Mrs. Audrey Nash was my first grade teacher. A stoutly woman with short hair and a kind smile, she created a classroom environment that inspired little minds to learn and grow.

I have loved high, rocky places for as long as I can remember. Give me a mountain, a canyon, a craggy butte or even a large boulder to sit on and I am in my happy place!

I don’t buy Mother’s Day cards anymore. It’s been over a decade since I made the Sunday trek to my mom’s house, with a nicely-wrapped gift and hand-written card in tow—all the while my heart aching for the

I love new beginnings! And welcoming in a new year is the perfect setting. We’ve said goodbye to the year behind and gaze at the twelve months rolled out ahead of us like a red carpet. What will they hold?

I live in a fairly rural area where getting to the nearest store is almost a 30-minute drive. So whenever I'm in town running errands I make it a point to pick up a few necessary groceries. Today was one of those days.

Life is full of surprises. God delights in giving good gifts to His children—generously, abundantly and sometimes quite unexpectedly.

Three years into my sixth decade, I’ve logged some miles in my time. I have tell-tale signs on my body to prove it: childhood scars on my chin

Having another pandemic year under our belts, I thought it necessary to modify last year's “How the Virus Stole Christmas” to remind us all that what we cherish in our hearts

…Through all the colors and changes of our lives, with the help of God.”

Those were the closing words of the vows my husband and I made to one another forty years ago. We stood, nervously holding hands, dressed in white, at the front of a church, surrounded by family and friends.

By 8 am the other morning, my kitchen looked like a crime scene—stuff shattered and splattered everywhere! There was, of course, no intruder—no forced entry—nothing stolen. But things were broken

Life is messy, isn't it? Things on this side of heaven don't end up as neat and tidy as someone like me, with a type A personality and a slight bent toward OCD, would like them. Schedules and agendas need to be

My husband Bill is a pilot. He doesn’t fly for a living but got his license years ago for the pure pleasure of being able to soar through the air and see the world from a completely different vantage point. Because of that,

We live in a time that applauds busyness, expects perfection and gives platforms to those who make the loudest noise.

Roses are red, violets are blue. Hey, married couples…this one’s for you!

I woke up tired this year—emotionally weary to my bones. December had ushered in a festive reprieve from the overshadowing challenges of the pandemic, but January seemed to

Imagine for a moment someone cupping your face in their hands, looking deep into your eyes, and telling you with genuine conviction how much they love you.

Everyone

On the planet

Liked Christmas a lot…

But the coronavirus of 2020

Did NOT!

Until last spring, my dining room table was a slender oak relic I found at a garage sale for fifty dollars. We had refinished it along with its extra leaf and replaced the sliding mechanism underneath.

I am a list-maker. I have lists for most everything in life—a list of addresses, a list of birthdays and anniversaries, a list of shows to watch on Netflix.

Minnesotans just received the kind of snowfall we long for—at Christmas! But here we are, in the middle of October, already being pummeled with temperatures and precipitation that have all the markings of winter!

How you answer the following question will reveal a good deal about your general perspective on life:

It was many years ago in September. Bill and I had just finished building a home in central Minnesota and were about three-and-a-half months from the birth of our first daughter. It was a time for dreaming,

Anyone who has ever owned a dog knows the distracting power of a squirrel. One inkling of a squirrel’s presence in the vicinity, and a dog will snap to attention. A single whiff of a squirrel during a casual stroll

People that fly fish wade into swift-moving waters with intention. They secure their feet on firm rocks and fix their gaze on areas of the river that likely hold their sought-after prize. They brace themselves against the power of the current with a solid stance, and

A few years back I was outside landscaping on a hill with some of the rocks on our property. I was enjoying the solitude of working in the cool afternoon air and building

Of all the beauty God created in nature, there are few elements on this planet that move me like rocks. I’m not talking about the pebble variety, though these little rocks can be beautiful or completely exasperating if wedged in your shoe.

I am not a coffee lover. I never acquired a taste for the bitter brew—despite the fact that my husband’s blood contains more caffeine than red cells. But with the emergence of the coffee shop culture a number of years back,

My husband and I enjoy taking long road trips together—in part, because it takes us away from our stockpile of obligations at home and in part because it gives us space

Maybe you’ve tried to apply the old saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. " You’ve pulled up your bootstraps, shrugged off your disappointments and pasted a broad smile across your face.

This time of year we celebrate motherhood and rightfully honor those in this noble position. Lord knows moms deserve our recognition and gratitude for their unrelenting, devoted love. But for those women who

Greetings to all my socially-distant readers. We are now well into our pandemic coping skills. Most of the shock of our jostled, new lives has worn off and, for the most part, we’ve stopped asking the question, “Is this really happening?”

Easter has always been a reflective time for me—a time when I let the sacrifice of the cross and its compelling love resonate in my thoughts and sink deep into my soul.

A few years back, when my grandchildren were all quite young, we experienced a cold and flu season that seemed relentless. No sooner would one child recover from an infection than the next would be socked with it. This went on for months!

Plant watering day for me is my weekly attempt to care for the plants that live with me in my studio. The task amounts to filling a spouted copper can to its brim with tap water and pouring a long drink for my thirsty green buddies.The smallest of my plants is

I woke up today with a crease in my face. I’m not talking about those little lines that have taken up permanent residence around my eyes and in my cheeks whenever I smile. Today I am referring to a conspicuous vertical line

My husband's mom passed away this evening. The last of his parents gone from this earth and into the presence of Jesus. She is home now after 88 years of living life...marrying a man of faith, raising four boys, and cooking for multitudes with a generous heart.  

I recently sat down with a friend of mine who was starting a new job.  We all know how daunting (and exciting too) new endeavors can be.  While we may be thrilled about a new opportunity to stretch our wings, at some point, most of us

Another Christmas has made its way into the scrapbooks of our memories and, whether or not we have packed away all of our festive decor, each one of us has already stepped onto the pages of a new year. Ready or not we are inscribing our own daily history

My children have come home with their families for Christmas. Once again our house is filled with bustle and energy. The rafters are brimming with noise; squeals of joy, decibels of laughter, and an occasional short-lived squabble between grandchildren. There is a contagious energy

Some of you have been thinking about this for a long time. Perhaps you've carried this invitation around your whole life, pondering its meaning—wondering if it’s really meant for you—wondering how it

Many years ago, my husband and I were building our home in Duluth. We spent months finding the ideal piece of land, months finding contractors and securing financing, and months in the actual construction phase.

Imagine that you’re four years old and it’s the morning of your birthday. You’ve awakened to the delicious aroma of pancakes and bacon being cooked for breakfast in the kitchen downstairs. You stretch your limbs

Every Christian knows that time with God in prayer is crucial to a thriving life of faith. It’s how we communicate with God—pouring out our hearts, expressing our gratitude, confessing our mistakes, seeking guidance, you name it. Prayer is our lifeline for strength, trust, hope and

No one enjoys the comforts of home more than me.  I am a homebody by nature and I love to be surrounded by the people and things that feed my well-being. I love working in sunlight

Outside my studio window, an eagle soars high above the valley, gliding on warm currents of air.  Scanning the earth below with his keen, sharp sight, he can focus on the smallest of animals up to two miles away.

If you’ve ever wondered what God wants you to be doing with your life, you’re reading the words of a woman who has polished that question more times than imaginable. It was easy when I was raising kids. I knew my mandate was to be the best mom I could be.

Our beautiful eight-year-old granddaughter, Evelyn Ann, was baptized last evening.
It was something she had wanted to do, after opening her heart to Jesus several years ago. She had taken the class her church required to learn

This is what 500 Hershey’s Hugs & Kisses looks like! Why is that important? Because today is our 500 month anniversary! Yep...500 months since the day we met and 500 months of celebrating each and every one!

She was turning 18 on this day in 1949 as she walked down the aisle with a bouquet of yellow roses in her hands. And every year after on this day without fail, her husband gave her yellow roses to honor her and the love they shared between them.

I love a new year!  It’s a starting point, a clean slate, and a fresh blanket of pristine snow without so much as a footprint anywhere in sight!  365 days of possibilities and opportunities!  I wonder what circumstances are in store

I’ve been thinking about one Christmas Eve as a young girl. Our family had attended church that evening and returned home for our Christmas dinner… a buffet of once-a-year finger foods followed by an enormous platter of homemade cookies

This year, vacation was a welcome sanctuary whose arms Bill and I gladly fell into after contending with some challenging life issues.  We set off on our annual road trip with camper in tow and miles of pavement

From the moment a child is born, they are inexplicably knit to their mother’s heart. This doesn’t change, no matter how grown they become. Their joys are her joys. Their triumphs are her rejoicing. Their struggles are her reason to be on her knees. And their pain is her anguish. 

The world has a way of giving us callouses. Stress and frustration are all around us, scraping against our daily lives, weakening our guard and wearing us down.

My daughter had four flower girls at her wedding, the youngest of which was 2 1/2 year-old Mary who walked closely beside her six-year-old sister, Evelyn.

Looking back on the early days following my wrist surgery, I vividly remember the first time I arrived at the orthopedic department of my clinic. As the elevator doors opened, I stepped into a lobby packed with people