A letter came yesterday from my bank informing me that I had written more checks, and made more debit transactions than I had money to cover. In a panic, I sat down at the kitchen table with a notebook, pencil, highlighter, and my checkbook, and painstakingly went over every single entry for the past year or more. It turns out, I have not recorded 99% of my transactions for a long, long time. I forgot to record almost every single one of my paychecks, and missed recording most of my debits and record the checks I'd written, so it finally caught up with me this month, and I am THOUSANDS of dollars in trouble, including FEES for bouncing checks. None of my utility bills were paid, so I will have my water, gas, internet, and electric shut off. They also want to repossess my car, and ... View Post
You’re Going To Die
Yeah, I figured that subject line would get some attention. But it's true! We're all going to die! Returning home from Book Club tonight, I texted my friend and said I felt "all fired up." The book? Costi Hinn's "God, Greed, & the Prosperity Gospel." You guys, it's sooooo good! You should read it! As always, there was lively discussion (and sweet fellowship), and someone brought up the fact that in the Prosperity Gospel, there is no room for, no discussion of, no acceptance of ... death. If you die, well then, your faith wasn't strong enough, your prayers weren't long enough, you didn't really believe what you were claiming (in Jesus' name).... and the list goes on. This is a FALSE GOSPEL. But death is real, and all of us will face it. And while it was good, ... View Post
“Just” a Nurse
"What pours out of people when they get bumped, was always there." That's what my Pastor says. And while it's often easier to see examples of that in others, it's true of ourselves too. How many times have I said something in anger, only to regret it less than five minutes later. It shouldn't be so - but it is. It's true of all of us. "Are you a doctor? NO! You're JUST a nurse!" That's what was hollered at me yesterday. And yes, it rubbed me the wrong way. Anyone who has ever worked with me knows how I correct Moms and Wives when they say, "I'm just a housewife," or "I'm just a Mom." Those are some pretty doggone important credentials. When I see my grandkids running off the basketball court to fall ONLY into the arms of Mom who they instinctively know will speak words of ... View Post
Running with Scissors
Lyla and I were at the dining room table yesterday working on some craft projects with felt and a sewing needle when Maci, only two years old, climbed up onto the chair and saw a picture of a pair of scissors on the directions. "Scissors!" she said, and promptly got back down from the chair, went into the kitchen drawer, and returned with a pair of scissors in her little hands. "No, no, honey! Those will give you a big OW!!!" I took them from her, and she then proceeded to absolutely sob an absolutely heart-breaking, hard-to-catch-her-breath sob. She was not happy with Gummy! She wanted those scissors, and I was the person who took them from her. We did include her in the craft project, but we protected her from picking up the scissors again, and it didn't take long before she was ... View Post
Pursuing Humility With Everything We’ve Got
Several weeks ago while preaching through the Book of Luke, Pastor Bob was near the end of his sermon when he closed his Bible and took a few steps down from the pulpit. Whenever he does this, I feel as if I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for some big pearl of wisdom to get dropped into my lap. And as he steps down, it reminds me that he is one of us. He looks right at us, calls us "beloved," and then drops that pearl of wisdom into our hearts. This particular one from that sermon has simmered in my heart ever since; perhaps it has for you as well. He said, "Beloved - Pursue humility with everything you've got." Not only have I not stopped thinking about that statement, but I have sifted many of my thoughts, words, and even my calendar through those 7-1/2 words as well. I'm not ... View Post
Nan’s Fellowship Cake
Borrowed, tried, & tweaked - you've got to add this deliciousness to your family recipe collection! Cake Ingredients: 2 cups of flour (gluten-free if needed) 2 eggs 1 can of crushed pineapple with juice, 20 ounces 2 cups of sugar 2 teaspoons of baking soda 1 cup of crushed walnuts I have tried this recipe with crushed walnuts, and it was a big hit. I have also left out the walnuts, and have replaced them with one cup of grated coconut. I have also used a cup of crushed walnuts and 1/2 cup of grated coconut. I'm not sure which one is best, but I tweaked it depending on whether or not people were gluten free, and whether or not they were allergic to nuts. They were ALL delicious! Frosting Ingredients: 8 ounces cream cheese softened 2 cups of ... View Post
The Treasure Of Intergenerational Friendship
Recently I was helping out in the cafe at church before Adult Bible Fellowship classes and Sunday morning services. Just like back in my waitressing days, it was quite predictable what crowd of people would show up at what time. We needed to know how to make specialty coffees nice and early for the first morning wave of folks - the teenagers. I never did quite master that skill. They show up early with their friends, get their specialty coffees, most of them a full day's worth of calories, and go hang out for a little while at the small tables that are scattered throughout the gathering space and line the hallways at church. It's very obvious that they love spending time together, and invest that extra half hour or so to catch up with one another prior to going to their ABF ... View Post
Counting Kadiddlehoppers
We're three days into the month of November. The leaves have almost completely left the trees they belonged to for the past three seasons, the temperatures are slowly dropping, and Christmas stuff is on sale in the stores. And, as much as I hate to admit this - I'm one of those people who is 90% ready for Christmas, including the gift wrapping by September. I get excited. It's never too soon to start playing Christmas music. I'm already trying to find a friend to go to Frankenmuth and walk the snowy streets, watching the horse drawn sleighs go by, with those magnificent sleigh bells ringing beautifully with each of the horses' steps. It's a wonderful time of year and change of seasons. But I'm also no stranger to the sadness these holidays can bring for so many people - ... View Post