We have a country bench in our dining room.
Throughout the year it has a few decorative pillows on it.
It also has a bear called, Prayer Bear, from when my children were little.
That is another story.

Many years ago, a local shopping center did something very special.
For a few weeks during the Christmas season, you were encouraged to save your receipts.
After a certain amount was spent, you took the receipts to a store.
The amount could be accumulated over time.

Read More...

Since there is a Women’s Ministry event at my church, I decided to re-post a Whisper that was first published on December 9, 2016. Be blessed.

There is a book on our shelf that was a favorite to read.
I still laugh at some of the dialog.
I know the story inside out.
The book was made into a movie; the movie is equally funny.

It is the story of the Herdmans, a group of children who seem to raise themselves.
Their father left the family years before and the mother does the best she can.
The mother works at a shoe factory and consequently, the children are frequently alone.
Everyone in school is afraid of the Herdmans since they bully to get what they want.

Read More...

Another memory making day. This post was originally published on December 14, 2013.
Be blessed, again.

People on the fringe,
People we dismiss,
People we can do without,
The ones we often miss.

The outcasts of society,
We often look away,
Someone else’s problem,
The ones who can’t repay.

Read More...

I spent the day with my daughter and granddaughter. It was a day to lay my writing aside and make some memories instead. This post was originally published on December 7, 2016. Be blessed.

She had been burning the candle at both ends.
She knew it but she had to get things done.
She knew her attitude was not the best.
But all of the preparations do not just happen.

All of the gifts do not buy themselves.
All of the cards do not get magically written.
She was losing her Christmas spirit and she knew it.
She just didn’t know how to get it back.

Read More...

I wait in traffic.
I wait in a line at the store.
I wait when I want to talk to Customer Service about something I ordered.
I wait for my newly mopped floors to dry.

What if we tallied our waiting time on any given day?
What we do to pass the time as we wait says quite a lot about us.
Many will look at their phones, unless they are driving.
Some will read a book that they always keep handy for just such an occasion.

Read More...

I heard the ding of the text message.
I saw that it was from my daughter.
I saw that she sent it to the whole family.
I noticed that she sent a picture.

I read the caption.
Benefits of a baby: Wrapping presents right in front of her. She has no idea.
I saw my sweet granddaughter on the floor with a blanket toy in her hand.
I knew that this is the toy with which she plays peek-a-boo, her new found skill.

Read More...

We decorate our house for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving.
That tradition began years ago when my children were quite young.
I never wanted to be part of the crowds on the first official day of Christmas shopping.
It was wonderful to extend the long weekend and just be together.

Through the years, each child had their job to do.
One hung the garland on the banister and across the bridge.
One set up the manger that I had when I was a little girl.
My boys helped my husband put the lights on the trees outside.

Read More...

This blog post was originally published December 2015.
It is being reprinted here to bless you.

We have a chair in our living room.
It is just an ordinary chair in appearance.
It is an extraordinary chair in function.
It is the chair we each take turns to sit in on Christmas morning.

Our living room is the room where we have our Christmas tree.
It is the room with the baby grand piano.
It is the room that is painted a warm cranberry red.
It is the room that has bookcases filled with books.

Read More...

This poem was originally written and published in June 2012.
Br request, I am publishing it again for this Christmas season.
Be blessed as you ponder the Truth in the words.
This poem and others can be found in my book, Whispers in Verse.

In a manger with hay
In the night, not the day
God caused His Son to be born.
A young girl would hold
All her arms could enfold
Wrapped in rags that were tattered and torn.

Read More...

I teach a Bible study in my home.
It is a blessing to have such a wonderful group of women.
They come to my house every other Wednesday.
We open God’s Word and study it together.

Women of all ages come to the Bible study.
Young moms can bring their children thanks to the two home school girls who watch them.
I love to see the children’s excitement as they come in and run right down to the basement.
I rotate my children’s toys so they do not play with the same things each time.

Read More...