Do you have those lightbulb moments when you just have to share your "Ah Ha!" with someone else?     On the weekends my husband works at our local men's transitional shelter.  There is a volunteer who regularly pours herself into the ministry by cooking delicious meals for the men there and getting others from her church to do the same. It's a gift of love that the men greatly appreciate. Especially on Friday nights.  Previously a nutritionist was preparing their food, but on Friday nights, they usually just had a salad and frozen pizza. The men are always grateful for any … [Read more...]

  We wield incredible power with our words. Do we speak life or death into the lives we touch?     Have you ever been in someone's home and watched as a parent or sibling spoke a few choice words and you observed a physical change in the individual to whom those words were spoken? I intentionally used the term, "a few choice words." When you read that statement you most likely thought I was referring to unkind, demeaning, or hurtful words.  But, actually, "choice words" simply means words of one's own choosing.  And really don't we all choose our words when we speak? Some of my … [Read more...]

    As I opened the door to the lobby, he was standing there wearing a fluorescent green t-shirt and long navy sports shorts with stripes down each side matching his equally bright orange sneakers. At a month more than seven years old, Thomas lives life large.  He's full of curiosity and asks question after question. Counts everyone in our neighborhood a friend and already, at his young age, is a skilled negotiator.  At least once and some days, maybe four or fourteen times he will stop by our door to see if we will play, or fix something, or answer a question.  Did I say he's persistent? … [Read more...]