Intro:

Some mornings just get off to a strange start — and this one announced itself before breakfast had even settled!

Birdbrained!

I heard scuffling in the garage, correctly assuming my husband James had returned from his hour-long morning walk.

The door burst open with a slam, and my husband entered crouching, holding his head.

“I need help!” he barked.

“What in the world… ?” I began, alarmed as I spotted blood on his hands and throughout his short hair. I couldn’t imagine what had happened—he couldn’t have been hit by a car, could he?

“A bird attacked me! I don’t know what it was thinking!”

“Quick, come to the bathroom so I can wash off this blood!” I guided him to the bathroom sink. James bent over while I began to rinse and wipe the bloody mess on the top of his head.

Tissue after tissue came out red, but I couldn’t find a wound.

“Do you think this blood came from the bird?” I wondered aloud as I dabbed and wiped.

“I don’t know, but he nearly knocked me down! It was a big bird, kinda dark…I saw it shudder midair, then it flew back up into the trees.”

“What kind of bird do you think it was?” I asked, parting his wet hair now and scanning his scalp.

“Not sure, but maybe like a raven or a hawk? It was big!”

“Good heavens. Unbelievable! What do you suppose it was thinking, that your hair was a nest or a rodent?”

“I have no idea! I was simply walking down the road like I always do, minding my own business!” James huffed.

“Oh, here it is,” I announced. “I found a talon scratch down your scalp. About an inch long — no, two inches total — not deep, just a scratch. Let’s get some antibiotic on it. Who knows what that bird’s talons have been into!” I found myself wondering, did one need a rabies shot after a talon scratch? Dr. Google told us ‘no’.

I doctored his cut, and then James went straight to the shower. When he was finished, I applied the ointment again. Heading toward the stairs, I heard James call out from the bedroom:

“You’d have thought that walking would be a safe sport!!”

With that, the tension dissolved, and I collapsed on the floor in giggles. Indeed! What an odd thing to have happen!

Now, every time we head outside into our neck of the woods, I remind him, “Wear your hat!” and every time he grins and reminds me, “Watch out for the birds! They can be, quite literally, birdbrains!”

And honestly? He’s not wrong!

Your Turn!

Have you had any strange bird encounters?

Or, what was the strangest thing you’ve experienced at the start of a new day?

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More For Bird Lovers:

For Worship: “Do Not Worry”

A sweet reminder from Ellie Holcomb that God protects the birds (!!) as well as us!

Have a blessed week!

*Photos by 1) Niklas and 2) Callum on Unsplash

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Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mamas and Grandmas!

But…

Mother’s Day—It’s complicated, right?

Some of us are moms and enjoy the day with family. Or not.

Some have lost mothers, and some moms have lost children, or babies.

Some are foster moms, and some have lost foster kids.

Some have estranged children, and some have only seen this dream of nurturing children come true as they’ve mentored others.

12 Mother’s Days Without Mom

Twelve years ago, my mother stepped into heaven. Yet every Mother’s Day, my heart still reaches for her.

I’ve only posted one other story here about my Mom, about the single yellow rose that bloomed after she died. (You can read that story here: Glimpses of Glory.)

This year, I wanted to give her a gift made of words—a letter carrying remembrance stories, gratitude, grief, and the quiet hope that any love held in Christ is never truly lost.

I wrote what we call in my writing classes a “Story Gift” for her, about her faith and influence in my life.

If you are missing your mother too, I hope these words help you feel less alone.

And for all of you dear readers, I hope to inspire you to write your own mother, mentor, grandma, or “special person” a “Story Gift” to give them.

My Story Gift for Mom

Mom’s funeral was done, the burial completed, and the church’s lunch consumed. Now all that remained was the cleanup and distribution of her funeral flowers.

I stood at the ready near the front tables, handing bouquets to special people in my parents’ circle of friends before they departed.

Suddenly, a hand touched my shoulder.

I turned, facing her. Eye to eye, I didn’t recognize this petite woman with the kind face.

“Jenny, I wanted to tell you something before I leave,” she said. No one called me Jenny anymore; that had been my childhood nickname. I nodded for her to continue.

“I’m Deb, a friend of your mom’s over the last ten years.” Ahh, now I could place her. Deb had been my mom’s best friend from church for the last twenty years. I’d heard the name and knew of their friendship, but we’d never had the opportunity to meet. I waited for her to go on.

“Before your mom got sick with Alzheimer’s… Well, I wanted you to know, she was just so proud of you! I hope you don’t mind, but she shared your story of how you overcame the mental health crisis and depression by coming to faith in Jesus. I just couldn’t leave today without telling you how proud she was of you!”

Tears filled my eyes, an instant lump in my throat. Deb was delivering one last message from my mother beyond the grave, for what felt like a full-circle moment.

“Wow, she told you that story? Mom was my rock during that horrible time,” I admitted. Struggling to gather my thoughts and emotions, I thanked her and got a hug.

Twenty years had passed since that dark period, the past six of which had been grueling years of caregiving for you, Mom.

Mom, you knew my struggles better than most, so when Deb shared your words, what a blessing it gave me! This affirmation, divinely orchestrated on the day of celebration for your life, brought me a sense of completeness.

Mom, Deb’s comment reminded me of everything that transpired for my healing and spiritual renewal. How far I have come over the past thirty years, learning to lean on Jesus—all because you passed along your steadfast faith to us four kids.

I remember “Bible story time!” as you called from our bedroom, attempting to corral three-year-old Jim and five-year-old me from sparring in the hall. I’m betting we smelled of fresh soap and damp hair, straight out of the bathtub. We’d run back to the bedroom, plop down on the bed, one on each side of you.

You held our big white Children’s Bible (the one I still have) and opened the pages to our next story. How well I remember the colored pictures of the animals on the Garden of Eden page, Moses holding the stone tablets, and the shepherd and sheep from the 23rd Psalm (which you insisted we memorize). We always prayed the Lord’s Prayer together before getting tucked into bed.

I think I’d entered middle school when I first discovered your taped index cards on the bathroom mirror. What in the world? I leaned in closer to see.

Hand-drawn stick-figures acted out a Bible verse written alongside in your distinctive print. You were trying to get a point across to one of my three brothers or me, and it worked! Your stick figures cracked me up and always brought a smile. And every few days, these index cards changed overnight. (How I wish I’d saved some of them now!)

As a teenager, I often sought you out with questions late at night. I knew where to find you—sitting up in bed while dad showered, reading your Good News Bible.

“Hey, Mom. Can I ask you a question?” I’d poke my head into your bedroom door.

“Why sure, honey,” you’d graciously answer, removing your reading glasses and closing your Bible. You always made yourself available to me.

In my twenties, when I struggled with depression and a breakdown, you prayed daily and remained accessible, even when I lashed out at you. When I couldn’t handle dealing with my bills, you helped me make the phone calls. Later, we both watched as God provided exactly the amount of disability needed for those three years off work. Amazing.

Mom, your example showed me how to trust and walk with God. And that’s why you were the first one I sought out after I found Jesus:

“Mom, guess what happened last night! I want you to be the first to know-- I asked Jesus to save me, and now it’s like a brand-new day! Colors are so bright! And I even laughed at the radio on the way over!”

You paused your ironing, setting the steaming iron upright to hiss while you listened. I’ll never forget your slow smile as you realized what I was telling you. Could it be that my “long dark night of the soul” was over? You could only continue to pray and hope, but that was the turning point, a wonderful new day for both of us.

You became my best friend after that! As I began to raise my own children in the faith, your example spurred me onward.

How devastating when we realized your senior moments signaled Alzheimer’s at the “young” age of 65. The next six years were brutal for Dad and me, your caregivers. I tried to help as much as I could while tending to both Grandma and my own family. How I cried with anticipatory grief on my drives home during those last challenging years.

Mom, I miss you. I can’t thank you enough for your love and faithfulness to me, and the prayers that sent Jesus to deliver me out of my pit. I love that you’re at peace now in heaven and that I will see you again someday soon.

Until then, I’m sending you 💕.

Jenny

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For Worship:

What gets us through the hard days when we miss those we’ve lost? Why, our faith, of course. And great music!

As a writer, I like Brandon Lake’s new song (featuring Nick Jonas): “The Author”!

. . . “Who am I to question the pen in the hands of The Author?”

. . . “I’m ink in the pen of the hands of The Author.”

*Photo by Zoe Richardson on Unsplash

SO—

Just a little poem for you, found on my notes app this week :)

This comes fresh on the heels of poetry month (April), with a confession. When I read our region’s “poetry of the day” email, I don’t always “get” them! Some of them are elusive and twist my brain to understand. (There are certainly some great—and interesting—minds out there!)

However, I don’t believe that you will have that problem here! My poetry is usually quite simple and straightforward! ;)

Intro:

Sometimes God’s Presence sneaks up on you. This week, I was reminded that what I search for in the hard moments has never actually left. This poem is for anyone who has ever felt alone — and then suddenly, in the stillness, wasn't.

When You Come

When you come
I am ready
Waiting, stilled and steady

When you come 
I’m surprised 
Tears I can't disguise

When you come
I don't fear
I know Your love is near

When you come
I am strengthened
Every moment I would lengthen

When you come
I’m resolved
Know my problems can be solved

When you come
I am held
Into you, I meld

When you come
I will rest
And release that weight that pressed

When you come
You remind
You've been here the entire time...

When you come. 

"Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!"

(Gen. 28:16, NLT)

Do you experience the presence of Jesus like this, or in a different way?

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For Worship:

God has been giving me songs this past week about walking through the valleys. I’ve kept it on repeat (it’s a fun one—guaranteed to get you up dancing!)

Lead on Good Shepherd by Elevation Worship, inspired by the House of David series:

Until next time!

*Photo by A. C. on Unsplash

On Difficult Seasons

Hello, dear reader friends!

I know that many of us continue to endure what I would describe as challenging seasons. In fact, I think much of life can be categorized this way! So when we DO get to experience the wonderful quieter seasons and “mountain tops” of life, we end up truly grateful.

Grief resurfaced for me this past week amidst the muddy spring weeding. It’s been the persistent shadow I’ve attempted to ignore, refusing to leave since last fall.

Furthermore, my ongoing sinus treatments haven’t yielded many positive results, prompting me to revisit my approach to managing it. Battling a lingering infection drains both physical and emotional well-being. I find solace in God’s promises to meet us in our weaknesses—not that I’m happy about them, but that in them He offers his strength to replace ours:

This weekend, I had the opportunity to attend a Women’s Retreat organized by our church ladies. Initially, I contemplated canceling due to my physical limitations. But I didn’t want to miss out! I knew God would meet me there. I needed the spiritual lift it would provide, so with the support of friends, I decided to attend.

Retreat

Just as anticipated, it was an incredible blessing to connect with over a hundred cherished sisters in Christ from our church. We engaged in worship, meaningful discussions, and foggy walks by the lake. I am truly grateful for pushing myself to participate. Our leaders demonstrated God’s love by providing exceptional care and appreciation for each of us.

God met me there, as He usually does in His own unique way for each of us. Each table had a designated group leader who had chosen a specific word and verse to serve as the focus for their table’s discussions (such as “Abide” or “Renewal”). My placement for the weekend small group was at the “TRUST” table, serving as a reminder to trust God to guide us through these difficult seasons (see Proverbs 3:5-6).

The swag bags carried various words, including “Courage,” “Strength,” and “Fearless.” Mine bore the word “LOVED” accompanied by the verse, “We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19).

Throughout the weekend, the speaker consistently emphasized the importance of seeking guidance from the Word of God, encapsulated in the holy scriptures. A small mirror within my bag read the word BLESSED, and the reminder verse “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD!” (Psalm 119:1.)

Home today, I am recovering from the energy expended during the retreat. However, I am filled with gratitude for those who worked so hard to provide it, and for having attended (see the worship song!)

Funny Story

I wanted to share a poem that I composed last week. I tried to post it on Friday before my departure, but due to a series of unfortunate events, most of the post was lost and unrecoverable. Or so I thought! Consequently, I assumed that it was not meant to be published that day, or in that way.

Today, I’m back to rewrite and send the post, but I can’t help but laugh. First of all, I found the old post after I’d rewritten the new one, by scrolling WAY down (you almost got to read this post twice!) But this gave me room to write about the retreat.

Second, I had named this poem “Rooted” before I recalled the name of our retreat this past weekend: “Rooted Through the Seasons.” I had even picked out the tree picture above! That’s both amusing and intriguing—perhaps my subconscious remembered this, but I didn’t make the connection until now. (God, of course, knew all along. :) )

Every year, the garden has something to say to my soul. Last year, it was “Are You Grounded?” So, here’s a quick poem from last week to remind us of the importance of staying “rooted” in God, reinforced to me during our weekend retreat:

Rooted

Roots that grow deep
Are never cheap

Drenched often 
With tears that seep

Fertilized by
Ancient Words

The narrow path
So often steep

Let my roots
Strengthen and grow

Beyond what 
I can know--

And root in You
The Giver of Life

Amidst the current
Tide of strife

Loosen my soil
For deeper growth

For I need You when
Gusty winds blow

Anchor me
Through every storm

Then away from you
I won’t be torn

And may a mature 
Flower form

As always, in You
I am reborn.

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More Roots:

(Funny how many pictures I have of roots!)

What do you do to stay rooted through the grief and storms of life?

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For Worship:

God I’m Just Grateful for You—Elevation Worship & Chandler Moore

*Photo credit: Jeremy Bishop from Unsplash

Happy Resurrection Day!!

Praise God for Jesus!

It is finished, and Jesus lives! We are saved for eternity through His free gift of salvation—how amazing!

But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.

Heb. 10:12, ESV

Here are a few celebratory songs for you—”Christ the Lord is Risen Today” by the Tabernacle Choir (because they’re always so good!), and then some modern takes on old hymns :)—Because I love both styles!

(The modern ones come from a new Tommee Profitt concert titled "Resurrection of a King”—click if you want to see the trailer).

For Worship:

For my traditional hymn lovers:

Christ the Lord is Risen Today by the Tabenacle Choir

For my modern worshippers: Tommie Profitt is a pianist and composer. His songs can get loud (so they may not be for everyone), but these are some of my favorites this year, sung by CeCe Winans, Bay Turner, and Phil Wickham.

Jesus Paid it All by Cece Winans and Tommee Profitt

This one is just the audio for It is Well (Because He Lives) by Bay Turner and Tommee Profitt

And He Arose by Phil Wickham and Tommee Profitt:

Thankful!

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*Top photo by Pisit Heng on Unsplash

**The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2025 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

A Good Friday Reflection

I crawl to Him
dragging mortal mud,
layered and caked
heavy with time,
stuck, stuck.

Face down
defeated, 
despairing,
spent, done.

Darkness descends, 
Shadows surround,
no way out.
No way out!


“Tetelestai!”


I look up—
grace wounds,
His open heart
pours, pours
divine blood
and living water, 
washing away
(washing away!) 
the clinging clay
I tried to hide.

Freedom carved into flesh
for those made of earth, of dirt.

Now I can stand
in the light 
from The Only Rising Son—
unmired,
cleansed, cleansed.

It. 
IS.
Finished.

Astonished, I walk free,
(walk free!)




“He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.” 

(Ps. 40:2, ESV)

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For Worship:

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross by Keith and Kristyn Getty

Introduction:

Last year, I wrote this story about Milestone Birthdays, because I needed a year’s preparation to face mine today!

I still remember the girl who thought she had it all figured out. She talked a good game, made good plans (so she thought), and pictured exactly how her life would unfold. She was going to be a writer, a nurse, a missionary, and perhaps save the world.

And then the reality of life crashed in, major detours that derailed “The Plan”.

Sixty years have a way of quietly dismantling everything you thought you knew, replacing it with something harder won and richer in the ways that actually matter. What I know now at sixty, I could not have learned from skipping the hard parts, not to mention that without them, I might never have met Jesus.

So in honor of this milestone, here are 60 things I've somewhat learned at 60. Fair warning: some of these may cause involuntary nodding in agreement. Others might sneak up on you with a laugh. A few might bring a tear or two, but I’m aiming for more chuckles than Kleenex ;) .

(And yes, 60 is quite a list, so there are picture breaks included! lol)

60 things I’ve learned at 60

1. Life is short! And apparently someone keeps hitting the fast-forward button.

2. Life didn’t go the way I thought it would, which is probably better. :)

3. When we find God, He takes us on an amazing ride!

4. The first third of my life was all about finding God.

5. The second third was all about learning to trust God.

6. This final third seems more about living out your life for God. Less figuring out, more showing up.

7. The first half of life consists of accumulating stuff and people.

8. The second half of life is getting rid of that stuff, and unfortunately, the loss of people. (Nobody put that in the manual…)

9. Somewhere in the middle of it all, you stop asking “what do I want” and start asking “what does He want?” (That’s when things get interesting.)

10. There will be a point in the future where I need to choose to die well.

11. Meanwhile, God still has good work and plans for me until then.

12. God is indeed sovereign over everything, no matter what I think or feel.

13. Housework can wait! I’ve recently discovered this. (It’s very patient that way.)

14. Big girls do cry. Commercials, weddings, random acts of kindness, baby animals…all of it.

15. Yes, birdwatching is fun! (Don’t knock it until you’ve watched a major bird-fight at the feeder.)

16. I WILL clean out my house so my kids won’t have to! (This is my hill. I will die on it. Hopefully not before the clean-out.)

17. (I’m going to need to get cracking on that last one. Any day now. Seriously.)

18. Feelings of love may come and go, but love is an action and a choice.

19. People want to be known and noticed. Not necessarily fixed or advised. Just seen.

20. Not everyone is a missionary, but everyone can share the gospel right where they are.

(Picture Break!)

21. Food is overrated! I am firmly in the “eat to live” camp. (My family finds this deeply suspicious.)

22. Ok, cooking isn’t exactly my love language. Once you go gluten-free, dairy-free, fun-free….honestly, why are we even doing this?

23. I will always miss those comfort foods from my childhood. (Back when everything free just meant the food was free!) My grandmas' dinners? Absolutely the best.

24. Do the things that scare you! Or you’ll regret it. (Ask me how I know.)

25. Truth: Acquiring wisdom takes a lifetime. (Which is why I’m just now getting the hang of it.)

26. Truth: Phones do tend to replace people. Be sensible and judicious.

27. God made babies, baby animals, and those cat videos just to make us smile. ;)

28. Feelings are not facts! (I feel like I might need to repeat this…feelings are not facts!)

29. Some things are worth the money and effort. Good shoes, good coffee, good counseling ;) .

30. And some things definitely aren’t! (Sixty years in, I'm still learning which is which. That's apparently also wisdom.)

31. I am much happier now than I was as a young adult!

32. This world is a mess; praise God, it’s not our forever home!

33. The Bible is the only thing I've ever found that truly makes sense of our world, both the beauty AND the brokenness.

34. The moment I take my eyes off God and fix them on the chaos around me, I start to sink. “Eyes on Christ” has become my reminder.

35. You need God’s eternal perspective to live a hopeful life. ;)

36. Understanding how your heart tends to react under pressure is one of the best gifts you can give yourself and everyone around you.

37. Truth: We ALL sin and fall short, which is why we all need Jesus. Yes, I do. Yes, me too.

38. (So, we need to keep short accounts with God and with each other.)

39. Every new day that dawns is a brand-new day that we are blessed to see.

40. Every single person we pass throughout our day is carrying something. A little love and encouragement costs us nothing, but could mean everything to them.

(Picture Break!)

41. If I can care for myself today, I will be thankful for these small mercies.

42. When I walk loved ones to their final HOME, it is exceedingly hard, but also a great privilege.

43. Truth: The enemy will try to steal your joy and personalize his attacks. Look out for him and stay on guard!

44. Renewing our minds each day with biblical truth is ESSENTIAL. Otherwise, we drift.

45. Washers and dryers get hungry. Feed them copious amounts of socks. (But you probably already learned this…!)

46. My longing for heaven increases with every year of life.

47. God didn’t wire us all the same, including how we worship. Finding YOUR way into His presence is worth the whole search.

48. Practicing our worship before we get HOME brings joy down here :) .

49. Truth: God is just as present in a quiet Tuesday morning as He is in a miracle. Don't miss Him in the small stuff.

50. Journals/writing your story is an excellent way to heal from the traumas of life! Try it—your story matters! ;)

51. Journaling prayers helps you to see how God’s answers arrive (in His time).

52. Quiet time with God each day is a priority and non-negotiable for a fruitful life.

53. The enemy will do anything to crowd out that quiet time with God. (Which tells you everything you need to know about its importance!)

54. Self-discipline is a muscle that needs to be built. (Mine is currently in training. :) )

55. At 60, every body part seems to need its own lubricant, specialist, or a strongly worded prayer. (Sometimes all three!)

56. (The upside? It keeps you humble. And very, very grateful for the days everything works.)

57. The older I get, the smaller my circle, and the deeper my gratitude for the ones still in it.

58. A friend who will tell you the truth and still show up? That is a rare and holy gift. Keep them close.

59. At 60, I don't need more. I need to steward well what I've already been given — my time, people, and purpose.

60. Sixty years in, I can say this with everything in me:

    God has never once let me go.

    Not in the mess, not in the grief, not in the wandering.

    He was always there, faithful, patient, and good.

    And whatever years remain? I'm all His.

    

Maybe you’re younger than I, and viewing “60” with a little dread. Unfortunately, you’ll be here before you know it! Take heart, God is in the business of writing himself into your story, every heartbreaking and momentous piece of it. His stories are always better than ours, and He will use it all.

And perhaps you’re 60 or beyond this milestone…You already know these things! You know that faithful is the only word that really fits when you look back over a lifetime with God. (Faithful in the mess, faithful in the grief, faithful even when we wandered.)

Sixty years in, I remain grateful and hopeful despite the hardships. I know that there is goodness still ahead. Not because life gets easier, but because He never changes.

Here’s to the next chapter with Him, and with all of you!

Thanks for being my readers, I don’t take that for granted!

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Just for Fun… a Blast from the Past

Worship Time!

If you need a soundtrack for everything you just read, this is it. Turn it up.

CeCe Winans “Goodness of God”

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(Author Note: For this story, I’ve included multiple links to social media videos and news accounts for those who wish to see more of the story.)

A Thundering Noise!

Almost 9 a.m., on Saint Patrick’s Day! I hurried upstairs to brush my teeth before heading out for Tuesday morning Bible Study. This would be my first time back in over a month due to oral surgery and subsequent illness, so I didn’t want to be late.

Suddenly, I heard a loud noise, a thundering and rumbling in the skies overhead. What was that? Trucks? Planes? A rocket? Maybe ‘Thundersnow’? After all, our weather exhibited its own version of March madness — we’d basked in a balmy 70 degrees two days earlier, then the thermometer dipped to 18 freezing degrees overnight with lake-effect snow squalls. Brrr!

No, this sound rumbled on much too long to be thunder, and shook the house. What was going on? Could my husband hear this in his basement office?

And then, BOOM!

What Was That?!?

I hurried to my bedroom window to see if perhaps some giant construction equipment lumbered down the street and if there’d been a collision of some sort. Nothing. Just blue skies amid intermittent clouds, but no storms.

So, what just happened? It was a mystery, full of uncertainty. Checking my time, I rushed downstairs.

“Bye, honey, I have to go. Hey, did you hear that rumbling? Or feel the house shake?”

“No, what happened? I didn’t feel anything. Musta missed it on my call.”

I knew I hadn’t imagined it! So, I did what we all do in this situation--performed a quick Google search.

“What was that rumbling in NE Ohio right before 9 a.m.?”

Making Sense of What Didn’t Make Sense

The first report that seemed legit came from a local news weather station, claiming we’d had a small earthquake measuring 2.2 on the seismograph. Well, that certainly made sense! I relayed that news to my husband without reading the whole article and scooted out the door.

By the time I arrived at the church, others were debating and googling as well. It was reassuring to know I wasn’t the only one who’d experienced the strange rumblings and felt confused. No one likes uncertainty, and the search was on for an explanation.

“Hey, they’re saying that it was a meteor!” I kept hearing.

A meteor?!? Really? In our neck of the woods? We debated that possibility, then settled in for our study. I checked the earthquake article again, and found it was actually dated for Friday, March 13, the previous Friday. Apparently, there WAS a small earthquake in the local area of Parma a few days earlier, which I hadn’t known. Wow, what a crazy week!

Once I got home, I saw people posting video compilations from cameras all around our area. Some caught a flaming object streaking through the sky, and some recorded the sonic BOOM that shook the earth.

Surprisingly, it seemed that our region had been visited by some cosmic space rock that had fallen from the sky.

“Honey! We could’ve been obliterated today by that meteor had it fallen on our house! We should celebrate that we’re still alive!” (I proceeded to text my kids in case they needed to visit us soon! lol )

“That’s not how it works.” James clued me in. “They usually explode and break up before they hit. Except for some really huge ones that have left indentations around the world, like that big site in Arizona.”

We anxiously awaited the newscast that evening for the latest information. Not only was the meteor covered on our local stations, but on national and international news as well.

According to NASA and the organizations that track such things, this meteor measured some 6 feet across (the size of a small car) and weighed about 7 tons. The thundering sound occurred once it broke through the atmosphere, and the sonic BOOM as it broke the sound barrier (traveling over 40K mph) and exploded into pieces. Interesting!

Maps of the meteoric track indicated a landing site close to Medina, Ohio, about an hour southwest of us. Meteor hunters descended on the Medina area for “meteor chasing,” wearing special equipment belts to help detect any magnetic fragments in suspected space rocks. (I never knew this was a thing!) Since my brother’s family lives in Medina, I began bugging him to go find a space rock for us to examine. :)

By that evening, the first black, striated rock suspected to be a piece of the meteor was found on someone’s deck. Instructions were not to pick them up with bare hands but to protect them in a plastic bag or container.

A Fitting Name — “The Sham-Rock”!

Two days later, multiple pieces of the meteorite had been found. Dr. Bill Cooke of NASA’s Marshall Space Center recorded an IG video, stating “…based on a recent orbit and based on the meteorites people are beginning to find, it looks like that 7-ton rock came from the inner asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.”

The last time a meteor was recorded in our little corner of Ohio had been in the 1800’s, so this wasn’t an everyday event. And because it happened on March 17th, the meteor, apparently big enough to be called an asteroid, earned a new nickname: “The Sham-Rock”!

All of this made for an unusual and exciting day, shaking us out of our ordinary drudgery as we speculated on what might be. (Are you old enough to picture the Disney Martian Man here with me? “You’re making me VERY ANGRY!!”--Grin--)

Lessons From the Backyard Meteor

As I reflected on this fun little incident, I was reminded how uncomfortable it is to face the uncertainties of life.

We live through unexplainable happenings—some light and joyful, others marked by deep tragedy. Our human nature longs to make sense of it all, searching for meaning and explanation.

More often than we’d like, answers don’t come. Especially in the hard places, we’re left with questions: What is going on? How did this happen? Why would God allow this? What sense does this make? How could anything good come out of this?

As I finish my 60th spin around the sun this week, I’m realizing more and more how little I truly know…

• I don’t know why a meteor burst through the atmosphere near my home on Tuesday, but I’ve been given the grace of another day.

• I don’t know why I got sick a week after oral surgery, only that I’ve had no choice but to walk through it.

• I don’t know why we lose loved ones in painful ways, but I know we must grieve and hold fast to the hope of heaven.

• And I don’t know why wars and famines unfold before Jesus returns, but as His followers, we are called to persevere in hope, and to love, serve, and pray for those affected.

The one thing I do know? Jesus, our Lord and Savior, holds our future. An eternal one, secure in Him and shared with others.

Yes, a meteor fell into our backyard on Tuesday, St. Patrick’s Day, 2026. After traveling millions of miles, it arrived with a simple reminder: life is full of uncertainty, but our Father remains the one true Rock on which we stand.

And in Him, we are held steady, no matter what falls from the sky.

Your Turn!

Have you ever experienced an event like this? How did you interpret it?

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For Worship!

(Naturally, this had to be the song for this post!)

On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand and Cornerstone (Jeremy Riddle)

*Image by kanenori on pixabay.com

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Intro:

So many negative words start with the letter “D”— disease, discouraged, depressed, disappointed, dismay, distraught, despair. I noticed them because I’ve felt a lot of them this past month, battling this infection.

How do we stay grounded when outside events threaten our well-being? What about when our immediate prayers aren’t answered the way we want? These are the times that stretch our faith, where doubts and uncertainties clash with our trust in a good God.

During hard seasons, we can be tempted to wonder if God notices or cares. (Does God see what I’m going through? Why would He allow these problems? Can I trust Him to care for me through this? And can I keep my eyes on Him when my emotions spiral downward? )

I don’t have all the answers, but I know working through these questions is important, as is keeping our eyes on Christ. And I found there are a lot of “H” words to counter the “D” ones: happy, healthy, hopeful, helpful, heartfelt, heaven, holy.

As I remind myself to keep my “Eyes on Christ”, I thought I’d share this story about how I’ve seen Jesus at work over the past month:

Finding Jesus in a Hard Season

I bustled around, grabbing my computer and lap desk, preparing to settle in and write during my appointed weekly writing time with my out-of-state friend, Suzy. Just as I sat down, my phone played its melodic ringtone. It was Louise from the Auburn Point Greenhouse, two miles away.

“Are you or someone else at home? I’m about to make a delivery and wanted to make sure I could leave it.”

“For us? Yes, I’m home right now.” But why are we getting a delivery? I wondered, thinking it must be a mistake.

“I’ll be there shortly,” I heard.

A few minutes later, her van turned into our drive. I unlocked the storm door and propped it open with my shoulder. Louise opened the side door of the van, then emerged with a large, beautiful, cellophane-wrapped planter.

“Oh my heavens, is that for me? Who would send this?” I questioned again.

“There’s a card enclosed,” she assured me. Louise handed off the heavy gift and scurried back to her van. I wish now that I’d invited her inside while I unwrapped it, to share my surprise and delight.

I untied the ribbon and pushed the cellophane down. The beautiful planter held several different potted plants, a small white orchid, petite pink roses, and other fresh flowers. It was gorgeous.

Quickly, I grabbed the envelope and pulled out the card. “Jesus stopping by to remind you He loves you!” Signed “Suzy” — my writing partner from states away, the very one I was writing with this morning! What?!?

“Suzy!” I called her immediately, touched by this grand gesture. “I just got these beautiful flowers delivered — an entire planter, in fact! Wow! You shouldn’t have! Oh my goodness!”

Suzy laughed, and I could picture the twinkle in her eyes. “I’m so glad they arrived while you were home. I didn’t think they’d come until the afternoon.”

“Well, they’re really beautiful! Let me send a picture,” and I fumbled with my camera while still on the phone.

“I know you’ve been dreading your dental surgery tomorrow, and I didn’t want you to feel alone. I told Louise I wanted some plants that would last.”

“Well, she delivered! Do you see the picture? It’s lovely — and so kind of you to care that much. Thank you!”

We hung up and got on with our writing. I fought the urge to carry the lovely planter around everywhere I went. Suzy knew all too well that the closer the day of my oral surgery crept, the higher my dread and anxiety climbed. How kind that she thought to send flowers the day before and remind me that Jesus cares!

One week after oral surgery, while still managing pain and eating soft foods, I came down with chills, a scratchy throat, and congestion. Rats — this would be really hard to handle on top of the tender hole in my gum.

Day by day, the congestion and inflammation worsened. I couldn’t breathe or sleep, my energy plummeted, and I battled this infection in my sinuses with multiple medications. I needed to cancel all my usual activities to stay home and recover. My mood was sinking fast.

That weekend, my husband attended our small group without me, but later returned with another surprise.

“Here, Renee gave a copy of this picture she painted to all of the ladies. This one’s for you!”

“Oh…my goodness, it’s lovely!” I exclaimed. “What a beautiful picture — Renee is so talented!” And perfectly timed to cheer me up, I thought between coughs, as I took in the image of Jesus carrying the lamb.

Three weeks out from the surgery and two weeks into this illness, I still felt despair creeping about, trying to find a foothold. Eyes on Christ, I admonished myself — my new mantra for digging out of gloom.

I forced myself to take my stuffy head and cough outside to see some sunshine. Surprisingly, I found a handwritten card awaiting me in the mailbox. “One day at a time…” it reminded me, sent by my friend Nancy from our writing group. How thoughtful that she took the time to do that! I brought it inside and set it on my desk.

Three times in as many weeks, Jesus used friends to remind me I was on His radar and never alone.

That’s the unexpected blessing I’ve found down here in the valley — in the hard seasons when I’m deliberately keeping my eyes on Christ, I find I’m also more open to seeing Him at work.

You see, the valley doesn’t just test our faith. It trains our eyes.

“Eyes on Christ!” and we will find Him in the valley with us.

For Worship:

Seth Schleuter’s new song seems perfect for this week—“Valley of Worship.”

*Photo by Ranier Ridao on Unsplash

**Scriptures: HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.
Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

A Quick Update:

Hi friends! You guys are always on my mind.

Some of you noticed that I have not been writing as much lately.

The last few weeks have been tough!

First, I had some oral surgery. A week into healing that, I came down with a doozy of a respiratory virus with tons of drainage (yuck), which next led to a major sinus infection. (Yeah, no fun. Prayers appreciated for healing in all this!)

So, what do you do when you’ve been taken down and out by life? I haven’t felt well enough to do much writing. (Boo.) But I have been able to do some editing on my book project, which is good.

And I’ve had the privilege to read and review a few new books coming out, which I happily recommend below.*

Also, there’s an easy question I’m asking my readers to answer…

Lastly, I’m trying to worship through it all, so there’s another song for you at the end :)

Some Book Recs:

1. The Pursuit of Holy Leisure: Enjoying God in Everyday Places by Cara Ray

Cara Ray is a writer, Bible teacher, and founder of The Writers’ Bloc community and podcast, where I first met her. I’ve really enjoyed being a part of this writing community, so when she needed readers for this new book, I was happy to volunteer.

I think Cara Ray has an excellent grasp of biblical theology. Her new book is an all-encompassing, helpful guide about learning to abide in the presence of Jesus in everything we do. I appreciated her personal examples as well as the insightful quotes she utilized from past and present saints. I believe this book will encourage others to press on towards seeking and knowing Christ more intimately.

(Plus, I just love the book cover!)

2. Longing For Home by Kate Motaung

Kate is an author and the host of Five Minute Friday, an online writing community that encourages and equips Christian writers. I got on Kate’s email list and found out she needed advance readers for her new devotional book about heaven. Of course, I was all in.

As some of you know, I’ve been reading books about heaven ever since my mom’s illness and transition to heaven. I really liked how Kate’s short stories and reflections encourage us to think about and prepare for our future with Jesus. She reminds us to keep our eyes on the prize (heaven and eternity) rather than on our earthly lives. And if you’ve ever felt homesick for heaven or a longing for something more, this book is for you!

The beautiful blue-and-gold embossed cover makes it a lovely gift.

3. Routed to Heaven by Julie Bonn Blank

I’m also excited about this— My friend Julie Bonn Blank here on Substack has released her new book, Routed to Heaven. (You can read her initial story about her trip to heaven and back here.)

I’ve had the opportunity to be an advanced reader, and let me tell you, her book really intrigued me! Here is my review for it on Amazon:

“I enjoyed reading Julie Bonn Blank’s new book about her journey to heaven, along with the twenty-two other stories included. These accounts are eye-opening, uplifting, and thought-provoking firsthand experiences from people who have visited heaven.

This book stands out in the genre of near-death experiences, trips to heaven, and miracles because it doesn’t just share incredible stories. Julie writes in the hope that readers will reflect seriously on their “Mission Manifesto” for the Lord during their time on earth. She includes sections at the end of each chapter on faith foundations, obstacles and strongholds that hold us back, and spiritual tools for growing closer to Jesus.

Lastly, I appreciate how Julie’s genuine voice shines through on each page. She’s fully committed to Jesus, and I believe she’s already planning to write more! I think you will find this first book both inspiring and engaging.”

My Easy Ask:

Can you help?

I’d love to have my readers submit any questions they might have about heaven for an upcoming video chat Julie and I are planning (provided I get well sometime soon!)

Julie’s researched many books about near-death experiences and visits to heaven, and she also met some of these writers at a Heaven conference this year. She has learned a lot from these different people’s experiences.

So what questions might you have about heaven—?

• Who might you see there?

• What it smells, sounds, or looks like?

• Wonder what the throne room might look like?

• And what about our pets and animals, will they be there?

I would love to ask her some of your questions when we chat! If you have any, leave them here in this Comment section— and thanks for your help!

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For Worship:

I really needed to get my mind off my misery this week and back onto God. I remembered how I love this song and seeing the next generation worship!

Over and Over by Elevation Rhythm

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*Note: As an Amazon affiliate, I may earn a little on qualifying purchases. I only recommend books that I’ve actually read and found valuable. If you do choose to purchase a book through one of these links, thank you for your support.

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Some Quiet Contemplation

With my husband overseas, the house grew unusually quiet. I planned to use the time to reassess my book’s structure, and I searched Scripture for themes like faithfulness and rescue to add to my chapters.

I used the You Version Bible app to search for phrases such as “he pulled me out of the miry pit.” Searching for this verse phrase led me to reading Psalm 40:1 (ESV):

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.”

Which led me to the very next verse,

“He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.”

Psalm 40 stopped me in my tracks. Suddenly, I wasn’t just organizing chapters — I was remembering the pit God once drew me out of.

Yes! I thought. This is exactly what God did for me during a mental health breakdown I experienced in my twenties! It was neither quick nor easy, but He heard my cries, reached down, and pulled me out of the mud where I stood mired and sinking.

The scripture list next led me to Psalm 103:4,

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.”

Yes, He did all this for me! I smiled. It’s totally true! And then He stood me on the Rock of Himself!

One verse led me to another, and so off I’d go to search out that one. As I continued, verses popped up and out at me. When I found the ones I sought, or which fit one of my chapters to a tee, I jotted them into my notes.

Verse after verse led me down the scriptural road of Memory Lane, one to another. Time fell away as God’s Word built me up. Reading so many faithful promises from God, observing how they so often fit into my own life script, moved me from everyday complacency to absolute awe.

I looked up with tears in my eyes, and only one thought:

What a Magnanimous God!!

One that looks out over his creation and sees little old me. One who created all things, yet still knows us intimately. One who cared enough about my steps and missteps to never leave me alone. One who redeemed my life from the pit of loneliness, breakdown, and despair.

One who loved us enough to die to keep us. One who never leaves us nor forsakes us. One who still guides and directs.

Are you longing for HIm today?

If you haven’t done this in a while, set aside time to linger in His Word. Let one Scripture lead you to another and watch how faithfully He retraces His rescue in your own life. Dig deep enough, and you will find the evidence of His steadfast love woven through every season — even the ones lost in a miry pit. You may begin reading out of discipline, but you will rise in wonder.

It is worth it! When His Word begins to speak, time falls away, and your soul is satisfied with steadfast love. What once felt ordinary becomes holy ground. Praise rises, humility deepens, and you find yourself longing—not just for answers—but for Him.

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For Worship:

Praise the Lord Forever by Pat Barrett—(l love his last verse for those who may be going through the valley…)

*Photos by 1) Sixteen Miles Out and both 2) and 3) are chris liu on Unsplash

Author Note:

Last week’s winter storm got me thinking about how we often feel “buried” under something. I wanted to write about that, and I’d like to give you a peek into my process so far.

The first thing I did was list some ways we can feel “buried.”

Next, I considered the last few months, how I felt buried in grief, winter, and seasonal blues. I needed a Deliverer to break through my storm. So I listed some aspects of Jesus, our Deliverer, as I’ve known Him.

Lastly, I wrote a personal poem (in progress) to describe how I needed Jesus’ help during my storms this past month.

Idea Lists

Buried
in work
In grief
In the past
In shame
In regrets
In the unspoken
Under expectations
In schedules
In disappointments
In hope deferred
In caretaking
In the waiting
In conflict
In betrayal
In unanswered prayers
In doubts
In silence
In life

Deliverer
Calls our name
Seeks us out
Speaks peace
Breaks through
Builds hope
Carries the weight
Clears the path
Tosses impediments 
Removes shame and guilt
Scrapes away lies
Comforts souls
Lifts hearts
Offers salvation
Confers identity
Grants favor
Emboldens hearts
Restores trust
Joyfully fills
Walks alongside
Waits patiently

Buried, But Found

Found myself buried
Under a shroud;
Relentless storms
Swirling about
Layer upon layer
Packing me in
Deep cold surrounds
And I gave in

Found myself wallowing
Instead of just following.
My thin breathing
Simply soul-freezing
Buried in grief and
Disappointments
Buried in faith prayers
Returned in quiet
Buried until
I simply quit struggling

Found myself stuck
Mired down heavy
Freezing inertia
Despair at the ready

Found myself hearing
A voice call my name;
One who knew me
Untouched by terrain
He came and knelt
Broke icy crust
Scarred hands I recognized
Rebuilding trust

Found myself found;
In that giant snow mound.
He entered in 
Scooped away snow
Allowing deep breaths
And warm blood to flow
Light warmed my face
And melted a path
At His command
I grabbed for His hand--
Forward He led me
Through cold's wrath

(Found myself remembering
His rescues before;
Breaking down barriers
Saving my core--
My soul was reminded:
“He knows the way out!
My Deliverer knows burials
And rolls stones about!”)

Found myself loosened
From the grip of the storm
For He rescues and comforts
All those frozen;
Thaws icy hearts,
And wisdom imparts
Carries us onward 
When feeling forlorn
Helps us toward
the next new morn.

Found myself thankful
Cold taught me "be still,"
Darkness instructed "listen"
Wind forced me anchor 
On Deliverer's mission...

So amidst stormy swirling
I cling to His Presence,
Leading me forward
He reveals snow can glisten.

What do you think so far?

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A Prayer:

Lord Jesus,

You see us buried beneath the storms, where breath feels thin and hope feels frayed.

Call us by name, send Your word to melt what has frozen, and roll away what seals us in.

Make a way where there is no way and lead us out in Your perfect time.

Though still winter-worn, we trust You—the Resurrection and the Life—to point out glimpses of glory after the storm.

Amen.

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For Worship:

(We always need some worship to calm the storms)

Turn It To Praise by Seph Schlueter

**Photos by 1)Yang and 2) Hans and 3) Nick Augustat on Unsplash

Author Note:

Hey there, friends! I know so many of you here in the states are hunkering down for a wintry weekend…Stay warm! And this is my reminder to be careful on the ice—I went down on our driveway this past week, and it reminded me of this fun little diddy I wrote last year. (Thankfully, I’m Ok!)

This story is from last month. If you’d like a reminder of what SIBO testing is, I wrote about it last year HERE.

I went into my SIBO test grieving, but came out with some unexpected results. . .

The Test I Always Dread

I’d been dreading it—the next SIBO test, always waiting in the background. For six years, these numbers had directed treatment and held my emotions hostage. They often came back higher than expected, leaving me feeling at the mercy of a disorder I couldn’t control.

This time, as I drove to the testing facility, grief rode shotgun.

The Prayer That Was Missing

In the past, I hadn’t faced this drive alone. My friend Linda always shared the drive time with me. She made a point to call me on the way, knowing how hard it was to face testing again. She’d always pray over my anxiety and for different, better results.

Peace would descend after these car prayers, the “casting up” and “giving over” of all our concerns. I know I am blessed with many friends who are prayer warriors, but I loved how Linda supported me, especially during these drives.

Except now, Linda was gone. She’d fought her last battle with cancer and arrived HOME just a few weeks earlier.

On this December day, I faced my drive alone, without her presence and prayers. How could I stand it? Grief stabbed at my chest, and tears blurred my vision. (Not recommended while driving, of course!)

Arriving on autopilot, I dried my eyes and forced myself into the office. Immediately, a friendly and very pregnant lab tech called me back.

“Have you been through these before?” This was always the first question.

“Many times,” I assured her. Her shoulders relaxed as she realized no long spiel was needed about how the testing would go.

She pulled the lid off a plastic container, handing me the thick orange syrup to drink. This would “feed” the bacteria, allowing their levels to be tested through my breath.

“OK, just blow into this bag for our baseline,” and I did as instructed. In terms of medical tests, breath testing was easy. All it required was for me to set aside an entire morning. I liked to think of it as “found” time, where I was forced to sit down and read or write.

That morning, to busy myself, I’d brought along some devotions, and then opened my computer to write a new story. Every twenty minutes, the tech showed up with the bag and mouthpiece for me to inflate.

For the first hour of her morning, I appeared to be the only one there. At one point, she must’ve been bored, because she pulled up a chair and sat down across from me.

“How long have you been dealing with this?” she asked.

“Six years, I think? I’m considered ‘chronic’. My SIBO numbers are usually pretty high. Even when we get them lower, they always seem to shoot right back up…”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” She seemed genuinely interested in me as a patient, which I noticed and appreciated. Usually, the techs were anxious to get on with their job and finish their day.

“I’m Not Seeing Much…”

Midway through my testing time, she began to share her thoughts.

“I’m not seeing much on your results,” she mentioned casually as she came to collect my next reading.

Stopping mid-thought, I glanced up.

“Really?” That had to be a mistake. Noone had ever said that to me during a SIBO test. Plus, they weren’t supposed to reveal any results until a doctor reviewed them.

“Yeah, we’ll see what happens during this last hour,” and she carried my test tube over to her machine.

Near the end of that hour, she came back with the bag and spoke to me again.

“I didn’t see any real rise in numbers until now, and it’s not terrible. I think you’ll be pleased with the results.”

I had a really hard time believing her—first of all, that she was even sharing it, and second, that my results might be lower than expected.

A negative result wouldn’t mean the SIBO issue was eliminated, but. . . was it really better, and if so, how much? Was the test accurate, or off?

I knew firsthand how volatile the SIBO results journey could be. I’d never had a SIBO test that hadn’t come back positive. A negative result would be momentous.

I gathered my things and left, anxious to view actual test numbers. Unfortunately, none would be available until after the weekend.

When the Numbers Don’t Make Sense

On the way home, I tried to make sense out of what clearly didn’t.

There was no good reason for my SIBO results to be better. If ever there was a time period when they should’ve gotten worse, it would have been this past fall. Helping with our writing retreat, then losing our writing friend Lisa, followed by my first overseas trip, and upon return, the sudden loss of Linda. Yes, it had been a difficult period.

All of which created a snowball of stress and grief, more so than any of the previous years combined. So, why would my test results improve instead of deteriorate? It didn’t add up.

Then a thought came to mind I couldn’t dismiss. Linda had prayed for me and these test results so often. She truly cared about me and my journey and understood long-term health issues. Could it be that she was still interceding for us with Jesus, only now face-to-face?

Knowing Linda and her tendency to advocate, I wouldn’t put it past her! Ripping a tissue from the box, I again wiped away tears. Maybe Linda was still up there praying for me? Could that be?

Comfort and peace flooded in while I awaited the actual results

But God

On Monday, when I saw the email arrive, I opened my electronic chart immediately. There, in black and white, read the results I’d waited years to see:

“Negative. The rise in bacterial levels is not indicative of a positive test.”

Wow. That’s amazing, I thought. There’s absolutely no earthly reason for a negative result, but here it is in writing. Could the test be wrong?

But no, I wasn’t experiencing any real symptoms. . . It still didn’t make sense.

This is God’s work, is all I could think.

“But God.”

And maybe—just maybe?—I like to think that Jesus enjoyed a little prompting from a dear advocate and friend.

Because prayer can move beyond a lifespan, and some answers arrive wrapped in both mystery and mercy.

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For Worship:

Grab your dancing feet! “Washed” by Elevation Rhythm :)

*Photo Credits 1) Bruce Hong and 2) National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

**The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2025 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Author Note:

Have you ever tried writing or journaling your thoughts/prayers/poems to God? Many of my friends and I find it helpful and healing.

This little lament came from a morning in which the darkness from recent losses and the winter blizzard threatened to suck me in. I forced myself to write because I know how it helps.

After “emptying my trash” into a journal page and then a poem, I came to write this second one, which I will share.

Turn My Face, O Lord

Turn my face,
O Lord
Toward HOME;
Where no darkness
overtakes
Where glory
So shines
That darkness
Won’t survive
And lie
That I’m unseen

Turn my face,
O Lord
Toward your Light;
Soak me
In Your warmth
Of Presence--
Not loosed,
Wandering aimless
To shiver
In the dark.

Turn my face
O Lord,
To view--
the Incomparable
Beauty of You!
Hold my face,
Keep me there
By your gaze
Eyes ablaze
Tether me
Hold me close
Lift me please
Out of despair

Once more
Into your care

And turn my face
Towards you.

“Even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day.”

— Psalm 139:12, NLT

May the Lord bless you, keep you, and turn your face toward His light when the darkness presses

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For Worship:

Stay by Zahriya Zachary—(the video isn’t my favorite, but I love this song and the words, especially “tethered” since I used it in my poem)

Credits/References:

*Photos by: 1) Alexander Grey and 2) Jon Tyson on Unsplash

*The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

*NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

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Intro:

In mid-November, my husband and I traveled to Barcelona, and our two adult children met us. What an amazing place to experience for my first trip overseas!

Travel has a way of stretching you—your legs, your patience, your sleep schedule, and sometimes your theology. This trip came with beauty, exhaustion, laughter, some culture shock, and more lessons than I expected.

Here’s a list of things I learned along the way—hopefully it will bring you a few smiles! I’m grateful for the journey, and for the grace that carries us wherever we go.

26 Things I Learned While Traveling Abroad

1. Say yes to exploring a new country. You may never get this chance again. Also, future-you will regret it loudly if you don’t.

2. Avoid Newark Airport at all costs. This is not advice. This is wisdom.

3. Avoid airline bathrooms on long-haul flights.

   Avoid. Avoid. Avoid.

   (This plan will fail. Prepare yourself.)

4. Overnight red-eye flights are HARD.

   Period. Enough said.

5. I will never stop looking or acting like an American tourist.

   They spot you from a mile away. I can use all the Spanish I want—I still sound American.

   (Also: yes, they always include the tourist tax. Yes, I pay it.)

6. City living is not for me.

   I like space, greenery, and fewer graffiti-covered doorways and souvenirs of questionable taste.

7. Standing packed like sardines in the subway is not my idea of “divertido”.

   Educational? Yes.

   Comfortable? Absolutely not.

8. That said, the metro/tram/train/cable car systems are AMAZING.

   You can get anywhere quickly.

   Special shout-out to my kids for teaching us how to not get lost forever.

9. Metro doors have a “go” button.

   And yes, it matters WHICH DIRECTION your train is going. Ask me how I know.

10. Tapas are brilliant.

    Small plates = less commitment + more food sampling = travel win.

11. People-watching here is elite-level entertainment.

    So. Many. Languages. Cultures. Fashion choices.

12. I appreciate daily bathing more than ever.

    I will say no more.

13. Friendliness is contagious.

    Sadly, so is grumpiness.

    Choose wisely. You’re spreading something.

14. Homelessness exists everywhere.

    This one hurts my heart.

15. Be prepared when someone asks for food or money.

    Carry snacks. Carry coins. Pray for wisdom.

    (Or be prepared to get cursed out. It happens.)

16. The art and architecture are jaw-dropping.

    Centuries of beauty. Color overload.

    Overwhelming—in the very best way.

17. Sightseeing = miles of walking.

    Wear the GOOD shoes, well broken in. Not the new, “cute” ones.

    You’ll be walking 15–20K steps a day.

18. At my age, a midweek retreat day is allowed.

    Hotel terraces are holy ground.

    The young adults can go climb things. :)

19. Your phone battery will betray you.

    Bring backup batteries.

    Bless my son, patron saint of extra cables and portable chargers.

20. Spanish is not Catalan.

    But hand gestures are universal.

    And smiling helps.

21. Breakfast at a 5-star international hotel is a cultural education.

    I overheard conversations involving Persia, Greece, Egypt, India, executions (!), Afghanistan, the shah, the British Empire, and ayatollahs…

    All before my second cup of coffee.

22. Planning tourist activities requires serious effort.

    Kudos to my daughter, a veteran overseas navigator.

    (Now I understand prepaid tours.)

23. Seafood markets will stretch you.

    So. Many. Things. Staring at me. From. The. Sea.

    Seafood lovers: enter boldly!

    Seafood haters: maybe linger outside. . .

24. Paella cooking classes = a must!

    Fresh sangria, GF bites, hands-on fun.

    Be brave. Make the chicken paella.

    (Yes, you’ll be mocked. Yes, it will still be delicious.)

25. My husband worked HARD most of the week while we explored Barcelona.

    Classes. Presentations. Responsibility.

    What a guy. We missed you, honey.

26. And finally—there’s no place like HOME.

    Especially with your own bed, your own bathroom, and zero jet lag. 😊

For those of you wondering, yes, I have a bit more of the “traveling bug” now. ;)

So. Many. Pictures. (So hard to choose!)

From takeoff to touchdown, I’m thankful for the God who watches over our coming and going—faithful in every place we land.

For Worship:

Joyful Joyful by Casting Crowns— enjoy this upbeat re-make of a classic hymn :)

*Cover photo by Edison Trinidad on Unsplash; Barcelona photos from my trip pics.

*HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.
Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

A New Year Descends!

Hello, dear reader friends!

As I continue to rest my “trigger thumb”, this message will be short and sweet :).

The New Year is weighing down on us, and if you’re anything like me, your inbox is full of suggestions for how you can make this your BEST YEAR EVER:

New and better attempts to set goals for exercise, sleep, health, diet, productivity, work, cleaning, writing, creating, producing, cooking, and anything and everything you can do!

But, after 60 years around the sun, I’ve realized those goals don’t often materialize much past January, and can be unrealistic and become obsolete. (Then we feel bad, and try again at the beginning of the next new year, only for that cycle to repeat.)

The One Thing Needed

In a Martha culture, may I suggest that only one thing is needed for your 2026:

Remember Mary’s choice? Mary was sitting at the Lord’s feet and listening to his teaching. And Jesus Himself commended her for this.

As a Martha-type myself, the one ‘feeling responsible’ for how everything is going to get done and accomplished, this can be hard to take.

But Jesus reminds us, in our stress and distress, that there is only one thing REALLY needed, no matter how busy our day or year becomes. . . to set aside time to be with Him.

That’s it! Easy-peasy, right? ;)

Easy, or Not?

Well, easy in theory. As a “Martha,” I have to continually remind myself that the time I spend with the Lord—soaking in His love, presence, and teaching—IS the most important thing! (And not my TO DO list).

So that’s why my WOTY (word of the year) is COMMUNE. Commune with the Lord. First and foremost, as much as possible, in the dailies of life. Because for us “Martha types”, it’s NOT easy, and we DO need to be reminded to make and take the time to sit at Jesus’ feet.

Schedule it in, get up earlier, stay up later, do whatever it takes to prioritize your time with HIm, because that is how we will reap the rewards of His wisdom and strength.

Nothing else is needed, because when we get that piece with Jesus right, everything else tends to fall into place.

And I figured today, this last and then first day of the year, would be a great day for Jesus to remind us all of this:

Our One Thing Needed

So, that’s it! A gentle reminder that The One Thing Needed for your best year, regardless of the challenges or blessings that may come—

And if you have Him, you will have everything else you need.

May God bless your coming year!

A special Worship Song for your new year:

All Glory Be to Christ by Kings Kaleidoscope (to the Scottish tune of Auld Lang Syne)

*Photos by 1) Woot Danacker and 2) Pablo Arroyo and 3) Ben White on Unsplash

**The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Advent Devotion:

“Though He was in the form of God,

He did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but emptied Himself,

taking the form of a servant,

being born in human likeness.”

— Philippians 2:6–7 (CSB)

A Short Advent Devotion:

Advent invites us to slow down and look again—not just at the manger, but at the mystery it holds. The tiny infant wrapped in cloth is the same God who spoke thunder into the sky and carved mountains with His breath. Yet somehow, His majesty is not diminished by His smallness. It is revealed through it.

So often, familiarity dulls our wonder. We sing the songs, set up the nativity, and move on. But Advent calls us to awaken—to push past complacency and see clearly again. To let the humility of Jesus unsettle us, soften us, and restore a holy hush within our souls.

In the beauty of the newborn King, we remember this: the God of all power chose gentleness. The Creator entered creation. And in doing so, He still awakens hearts, makes us newly born, and invites us to worship—not with noise, but with wonder.

Advent Prayer:

Lord, awaken my soul—

Don’t let the familiarity of Christmas dull my awe!

Help me see Your majesty in the manger,

and receive the quiet miracle of Your presence with us anew.

Amen.

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For Christmas Eve Worship!!

One of my faves—”All is Well” (Carrie Underwood & Michael W. Smith)

And because I know a lot of family and friends grieving the loss (or multiple) of someone important this year, I’m including this beautiful song:

“Wonderful” (CAIN with Stephen Curtis Chapman)

Share Soul Singings

*Photo credits: 1) by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

*The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Author Note:

Blessings to you during this busy Christmas season!

In this last weekend of preparations before the celebrations, I’m finding myself in an enforced season of rest due to a painful “trigger thumb". (Which isn’t easy for a writer, or when you’re hosting family).

I’m hearing the Lord’s gentle whispers in my soul to remind me (us) of the importance of coming to Him for our renewal and strength. . .

Whether we find ourselves navigating a time of peace and love, or grief and strife, Jesus invites us to simply “Come.” And rest.

The Invitation

Come—

Just come.

Come willing.

Be still.

Please come.

Lay that down.

Don’t put it off!

And come—

for nourishment,

Come for care,

Come to be seen

Or mend that tear.

My arms are open

My love, an ocean

Your tears are mine

Your healing in motion.

Don’t wait!

Just come—

My presence,

Your balm. . .

It’s overdue!

My time with you,

And I’m here!

So, just come.

—Jesus ;)

For Worship:

“O Come, All You Unfaithful” by Sovereign Grace Music

Warning! Do not watch this beautiful video without tissues, and if you do, make sure you watch until the end :)

*Photo credits: 1) Fa Barboza on Unsplash, 2) my own and 3) taken at a church in Goshen IN during our Psalms retreat April 2024.

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.

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This post is dedicated to Lisa “the Lionhearted”, and Linda our “Mama Bear”—you are both missed and loved.

The Call No One Wants to Make

Four weeks ago, I returned home from an overseas family vacation to the sudden news that I needed to call and say goodbye to one of my best writing friends.

Linda (aka our “Mama Bear”) helped author Leslie Leyland Fields lead our online writing group (the Memoir Masterclass) while she battled a second round of cancer. She’d chosen about fifteen of us from the online writing site to become “Story Leaders (SL)”, to pray and help moderate comments on our site.

Linda was a mentor, teacher, counselor, and fabulous friend to just about everyone with whom she came across. I enjoyed my role as her “Nurse Ratched” and made several trips each year to visit and help her at her home. Last spring, when her cancer journey became more difficult, Linda began mentoring me towards “shepherding” our SL group.

Illness Interrupts

Before our yearly October retreat (chosen near Linda so she could be included), Linda suffered a devastating fall. She needed surgery the same week we arrived. We were heartbroken, but amazed that she continued to visit, talk, pray, and sing with us!

During this same retreat, we learned with great sadness that Lisa, another member of our SL group battling cancer, had chosen to enter hospice. Lisa’s nickname was “Lisa the Lion” because of her big heart. She advocated tirelessly, even while battling the “big C”. Lisa helped organize her community’s annual day of prayer, and even this past year held a prayer and Bible study in her home.

Lisa reached out to me immediately after she heard that Linda was naming me as a “replacement shepherd” for our group. Perhaps she worried I might be too quiet to lead? (spoiler alert: introverts usually have more skillsets than you think :)… ) But she kindly offered her assistance, which I genuinely appreciated.

Lisa stepped into heaven the first week of November, after we were back home from the retreat.

Mentoring Moments

Meanwhile, after Lisa’s homegoing, Linda continued her “Mama Bear” role from her bedside.

“The Story Leaders are hurting right now,” she acknowledged in one of our private conversations. She instructed me to wait on sharing anything more about her OWN situation that week.

Linda and I continued communicating during the week my family went to Spain. I would text or send pictures and emojis, and she would send back voice messages from her bed in rehab.

Two days before I flew home, Linda left me this voice message in a strong voice: “Jen, I am doing well. And I can’t wait for you to get home, to tell me all about your trip…”

Life’s Sudden Turns

Immediately after we landed back in the states, I was shocked to find urgent messages from Leslie and other moderator friends: “Linda doesn’t have much time left,” and “Jen, you need to call to tell Linda goodbye.”

I doubled over in the airport, reeling with the shock. What had happened in the 48 hours since Linda’s last message?!? I struggled to wrap my mind around this sudden turn of events. Battling grief, jet lag and an oncoming virus, sleep proved difficult that night.

A Final Goodbye

Against every fiber of my being, I forced myself to make that final goodbye call the following afternoon. I found myself unable to speak, words lost in the swirling storm of grief and emotion.

“Liinndaaa?” I spoke through tears.

“Are you OK?” she asked me in only a slightly weaker voice.

“NOOOO!” I sobbed.

During those ten minutes, Linda ended up comforting ME.

“I’m sorry, Jen,” she told me. “I just can’t continue on like this. I’m ready to go be with Jesus. The hardest part for me is the pain that this causes you and others.”

And then her last words?

“Just remember that I love you. And that Jesus loves you, too. Goodbye.”

Silence. Did I really have to say this? Microseconds went by while I fought with myself. Trying to be brave, I choked it out. “Goodbye.” What I was really thinking (screaming) inside, was “No! You can’t go! I’m not ready for this!!”

Click. That was it. She was ready to go HOME, and I was nowhere near ready for her to leave.

Neither of us had a choice in the matter. Three long days later, she danced and sang her way into heaven, now joyful and whole.

But I’m still a bit broken by it all.

Running Their Races Well

In my grief, I’ve been able to reflect on the lives of these two courageous friends.

• Both Lisa and Linda knew Jesus as Lord and Savior, and spent their lives working as his emissaries.

• Both suffered from cancer for years. If there’s a blessing in that, it is having preparation time before death, which both Linda and Lisa utilized.

• Both made a point to continue to live life, to travel when possible, to write out their stories, to plan their services, and to say goodbye to loved ones.

• Both finished running their races valiantly, just a couple of weeks apart.

What They Taught Us

My group and I are forever changed by both of these strong women and their influence on our lives.

From Lisa, we learned about advocacy, speaking and speaking up, about perseverance during trials, and utilizing your support networks.

From Linda, we learned how to love and serve others well, give generously, and invest in the lives of those around us.

And I got a front row seat on leading. In our SL’s group, Linda recognized, drew out, and utilized all of our different strengths to help us function as a cohesive whole. She didn’t hesitate to confront problems and balanced honesty with humility as needed.

Lastly, Linda prayed. Oh, how she prayed—with each and every one of us, alone or together, every time we talked. She lifted us up through prayer and mentoring to become better versions of ourselves. Her faith and encouragement strengthened my own journey in the midst of chronic illness, and taught me about releasing control to God.

Learning to Let Go

Everywhere I look, I spy physical reminders of Linda’s generosity: my “all means all” bracelet, a Willow Creek figurine, solar lanterns out front, the book All Cats Go To Heaven from when Jazzy died. Not to mention the FB memories that pop up, a published story about one of her gifts, email stories we shared, prayers while driving to medical tests—so many tangible and intangible reminders of my loss.

This week, a booklet of Linda’s stories (a momento from her memorial) arrived in my mailbox. Even though I’d read most of these stories at one time, I sat down and devoured them all again. And cried.

Because I realized anew, from her own writings during her cancer journey, how very much she had suffered and lost.

Who was I (and how selfish was this desire) to keep her here in all of that pain and loss? No matter how suddenly things turned around at the end, it was more than time.

Time to let her go.

And once she knew that herself, she didn’t hesitate.

She set her face toward heaven and didn’t look back.

Running OUR Races Well

Coming to these realizations hasn’t made letting go or grieving any easier—on the contrary, I’m still wrestling with mixed emotions, as evidenced by all my attempts to process this through my writings this month.

But the lessons learned through the suffering and loss of our loved ones are absolutely priceless. Even though the road is painful right now, knowing and sharing love and fellowship with these two remarkable women was absolutely worth the grief.

I can only hope (and pray) to run (and finish!) my race as “inspiringly well” as these beautiful friends have demonstrated.

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.^[e] You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

Matt. 25:21, NIV

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Are you grieving as well this holiday season? If so, let me know so I can pray for you!

If not, how can you help those grieving and carry the love of Jesus to them during this season?

Leave a comment

For Worship: Somewhere In Your Silent Night by Casting Crowns

(grab your tissues)

*Photo credits: 1). Greg Rosenki, 2). Senning Luk, and 3). Dominik Bednarz on Unsplash

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. http://www.zondervan.com

Author Note:

Unexpectedly, my close-knit writing group lost 3 important souls over the past month, leading to a loss of my words. (This is in addition to several other loved ones and our cat this year.) So much grief, and I’m feeling kinda shell-shocked.

Not to mention the timing! The holidays descend on us and collide with all of this grief. It seems the tidal wave of “ThanksChristgivingmas” (as one author put it), is plunging me underwater, again.

How to cope?

I searched out this post that I’d written last December while in anticipatory grief over the first friend (before I knew just how much loss was ahead). It’s a grace of God that we don’t know the future in advance!

I found what I wrote helpful again, so I’ve updated it to share for any of you dealing with loss and grief as well. (Also, don’t miss the lovely song at the end!)

Joy and Grief Coexist

When God calls people we love “home,” as believers, we try to accept it gracefully. Oh, but the sorrow weighs heavy like a mantle, alternating with periods of numbness. How do we balance celebrations during the holidays with grief erupting for those we love?

Herein lies the problem we face living on the earth. Joy and grief exist co-mingled. We can’t fully experience one without the other. Crippling grief means we have loved well and experienced joy. It is natural to grieve the loss of a close love relationship.

But sorrow during the holidays feels especially gut-wrenching. Our souls struggle to balance it all. Ornamental keepsakes trigger memories from years past. Peaceful songs of the season trigger memories from previous years. And the joy of friends and family with us exists alongside sorrow for those missing.

Yes, there’s a “lingering intermingling” of joy and sorrow during these “holy-days.

“When Sorrows Like Sea-Billows Roll”

Some years, the losses compound until the grief feels staggering. We reel, we sink, we numb out, we fall into old habits of coping when what we need to do is to reach upward and grab onto Jesus’ hand amidst the storm.

It helps to remember this is why Jesus came and why we celebrate his birth into our world—to give us a future and eternal hope (Jer. 29:11, NIV).

So, this is where we Christians hang our emotions, earthly ornaments clinging to the heavenly Tree of Life. Jesus takes both our joy and sorrow and uses them to advance his kingdom and prepare us for our future.

Grief can bring its own kind of “holy” into our days. Special memories with loved ones prove bittersweet but serve to remind us of what’s important. And the wooden manger of Christmas points us to the wooden cross that Jesus bore for our sins and salvation. He’s provided a way into a future with him and our loved ones (as long as we’ve accepted His gift of grace).

The Struggle

But I won’t tell you that juggling joy and grief during the holidays is easy. No, far from it! We exercise faith muscles as we push through, exercise fruits of the Spirit in long-suffering and perseverance. And we yearn for our true home, an eternity with “no more crying or pain.” (Rev. 19: NIV).

As we grieve, it’s important to remember to care for ourselves well, setting extra boundaries as needed. Sometimes, it’s all too much-- we need to close that “grief box” and place it back onto the shelf, cancel our plans, get out, or take time to rest. We must permit ourselves to feel all our feelings, including sadness, grief, and even joy when it comes, all without guilt.

The bottom line? None of us are spared. Sorrow mixes with joy throughout the holidays. The closer we are to the grief, the harder it will be.

Thankfully, we have a Savior fully acquainted with grief, and He promises never to leave or forsake us.

My prayer for you and I during this season:

Lord Jesus,

May your Holy Spirit comfort us as we move through these busy, difficult days of both celebration and grief. As we journey forward with you, enable us to extend a hand of help or hope to those in need and grieving around us.

Amen

For Worship:

Comfort, Oh Comfort by Caroline Cobb (thank you, Lindsey!)

(This song and video are SO beautiful and soothing. Watch till the end for Scriptures of encouragement as well.)

*Photos by 1) Annie Spratt and 2) Wolfgang Hasselmann on Unsplash

Scriptures taken from:

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.