“People would think of my ministry as being my missionary work, my writing, my speaking. But you know, I don’t spend most of my life standing at a podium. I spend most of my life sitting at a desk, standing at a sink, standing at an ironing board, going to the grocery store, sitting in … Continue reading Laundry, Loaves, & the Lord’s Day
"The earliest autumn coloring along the country roads... except here and there a fiery maple bough. The cornflower is in bloom, the goldenrod is passing, the asters are at the height of their glory. In our garden the chrysanthemums are just coming out." - David Grayson, "September" in The Countryman's Year Good gifts in September: … Continue reading Acorns, Honey, & Chrysanthemums
"O dear friend, when thy grief presses thee to the very dust, worship there!" ~ Charles Spurgeon The story of August: Fans running throughout the house and strawberry lemonade on days of 100 degrees Summer marigolds in the garden On a day of hospital visits---Christians who stand firm in the surgery waiting room, quoting James, … Continue reading Sorrow, Psalm 139, & the Good Shepherd
"On warm evenings, we would sit out on the front porch from supper until bedtime. There was no TV then, of course, and on weeknights little traffic on the road. It would be so quiet that you could hear other people talking on their front porches or a bunch of children off playing somewhere. ...Sometimes … Continue reading Summer Canning & Slow Afternoons
“My heart exults in the Lord;my horn is exalted in the Lord.My mouth derides my enemies,because I rejoice in your salvation.There is none holy like the Lord:for there is none besides you;there is no rock like our God." ~ 1 Samuel 2:1-2 Good things in June: Sunday rain and coming home to a Crockpot of soup How Don wears a cover over his cowboy hat when it rains Discovering the weekly grocery ad Eden Annalise, a new niece who is beautiful and calm -- a perfect third child Finding out we are … Continue reading Fresh Basil, June Babies, & Other Growing Things
"Hold us in quiet through the age-long minuteWhile Thou art silent, and the wind is shrill;Can the boat sink while Thou, dear Lord, art in it?Can the heart faint that waiteth on Thy will?~ Amy Carmicheal Things that brought me joy in May: The afternoon the storms swept in from Oklahoma; rain and homemade lattes … Continue reading Visiting, Fishing, Watching the Storm
"I hope when we find our 'house of dreams,' dearest, that there will be winds around it. I wonder where it is... that unknown house. That home of the future where we will have love and friendship and work... and a few funny adventures to bring laughter into our old age." ~ L.M. Montgomery, Anne … Continue reading Our Spring Wedding & Winds of Change
"A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven." ~ John 3:27 The hard and the good things in February: Getting up early on potluck Sunday to put tomato soup in the crockpot Jared picking out his wedding suit at Rainwater's Over the week we spent in the hospital with … Continue reading Wedding Plans, Winter Sun, & Other Points of Light
"The frosty air stings one's face, prickles in one's nose, sets all the blood to racing warmly. The snow creaks and snaps under one's feet, and the sunshine on the silvery fields is blinding to the eyes. This I know well: that the chief part of every life consists of small things. If we have … Continue reading Deep Snow, Soup, & Strawberries
"Running to the window, Scrooge opened it, and put out his head. No fog, no mist; clear, bright, jovial, stirring, cold; cold, piping for the blood to dance to; Golden sunlight; Heavenly sky; sweet fresh air; merry bells. Oh, glorious! Glorious!" ~ Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol The first snow---long, quiet, and cold Tramping down the … Continue reading Feasting, Fiddling, & the First Snow
