I have three rings that I wear all the time.
One is my wedding band.
One is my mother’s ring, which has all the birthstones of my children.
One is an anniversary, today, tomorrow, and always, ring my husband gave me one anniversary.

Twice a year, those rings have to be inspected.
The paperwork is dated and initialed by the jeweler after the inspection.
Twice a year, the rings are looked at under a magnifying glass for cracks or signs of damage.
Covid prevented me from getting my rings inspected last year.

Read More...

Vanity was a problem for the emperor.
All he wanted to do was display his fine clothes.
He hired two tailors who promised to make him the finest garments.
Clothes made out of a fabric that was invisible.
Invisible to anyone who is unfit for his position or hopelessly stupid.

The two tailors were dishonest.
They pretended to make the new clothes and pretended to dress the emperor in them.
The emperor couldn’t wait to parade in front of the people wearing his new clothes.
This caused a dilemma for the people.

Read More...

There was always that one person.
The one person in elementary school who wasn’t afraid.
The one person who had no trouble raising their hand.
The one person who asked the question we all wanted to ask.

There is always that one person.
The one person in a meeting who asks the question.
The one person who has no trouble respectfully interrupting when something is not right.
The one person who makes the comment we all wanted to make.

Read More...

I was driving to church for the 8:00 am service.
I love that time of morning.
The quiet country roads are even more serene in those early morning hours.
Experiencing the autumnal beauty refreshes my spirit.

I took the little, windy country road that is a more direct route to the main road.
Some of the curves are blind curves.
Extreme caution is necessary.
I don’t mind being cautious because there is so much to see on this particular road.

Read More...

It was an annoying pain in my heel.
The annoying pain got a bit worse.
Finally, it was time to see a podiatrist.
He said what I already knew, since I had this happen many years ago.

Plantar Fasciitis.
It is an inflammation of the fibrous tissue along the bottom of your foot.
That plantar fascia connects your heel bone to your toes.
This happens because there is too much wear and tear on your foot.

Read More...

This was originally published on September 17, 2012. For such a time as this, it needs to be published again.

I was in elementary school in the mid 1960’s.
A different time; a different era.
A time of separation.

Read More...

In this time of uncertainty and confusion, the best thing we can do is put beauty into the world.
We can add a touch here and a glimpse there.
We can change the course of conversation away from gloom and towards joy.
Yes, there is still joy.

We hear the word, contagion.
We hear the word, virus.
We hear the word, pandemic.
We hear the words, social distancing.

Read More...

There is a crooked tree.
I see it on my walk.
I love that tree.
It speaks to my heart.

I am intrigued by the lone dandelion that stands proudly in the middle of the lawn.
The one dandelion that has somehow survived the organic lawn treatment.
The one dandelion that screams tenacity.
The pop of yellow in a sea of green.

Read More...

She stood in front of me in line.
I figured she was about my daughter’s age.
She looked so comfortable in her leggings and long tunic sweatshirt.
I was eager to get home and change into my comfy clothes as well.

She was wearing sneakers.
I made a mental note that this is my attire most mornings.
There is something about comfort.
It is worth the wardrobe change.

Read More...

Every other Wednesday, I teach a Bible study in my home.
These women are so sweet.
Some of us have been together in Bible study for years.
The women really enjoy each other’s company.

The first twenty or thirty minutes is a time for the women to talk.
I usually bake something that morning.
Coffee and hot water for tea is on the counter.
This time of year, mulled cider is simmering on the stove.

Read More...