This morning's gathering. . .

Terry likes to pick up the "perfect" ones.

I prefer any that have a different color or texture--the ones that really catch my eye 😉

 Psalm 113:3, "From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!"

 

One Day at a Time

June 22, 2026

Grief can hit you in the most unexpected places.

For me lately, it has shown up in my dreams, driving down a wooded highway, sitting on a beach watching the sun come up.

Sometimes I can talk about it with Terry or a close friend. Or write about it.

Other times, I just let it envelop me, wash over me, and I keep it to myself.

Each of us has experienced loss in our lives. It’s part of life in this imperfect world. None of us is immune to it.

Yet each of us must find our own way of getting through the process of grieving.

The difficulty lies in what works for one person may not work for someone else. And what works one moment for someone may not work for them tomorrow.

So how do we get through this?

First, know that we are not alone. Even Jesus experienced loss and wept. And it’s okay to cry.

Then, don’t feel like you have to bounce back immediately. Some days are harder than others. And some moments are heavier than the previous ones.

Ecclesiastes 3:4, “A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.”

Reach out to someone, either a trusted friend or family member or even a counselor or pastor. Don’t be afraid to share your feelings. We’re all in this together.

Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”

Finally, remember we are only in this world for a short time. Soon all our sorrows will be wiped away. Hallelujah!

Colossians 3:2, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

Psalms 30:5, “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

 I Do Belong

June 9, 2026

Being the hard-core introvert that I am, it is difficult for me to feel entirely comfortable when I am surrounded by a group of people. Even people that I know. Sometimes even people who are friendly towards me.

I know my quietness can sometimes be misunderstood. And when I hide behind others, it may appear that I have nothing to say. One may interpret my actions to mean any number of negative things. . . that I don’t care, that I’m bored, or that I’m being aloof.

In reality, I’m just truly struggling inside. To find my voice. To put myself out there.

I’m not sure if this is just how God created me or if it comes from events that happened in my early childhood. And the cause doesn’t really matter at this point in my life.

What matters, I’ve come to realize, is what do I do about it.

And that is the difficult part.

Because I can’t change how I feel.

And it doesn’t work to try to smother my anxiousness. . . to pretend that I’m okay when I’m not.

All I can really do is remember who I am. And fully be the person God created me to be.

1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

God gave me an outlet for my voice—my writings.

May He use them for His Glory.

And I pray that the individuals who take the time to get to know the person I truly am find that I am worthy of their effort. 

 

Be Alert

June 6, 2026

Last night I said something I rarely say, “What an exciting baseball game!”

From the multiple errors by the opposing team, to the whopping number of runs walked in, to the double-digit final score of the home team. . . I was so glad I stayed awake for the entire game!

But let’s face it, that’s not always how it goes.

Even my die-hard fan of a husband sometimes dozes off while watching his team play ball.

And that’s okay.

As long as we DO pay attention to what’s truly important in life.

1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

Matthew 24:42, “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.”

Are you aware of your final destination? Do you know for certain where you are going when you die?

Even though my mom lived much longer than anyone expected, tomorrow is not guaranteed for any of us.

The end can happen in an instant.

Are you ready?

 

Wild Life

May 19, 2026

Today while on our usual walk at the cabin we were almost attacked by a bear. Or at least that’s Terry’s version of the story.

We were almost home after spending some time watching the geese families on the lake. While passing by a thicket of bushes and oak trees Terry suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. Since we walk hand in hand, I also stopped. His eyes intently searched the brush on his side of the gravel road.

“What is it?” I asked in a loud whisper.

“I heard something!”

“Was it that?” I asked as his stomach rumbled again.

“Yes! What is that?!” he asked, cautiously stepping away from the brush, pulling me with him.

“It’s just your belly talking!” I giggled.

Proverbs 15:13, “A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.”

Proverbs 17:22, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

Thank you, Terry, for always protecting me and giving me something to laugh about.

 

The Worst Place

May 15, 2026

Three years ago this week, this was my best friend. . . my only friend. My big cat, Frank.

Three years ago this week, I escaped an abusive relationship.

When this photo was taken that week, I had just received an order from Chewy, his favorite catnip flavored Temptations treats. Frank was always cramming himself into spaces that were too small for him. He didn’t care if he didn’t fit.

It was a really difficult time. . . obtaining the Order of Protection, changing my locks, securing my credit, dealing with the fear that the man who said he loved me would hurt me again.

But Frank stayed close to me, curling up next to me whenever I sat down. Even if there wasn’t room for him. It was as though he knew he couldn’t physically protect me, but he wanted me to know he was there for me.

I was fortunate, I survived.

If you are living in a violent environment,

Call 911 or

Contact https://www.thehotline.org/   Domestic Violence Support | National Domestic Violence Hotline 

Or call 1-800-799-SAFE

In St. Louis, contact https://alivestl.org/  ALIVE – Alternatives to Living In Violent Environments

Or call 314-993-2777

Experience and statistics prove that it will most likely not be just a one-time occurrence.

1 Corinthians 13:4-5, 7 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. . .It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

1 John 3:18, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”