I hear it in the crickets singing of an evening. I smell it in the pumpkin and cinnamon baking together in a dozen muffin cups. I feel it in the air, a softening and slowing. In the spring I think perhaps spring is my favorite season, and in the summer I think maybe it is […]
Once upon a time, an eligible and attractive young man named Ryan attended a weekend conference. Just your average Mennonite conference on a hot summer weekend. Lots of men preached. Old friends met up. Music happened. Good food was served. Young men thought of young women. A certain John Coblentz and his family also attended
I’ll sing you a song A song of a mother A song of a mother who couldn’t. Her name was Barb. For seven years she yearned for a child, prayed and agonized and beat on heaven’s door. WHY CAN’T I HAVE ONE, ONE OF MY OWN? He gave her seven, and the second she named
Song of an average mother Read More »
Please meet our new puppy, Penny. She looks to me like one part beagle, one part spaniel, and one part UFO. We are overcome. Completely overcome. What do you like about April?
The tenth best thing about April Read More »
Confession: This post is exactly two weeks overdue. At Valentine’s Day, I gathered some perspectives on love from women at three different stages of life: a newlywed, a seasoned wife, and a single lady. I did some homework, asked for input on my questions… and then spent Valentine’s Day burying my grandpa. But love is never out
This stage of life and love Read More »
Confession: I never saw much point in jellybeans. The only ones I ever truly liked were the Buttered Popcorn variety from Jelly Belly. But their chief virtue lay in how much they tasted like something else. Sigh. Still, when I found a poem* justifying their existence, I decided to share it with my Sunday school
Confession: I love chocolate. Warm, melting chocolate–doubly so. Here’s a sweet suggestion for a child’s Valentine; needless to say, not original with me. Valentine’s Day is a lover’s holiday. But sometimes it’s fun to make the day special for little people. Do you share crafts or treats with children this time of year?
Valentine chocolate spoons Read More »
Oh my word. I think that came out wrong. I meantasay, shopping for *gifts* for guys. ***** Confession: I think men are impossibly difficult to buy gifts for. I don’t understand this about myself. I love giving gifts. I love selecting gifts. I love brainstorming gifts. But when holiday time rolls around for my husband,
Do you write New Year’s resolutions? My favorite way of looking forward to the year is simply to note what’s already going to happen, if the Lord wills. This gives me hope and cheer, without me really needing to do anything about it. Here’s my list for 2013. Aarick will turn 8, advance a grade.
Confession: I always wanted to look appealingly pale and tragic when I’m sick or upset, a sort of damsel-in-distress approach like in fairytales. But instead, I only manage to look like a suffering sheep. I want to say this about being sick on holiday: it stinks. I spent a lot of time between Christmas and
Christmas highlights 2012 Read More »