outdoors, spiritual life

On bears in the woods and a Psalms 37 & 91 world

“The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word 'crisis.' One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger--but recognize the opportunity.”― John F. Kennedy "Did you hear that?" my husband asked. I did. A "phuff, phuff, phuff" that sounded like a dog panting --… Continue reading On bears in the woods and a Psalms 37 & 91 world

family life, women

Molting vs. empty nesting

“I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I'll go to it laughing.” ― Herman Melville, Moby-Dick I threw my favorite dress away last night. It felt a bit disrespectful to leave it lying helplessly in the kitchen trash, its brown field and white polka dots crumpled next to… Continue reading Molting vs. empty nesting

family life, spiritual life

A Life In Pieces

The mid-life lesson I'm learning from a winter's worth of frantic quilt completion is not about skill. As you can see, I have little. My stitches are free range and low on the count-per-inch chart. My seams rarely line up in proper fashion. No, the message in all those bits of fabric -- coming together… Continue reading A Life In Pieces

family life, spiritual life

My coat vs. God’s plan

It was a nice coat that Joseph had. Full of color and such luxury as was possible for a family living in the wilderness. But, it wasn't enough to keep him. In a single day, his brothers stripped him of his coat, dipped it in animal blood and convinced their father -- who had given… Continue reading My coat vs. God’s plan