the earth around us isn't going to cave in. That everything happening during these crazy days is eventually going to settle down. I have no idea what that will look like. I hope you're hanging in there okay, friends. If you've lost someone to this unseen enemy, I'm so very sorry for your loss. If you've lost a job, I know these are hard days for a lot of people, but we'll get through them—together. If you're worried, you're not alone; please take comfort in that. During this unexpected stay-at-home time, my Renaissance Man and I are ... Keep Reading...
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“Why do they call it GOOD Friday?”
Last Sunday, via Facetime with our grandsons, the youngest asked (with rolled eyes and shrugged shoulders), Why do they call it GOOD Friday? I mean, he died! It's an age-old question, isn't it? And last weekend, our grandson (whose 8th birthday is today—now that's a good Friday!) took his turn asking it . . . Good Friday: The term we Christians use to acknowledge the day Jesus died on a cross. Willingly. His crucifixion amidst jeers and and hatred was the beginning of a series of days that would forever change history. It was part of a plan of unbelievable love for mankind — every one of us . . . . . . but it began with immense ... Keep Reading...
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CANCEL EASTER? Maundy Thursday Reflections
There it was in print on Instagram: Since we're canceling Easter this year . . . Wait, what? We're canceling Easter? Is that even possible? As I read further, I realized what the writer meant was that her usual Easter lunch with extended family will not take place due to the social distancing requirements we're all experiencing. That's happening in a lot of families, isn't it? But CANCEL Easter? A lot of things have been canceled lately, but Easter? I don't know what your brain did when you read those words, but mine sent up all sorts of red flags! During this time of worldwide pandemic, with all of the uncertainty, stress, and hopelessness so many people are ... Keep Reading...
