"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
A month or so before we started dating, Jared offered to send me seeds in the mail. This surprised me, because I didn’t know many guys who planted gardens. I knew fewer who had an abundance of heirloom seeds on hand. When I thought about it, Jared was the only guy I’d ever talked to … Continue reading Seeds in the Mail
"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
The moon, it just sat there tonight,mostly eaten by the old yearand its shadows,the year to come like its bright skinshining, burning away the rest.They say it's God's fingernail,but that's only what we can see of it.In reality, the whole underbelly is bulgingwith lighton the other side of our atmosphere.Anyway, it couldn't be that only … Continue reading New Year
"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
“Our post-Christian neighbors need to hear and see and taste and feel authentic Christianity, hospitality spreading from every Christian home that includes neighbors in prayer, food, friendship, childcare, dog walking, and all the daily matters upon which friendships are built.” ~ Rosaria Butterfield, The Gospel Comes with a House Key Things that made me happy … Continue reading Friendship, Prayer, Milk, & Tea
"May this hearth be to us a port in the storm,a cheering beacon, and a place of fellowshipmarked by the consolation of your Spirit." ~ Douglas McKelvey, Every Moment Holy Things that were good in January: A New Year's Day fire in the hearth How Esther does sign language to the songs in church Kiddo … Continue reading Hearthfires & Hockey
Sitting across the coffee shop table from her, I cannot see the Spirit of God in her---just as I cannot see the wind that’s whipping up off the cold Missouri river this morning. I do not know where these January gales come from, or where they’ll lie down tonight. They’re sharp, cutting right through my … Continue reading Where the North Wind Blows
"Now birds that sleep in brittle trees, Sparrows and jays and chickadees,The last, last robin, and the crow,Awake beneath your thatch of snowAnd hearing bells of midnight ringRouse up and through the darkness singHow in your dreams across the snows,A star, bright as a sun, arose." ~ Elizabeth Coatsworth, Woods' Litany Good things in December: … Continue reading Downtown Lights & Christmas Loaves
“Now and then, in this workaday world, things do happen in the delightful storybook fashion, and what a comfort it is.” ~ Louisa May Alcott, Little Women Things that made me happy in February: Monday snow day for prepping sourdough and making homemade granola, the boys home from work and playing chess in front of … Continue reading Baked Bread & Sun
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