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The Gift
Woke up to a winter wonderland this morning. So pretty. So peaceful. Since it’s still dark outside, the white of it, lights up the darkness a bit. Its peace interrupted only by the sound of metal pushing snow around as the plow makes its way past my house at 6:00 am. Moose loves when the…
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Walking Out of Tradition
For those of us in the United States, Thanksgiving is just around the corner. As I type this, sweet potatoes are roasting in the oven in preparation of sweet potato casserole. This is the first year, I’m baking them. Typically, I peel them, cube them, and then boil them. But, I heard it from the…
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Excessive Misery
Dolly Parton released a song called “Hard Candy Christmas” in 1982. You might recall it was recorded as part of the soundtrack for a movie titled, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Yup, I watched the movie back in the day, but it’s not the movie that I remember, it’s this one song. Some days,…
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The Uninvited Menacing Hitchhiker
It’s been a minute since anything ridiculous happened in my life but that minute is up. It was a day pretty much like any other day until I decided to take a shower mid-afternoon. Why mid-afternoon? Because I can. Duh! I turned the shower on, and then got my birthday suit ready to hop in.…
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Today’s Not A Given
As I watched a reel this morning on changing seasons, I felt overwhelmed with gratitude. Tears welled up in my eyes and the overflow gently rolled down my cheeks. Maybe in part due to the beautiful melody playing, or the pictures they chose to accompany said melody. Either way, they helped stir that emotional overload…
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Iron-On Transfer
What makes a successful iron-on transfer? Typically, heat and pressure working together. But, even with those elements seemingly perfectly at play, the transfer can be incomplete. I didn’t want to use the word failure because you never know what type of flaw might be at play you couldn’t see. Maybe something was wrong with the…
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Buyer Beware
There’s a prayer we known as Jesus Christ followers often pray. Lord, use me. Simple, yet powerful. I believe when we say those three words, we better mean it, no matter what it looks like. Mostly, we want that to look like God is using us to help someone in need. Someone who’s been praying…
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Thee Testimony
Panic. The minute the group leader who just happened to be one of the pastors at my church said, “Each of you will be sharing your testimony during this study. One testimony per week. I’ll pick the person each week.” Yikes! My brain hole started whirl-pooling. Do you all have a brain hole too? Things…
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The Pain of My Past
I recently watched the movie The Burning Bed. It’s based on the true story of the years long domestic violence suffered by Francine Hughes. It’s not the first time I heard of this movie. It first appeared in 1984, so it’s been around the block a few times. It was however, the first time I…
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The Hidden Ballerina
I’m currently reading a Bible study with a small group of friends called, hidden, by Allison Allen. It’s about people in the Bible who were used greatly by God, yet tucked away in scriptural places where it’s easy to not pay them much attention. Why? Good question. Maybe they weren’t specifically named by name. Maybe…
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As You Were
In the military, when in formation, the designated leader of the squad called out commands the troops had to follow. However, if the command they shouted out was not the correct command, (hey, it happens), then they could easily adjust the troops back to where they were by simply shouting, “As you were.” It was…
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Behind the Frame
I’m not sure what made me want to look behind the photo in the frame, but I did. I’ve walked past this picture what seems like a bazillion times. As I opened the back of the frame, I wasn’t sure if I’d find more pictures or not. Since I typically put multiple pictures in frames,…
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Your Compass Is Here
I recently watched an episode of Abbott Elementary. In a surprising twist of fate, the principal of the school got fired due to breaking the rules and accepting bribes. The teachers of the school were equally guilty of accepting bribes, but the principal stepped up and accepted full responsibility and consequences. She never thought she’d…
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It’s All Good
Today’s Ash Wednesday. The beginning of the Lenten season. I’ve been giving this a lot of thought this year. I’ve been praying and seeking to know how to move within this season. I’ve been paying attention to what speaks to my heart, that which will bring me closer to Jesus. I sure can make things…
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Emotional Punching Bag
“It’s funny how our past frames us. The person we used to be, never lets go of the person we are. Past failures and disappointments even victories take hold of us. They haunt like ghosts or visit us like old friends.” ~ One Tree Hill (season 9, episode 13) My previous publishing was about me…
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My Worst Best Friend
I was nervous. I wasn’t sure exactly what I was walking into, but I felt it was something I needed to do. So, on one of the weatheriest weather days of winter, my friend drove us to a nearby town. Along the highway we witnessed vehicles in ditches, tow trucks, emergency vehicles, but we kept…
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Get Your Big Girl Panties On
I groaned this morning as the snow plows could be heard doing what plows do at 5:30 am; make an incredibly loud ruckus. I wasn’t the only one disturbed by the noise. My dog Moose rustled beside me, and muttered a low growl as well. My first thought was, he’s gonna want to head outside…
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Belonging
A couple years ago, a friend and I stopped talking. I’m not sure exactly what happened, but I know I just couldn’t receive what had been said. I was burnt out on a level, I didn’t even know burnt out could reach. I quit my job. I quit parts of life. And quite frankly, I…
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Grace
“In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?” ~ James 2:25 (NIV) Psssst. Can I let you in on a little secret? It’s hard to be like Jesus. Just when I think…
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Hello 2025
In the infamous words sung by Barry Manilow, “Looks like we made it”. But, just those words, don’t sing the rest of the song. It doesn’t apply. I don’t know about you, but the older I get, the more I appreciate making it one more day, one more week, one more month, and yes, one…
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You’re Not A Burden
Last Thursday night prior to hopping into bed, I got down on my knees and said my prayers. It’s a nightly thing, so no big news there. However, I specifically remember this night because I simply thanked God for everything. The minute the word everything left my mouth, I felt this panic rise up inside…
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More Than Old Ladies
Earlier this week a group of friends and myself went out to lunch. Or is that myself and a group of friends? Either way, we caravanned to a state college where young whipper snappers prepared, and served us lunch. Now before you get all tangled up in the phrase “whipper snappers” hear me out. I…
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Folding Laundry
Have you ever folded a piece of laundry and then dropped it? It falls to the ground in a heap, disheveled once again by circumstance. You pick it back up, attempt folding it again with the hopes this time, it remains folded. There’s no guarantee this time it will work out the way you want.…
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Moving Parts
The other day I was out enjoying a morning walk. Well, kinda enjoying a morning walk. I was happy I could be out walking. I was happy for the praise music blaring through my ear buds. I was happy moving my body, and occasionally singing out loud. Yep. I’m that person. However, I waited a…
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The Opposite Side
This is a post I made on my social media account two years ago. Thought I’d share with you all since the latest escapade with my slithery rivals isn’t nearly as traumatic. Although, I must say, any encounter with a snake is a heart palpitating, panic infused, mind racing event. Now, if you don’t like…
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Smoke Alarm
Last night was fun, she said with extreme sarcasm. Safely tucked in my bed at 10 pm, I fell asleep pretty quickly. Next thing I knew, my smoke alarm blared into the silent night like an air horn next to my ear. I sat straight up in my bed, threw the covers off, and jumped…
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Somebody Call 9-1-1
I think it’s safe to say one of the scariest things a person may have to do is call for help. It’s a resignation that you no longer know what to do and with fear and trembling you call in the professionals. It was a mostly uneventful day. Recovering from a nasty upper respiratory virus…
Blessed to be Broken
God's not finished with me yet!
Blessed to be Broken 