Serve by Design

My dad was known for his sayings, and the older I get I can see how I am following in his steps. One of my favorite exclamations came about when the twins started dating and bringing their boyfriends over at the house during the evening. I loved having them safely under our roof, but around nine o’clock, we were ready to turn in for the night! I would step into the family room with this warning to the girls and my future sons-in-laws: “We’re heading to the back. Don’t make me a part of your evening!” It was my way of saying, “Keep it down to a low roar! I’m going to sleep! Don’t make me get up and come in here!” Fav Cup from Mom and Dad's! Reminders of home, conversation, and love! That was then. This is now. These girls are in their early forties. One lives here in town with us and the other lives in New Mexico. They still love being together! The combined number is no longer four including spouses! There are eleven of them not counting the NextGen boyfriend! They love coming ho...

This past season was wringing with nostalgia and thoughts of Christmas past. Family members were gathering in search of the perfect Christmas. I experienced a glimpse of this when our adult children wanted to be sure that mom had prepared all their favorite foods (including escargot and Coquilles Saint-Jacques), that the tree was decorated with familiar ornaments (some of them had been handcrafted when they were children!), and that all 22 of “the   stockings were hung by the chimney with care!” Next Sleepover Ready! The grandkids had their expectations too! Was the foosball table in the basement uncovered and ready for action like always? Would the recreational equipment be in its place in the canvas storage bins? And yes, it was warm enough this year on Christmas Eve for a little outdoor football game! Others were hoping that their latest school and family pictures were on the refrigerator. Some looked around to see if the peanut brittle, candy canes, small chocolate bars, and ot...

“Don't worry about people God has removed from your life. He heard conversations you didn't. Saw things you couldn't and made moves you wouldn’t.”   I first saw this quote a couple of years ago and it was credited to the contemporary Christian music artist, Toby McKeehan (known as TobyMac #SpeakLife, Instagram). I recently tried to research and confirm its source without success. Even though I continue to regularly see these musings on motivational posters and plaques, I have concluded they are the reflections of an anonymous person. I don’t know all the reasons why these phrases are so intriguing to me and speak both comfort and conviction, but they do! Image credit: Potjanum Surirug vecteezy.com Over the years of my life, I have lost loved ones to death and experienced broken relations with close friends. There have been times when I have questioned, “Why?”   The counsel not to worry has been my challenge. And the feelings of guilt over what I should have or should not ...

Many in our area have been recovering from storms that raged through numerous communities last week. Straight-line and even tornadic winds unleashed destruction with a force ranging from 80-120 mph. This powerful act of nature yanked down soft silver maple tree branches upon houses and properties as it severed power poles at their bases like they were toothpicks. The damage was random, but extensive. Many homes lost power for hours, days and now, over a week! We fared much better than many. Our power was only off for a few hours. We lost two large twelve to fifteen-foot limbs. One came resting upon our six-foot fence and the other sailed right for our picnic table denting the tabletop and shoving it into the side of the garage. There was only minimal damage to the table support, a nearby downspout, and the westside soffit. We were lucky. Some of our neighbors reported that large branches had penetrated their roofs like a spear! I have some mature trees that shed numerous branches thr...