When Gary and I decided to travel to our young friend’s wedding in Northern California, I was excited to put some national parks on the must-see list. We enjoyed our time in Oregon, visiting Crater Lake. We even hiked to the base in the cold weather to view the epic blue lake from the rocky shore level. It was a breathtaking time, and I couldn’t get enough of the cerulean lake punctuated by the sole…
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This is Christ’s body and blood given for you. I serve as a Sunday morning greeter at my local church. This role also involves serving communion, which in our faith expression is served to the congregation as they come up to be served one at a time—a walk-through line. Although I am relatively new at this, as is often the case in volunteer work, being one step ahead in experience puts you in a position…
4 CommentsThat’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…
3 CommentsThe details of the day are long forgotten. What I can remember was the utter overwhelm. That day, I was drowning at home with five young children under seven. I made it through the morning, but by early afternoon, in desperation, I picked up the wall phone and dialed an older friend’s number. I don’t know what I was looking for or hoping for. I just needed to hear a voice. I needed a lifeline.…
2 CommentsRecently, I attended my husband’s 50th high school reunion. Reunions come packaged with all sorts of anticipation mixed with anxiety. It wasn’t my reunion, so I was looking forward as an observer, seeing a slice of Gary’s life I hadn’t seen yet. At the Friday night mixer, a classmate in recognition rushed up to Gary. Within minutes, the stories poured out of her life. Her husband died two years earlier, a severe illness still plagued…
5 CommentsYears ago, Gary and I became good friends with Navy Neighbors Bob and Kim while stationed in Guam. Bob and Kim were young in their faith journey and were excited to learn about Jesus through God’s Word. We had Bible Studies together, and on Sunday nights after church, we always went to Swensen’s ice cream, where we had what we dubbed a “whosit whatsit” conversation. We talked and asked questions about anything and everything, connecting…
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