Today is July 1, 2018. As ten-year-old Henry and I worked on his 4-H project this evening he began asking questions about his biological dad. I did what I always try to do, give honest, age-appropriate answers. I want to help heal a broken heart. Tough Conversations About the Death of A Parent? Henry asked,…
Faith
The Weight of Glory
I remember sitting at my desk in August of 2013 when a school official called me to explain new school transportation rules. This phone call ruined the plans that I had struggled and worked so hard to make for my son. I was a single parent of a soon to be kindergartner, building a house,…
How to Remember Loved Ones
I’ve been asked a few times lately for ideas about how to remember someone who died too young? How do we pass on their legacy, their personality, their character, to children who are too young to remember them? I appreciate friends who got a nice journal and asked people to write down stories for my…
Why Should I Go To Church?
I’ve been offended going to church with my husband. He’s been offended at the church I used to go to. We’re not often offended by the messages, it’s typically the people. They say and do some of the darnedest things to unintentionally turn us away. We could list the wrongs and find people to rally…
How To Help a Friend or Family Member Who is Grieving
A tragic loss is difficult in many different ways for many different people. Of course the loss is most difficult for the people closest to the deceased person. Here are three key ways that you help a grieving person: Prayer – As someone who has suffered loss and experienced God’s healing, I’m confident that prayer…
Let’s Teach Our Kids to Be Thankful
The Little Farmer had a great summer full of fun. Many of his activities were sponsored by a business or family in the community. My mom has impressed upon me the importance of writing thank you notes to those sponsors. In my job I’ve had the chance to interact with lots of people and to…
Worrying About the Mud Hole
The Little Farmer has come to me many times in the past few days to discuss this mud hole in the driveway. The primary concern is that people will think the muddy area is part of the driveway. After all there are tire tracks visible in the wet soil, so somebody (other than him) clearly…
Butterflies – Fighting Hunger & Saving People
I was coerced into going to a Women of Faith weekend event a few years back. My favorite speaker was Andy Andrews, a story teller talking about The Butterfly Effect! Here are the rough notes I typed from the video I’ll share below: Henry Wallace was Vice President under Roosevelt and a former secretary of…
Why is Life So Hard?
Does anybody else find it a little easier to get knocked down and feel a little sad this time of year? Or you start thinking about how you meant to start the New Year with a nice, clean organized house, healthy meal ingredients in the refrigerator, etc., etc. Then you realize January is half over,…
Don’t Despair – There is Goodness Ahead!
Did you ever reach a point in life that you previously thought would be great if you could make it that far? And then you make it and realize you probably weren’t quite as realistic in that vision as you could’ve been? Or did part of you wonder if you would ever really make it?…