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Category: Family

Carved on our Hearts

We have all experienced the pain of losing someone we hold dear—our choices about how and what we remember become significant in these moments. The power of our memory serves as a bridge, allowing us to delve deeper into our understanding of those we’ve lost, even in their absence. As believers, we hold onto the faith and expectation that we will one day reunite with them. I often liken these acts of remembrance to carve…

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That’s a Lot

That’s A Lot The urban dictionary defines the phrase that’s a lot as a situation in which the observer is overwhelmed by visual stimulation, smells, sounds, or anything pertaining to excess action. This time last year, I heard this phrase spoken to me as others learned that within a period of six weeks:  I can agree now when I read it all in one place almost a year later. A lot was going on. When I was…

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A Story Changes Everything

On a trip with my family to DC, we decided to stop by the National Arboretum to take in the Bonsai exhibition. It was a cloudy, rainy grey day, so I was not inclined to walk outside for long stretches. We had to weave around to figure out where the bonsai were located. Early indications were this was a nice outing, but the displays were few and far between. If you are unfamiliar, bonsai is the…

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Turn Toward

During a recent ICC (www.iccinc.org) retreat, I sat with a group of students considering our internship opportunity. As is my habit, I asked them what some highlights of their day were. One young fellow excitedly replied, “the clapping contest!” I immediately knew what he was referring to. Earlier in the evening, adult leaders enjoyed a special dinner and program in the upstairs alcove of our retreat center. The second floor was open to the dining…

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Advent Wanderings

Happy Second week of Advent. I recognize the intense pressure of time many of us feel in this season, so I am sharing snippets of the few ideas I am trying to move through slowly. Reading, sitting, watching, waiting, and listening on repeat. You could sit with one of the quotes, images or practices for five minutes. Links are provided below. Take a break, take it in, and breathe out. Praise to the Lord the…

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Meta Maxine

My mother did not like her name. She went by Maxine, never Meta. I only realized how much she did not like it once I floated the idea of naming one of my children Maxine. My mom told me she’d disown me if I did. She never talked like that, so I took her at her word, which I always did because mom was plainspoken and truly said what she meant. I had my own…

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