Our footsteps echoed on the wooden planks as we left the riverbank and stepped out over the water. The old walking bridge had stretched across that expanse of dark river for as long as the townspeople could remember. Several generations had held hands and stood right there in the center of the bridge, watching the…
One bright Saturday morning, at the dawn of summer, I got up for work. I donned my signature outfit—black skirt and blouse, bright turquoise necklaces, sparkly sandals—and piled my brown curly hair atop my head in a messy updo. For the finishing touch, I applied mauve lipstick and glittery brown eye shadow and beamed at…
I’ve been thinking a lot about legacy this past year because my husband’s grandmother passed away on Valentine’s Day at the age of one hundred. Even though I was her granddaughter-in-law for only nineteen of those years, I had the fortune of developing a close relationship with her. I was also able to observe the…
My history with the church is a bit complicated. I was raised Lutheran and attended church faithfully for most of my childhood. In high school, though, waitressing on Sunday mornings took precedence, and my church attendance transitioned to more of a Christmas and Easter model. After many years, I began searching again and initially found…
Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2 CSB) My dad has always had a workshop wherever we’ve lived. He spends a lot of time there building cabinets and other…
A thousand dollars can fix car problems, pay rent, or help with a house payment. A thousand dollars keeps water flowing, heat working, and food on the table. A thousand dollars is a lot of money. The size of your bank account doesn’t change that. A number of years ago, my husband and I made…