What story captivated your imagination as a child, and why?
During the workshop I presented for Story Circle Network last Wednesday night, titled “Finding Your Real Story,” the final question was: Why this story? I shared a little about my own not-so-straight path, the turning points that redirect...
Reselfing, a gift of menopause in the second half of life
My article about reselfing appeared on the Sage Forum Substack on Friday, October 31st. The author with her mother and children in 2003 I called my mother one evening after work to ask whether she’d found an outfit for her 80th birthday celebration. As soon as...
Recognize: to confess, acknowledge, evaluate and know again
During the Women’s Ministry craft event at church on Saturday afternoon, I could easily recognize my strengths—and lack thereof. I’d baked an apple cider-doughnut Bundt cake and an apple fritter cake, a first-time recipe made with gluten-free flour, the latter to...
Capacity: the maximum that can be produced
As a recovering perfectionist and workaholic, I often have to be reminded that our capacity comes not from us but from God. Here is a reminder from a friend, and an update since last year’s post about Isaiah 117. Marta’s capacity Summer of 2024, as Marta spoke to...
Real: what the Velveteen Rabbit, idols, and God’s love tell us
The Velveteen Rabbit is a stuffed animal that wants to be real and, in some ways, already is through his human owner’s love. But when the boy contracts scarlet fever, the doctor orders the room disinfected and toys burned. Abandoned in a sack left outside in the...
Let me explain about love, marriage, and that word
Let me explain what happened at the Open Mic last Thursday evening as I read an excerpt of the essay that inspired my Friday Happy Hours on Substack. The essay is about marital growth, which can be stormy. Indeed, the scene I’d read last month was an all-out battle...