In the Black Hills of South Dakota, there’s a national monument called Jewel Cave. It takes your breath away to journey below the surface of the earth and view this natural wonder. Visitors book the guided tour months in advance. During the tour, a park ranger takes you on an elevator ride to the cave,…
I should have known better. After teaching kindergarten for so many years, I should’ve recognized I was wandering into dangerous territory. At snack time, the kids were getting a special treat, cupcakes, but the cupcakes weren’t identical. Someone was going to be discontented. I should’ve remembered the Theorem of Cupcakes: If you have 6 chocolate…
“Blessed are they that have not seen, but yet have believed.” (Jn. 20:29 ESV) Have you noticed lately how many people are living in fear? Fear is so pervasive, we can forget it’s there. Fear is the fan in the background: “Oh, that hum? That’s just the atmosphere of fear.” It’s white noise for everyone,…
A few months back, my daughter had an appointment with her orthodontist. She has follow-up appointments every eight weeks while she endures the childhood anguish of wearing braces. The office has a really cool incentive program for kids: they can earn “wooden nickels” by doing things like maintaining good dental hygiene and having no broken…
On a dreary day in March, I watched the steam swirl skyward from my insulated coffee mug as the acrid scent of vinegar filled my nose. While the smell impacted the taste of my coffee in a less-than-pleasant way, I smiled at the source. My youngest son sat on the stool at our kitchen island,…
If you’re reading this right now, you already know the power of stories. This blog is all about sharing our lives and thoughts with each other, coming together at the table to welcome one another into this safe space where we can be ourselves. Storytelling is a powerful thing, especially when we are telling our…