The best birthday gifts I received were not wrapped—they were phone calls and special texts from my children and grandchildren. Oh, my heart. 💛 Dave took me out for a gluten-free doughnut and a chai latte, then we walked to Lake Michigan to soak up some sunshine. ☕️ Even with Chicago traffic humming all around us, my soul just… revived. I found myself marveling at God’s goodness and kindness all over again. I get to experience all of this. What a gift. What’s Been On My Heart “You keep track...
11 days ago • 2 min read
This time of year, I feel like a kid looking through the candy store window. Spring is on its way — crocuses, daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths are poking through the thawing ground as I walk down the city streets. The air feels a little different… until the wind blows off the still-cold Lake Michigan. I love springtime. It feels like a gift every year. Oh — and It'Sugar, a massive candy store, is only a couple of blocks away. Very dangerous. 😉 What’s Been On My Heart Just like the promise of...
18 days ago • 1 min read
Happy March! 🎉 It is a big month around here, and I am just going to go ahead and blame the calendar. Our eldest granddaughter turns 18 in a couple of days 🤯🎉—and yes, we tease her about getting older, as if we would know anything about that. 🤣 Our grandson has a birthday the following week, and our youngest granddaughter closes out the month. Phew! Oh—and somewhere in the middle of all that, I have a birthday too. 😃 I am owning it. There will most definitely be cake. 🎂 March is basically a...
24 days ago • 2 min read
Today feels full of wonder—it’s my granddaughter’s birthday. 🎂 🎁 Sweet Sixteen! Maybe I’m sappy, but I still remember her tiny, perfect face the day she was born. And today, my heart loves her even more. She’s talented, gentle, kind, and beautiful—and she loves Jesus. What’s Been On My Heart Last week, while recording a couple of interviews, the topic of worth came up again. As I spoke words of encouragement to others, I felt them land gently on my own heart too. Every person—every...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Over the New Year holiday, Dave and I did something we haven’t done in almost 40 years. We entered a jewelry shop “just to look.” I’m not a big jewelry person. I tend to wear the same simple necklaces and earrings most of the time. On days when I’m not meeting anyone, I don’t wear any jewelry at all—it just doesn’t cross my mind. For several years, Dave has talked about getting a nice watch. That’s what led us into the jewelry store. I loved watching him zero in on the type and style he...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
You meet the most interesting people when you get away from your familiar places. On a recent trip, a woman I met challenged me to remain present with her. Not with her words, but with her attitude. She needed hope and encouragement in almost every interaction we had. Yet her brash and demanding ways pushed people away, including me. I struggled to listen carefully with grace and compassion. After we went our separate ways, I confessed my struggles with her to God. Her needs were real and...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
February showed up fast, didn’t it? One minute it was “Happy New Year,” and now we’re already talking about Valentine’s Day. 💕 I’m over here holding my tea, blinking and trying to catch up. What’s Been On My Heart For the last 15 years, I’ve set a goal to read through the Bible each year. Since my mind likes to wander when something feels familiar, I switch translations often. It helps me stay present and really listen. Last week, while reading Exodus 3, one phrase stood out to me: “Who am...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
“Baby, it’s cold outside.” 🥶 At times like this, I’m especially thankful for warm homes, steady heat, and cozy layers. It’s funny how easily we take those simple gifts for granted—until the cold really settles in. Photo by Anna Spoljar on Unsplash When the sun hits freshly fallen snow, it sparkles. As a little girl, I was convinced there were diamonds scattered everywhere. ✨ I felt such wonder watching it shimmer. I couldn’t wait to get outside and play in those “diamonds”—making snow angels...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Thank you for praying for Dave and me these past couple of months. Truly. May I tell you what God did? We didn’t see it coming either. Ever since moving to the Windy City, we’ve been renting. In our first twelve months here, we moved twice. Moving here isn’t simple—and it’s certainly not inexpensive. What we never imagined? Buying the condo where we currently live. I won’t bore you with the details, but I will say this: God arranged everything in such a way that we now own our condo outright....
2 months ago • 1 min read