After weeks of gray skies and steady rain, the sun finally showed up this week. Dave and I walk just about everywhere—it's our primary mode of transportation. We walk in the cold, the rain, and the cloudy, windy days, so these last few days of sunshine have been a real treat. 😊 At one point on a recent walk, I stopped mid-stride, closed my eyes, and turned my face fully into the warmth. Just stood there. Soaking it in. Letting it replenish what the long, gray stretch had quietly drained. That...
21 days ago • 2 min read
Last week, Dave and I attended a long-anticipated wedding—virtually. And once again, we found ourselves praising God for the gift of technology. I'll be honest—I have a love-hate relationship with technology, especially when it doesn't extend grace for user error. :) But here's a fun fact that still makes me smile: almost 19 years ago, Dave used semi-brand-new technology called Skype to connect our son—who was living in Austria—to our daughter's wedding in Colorado. People at the wedding...
28 days ago • 3 min read
Well, we finished our taxes and got them filed. Phew! Anybody else feel like this is a slog through knee-high mud each year? As much as I dread the work and learning the results, every year I see how God provides. Whether that's an unexpected refund or discovering we have remaining taxes due, we've always had the resources we needed. God always shows up right on time. Oh, by the way, in my family, tax day means celebration—it's my brother's birthday. ☺️ I much prefer that party. What’s Been...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
This past weekend I did something I have never done—ever. I set aside three days for a personal retreat, intentionally focused on caring for myself. Mind, body, and soul. 🌿 Time in nature. The sound of water moving gently. Floating in cool water and letting everything just…still. God knew exactly how much my soul needed this reconnection—with nature, with him, with the quiet he so graciously provides when we finally stop long enough to receive it. And what a week to arrive refreshed. Because...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
My mom used to tell me that March and April were hard months for her. Growing up in northern Minnesota, I watched the beautiful white snow turn muddy and black. What once sparkled now tracked a mushy mess into the house with every person who walked through the door. Add in the temps that could not make up their mind, and life felt a bit more chaotic than the predictable quiet of winter cold. This year, I get Mom’s feelings more than ever. The seasonal switches feel unsettling. So when the sun...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
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...
2 months 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...
2 months 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...
3 months 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...
3 months ago • 1 min read