Remember being a kid and playing outside?  I feel bad for many kids today, because in some ways, they’ve been robbed of the opportunity to be creative.  Technology creates fancy worlds for them.  They don’t have to really stretch their minds and use their imaginations.  They let people that create code define their fantasies. Of course, it would be wrong for me to paint an entire generation with the same brush.  I despise it when people lump me into a category, so I won’t do that to them.  Many kids today love outside play and use their imaginations to the fullest.  Technology is not an enemy. It has helped advance…

I’m a firm believer in making a statement.  You can see that when you walk into my home.  My décor is simple, but I have chandeliers EVERYWHERE!  They’re all small, but they bling and provide just the special touch that I want.  You can see it when I use my liquid eyeliner.  Cat eyes anyone?  But my love for making a statement was most recently reflected in the circle of people that surround me.  I’m talking about my community. People say that birds of a feather flock together.  I have found that to be true quite often, but it’s not always the case.  When I think of how kind my…

I spent many of my summers in St. Louis with my grandma.  I got quality time with grandma, and let’s be real, she was free childcare for my parents.  Although we traveled to St. Louis every summer until my grandmother moved back to Arkansas, that was not the extent of our summer expeditions. My grandma would take us on grand adventures while we were in St. Louis.  Bible Study Brother and I enjoyed going to the store, Ventures.  The outside of the building had large black and white stripes.  I would be thrilled to see those stripes.  I loved any shopping expedition and Bible Study Brother was determined to procure…

Spring has sprung which means my favorite household chore is rearing it’s ugly head.  Mowing the yard.  You can probably tell from my tone that it’s not really my favorite chore.  But it’s necessary for the upkeep of my home. When I first moved into my house, I had big plans.  I had no need to purchase a lawn mower.  I would just find someone and pay them to do the job.  Finding my first lawn care technician was incredibly easy.  Frank, my next-door neighbor, volunteered for the job.  We settled on a price and mowing schedule.  That worked perfectly…until it didn’t. Initially, Frank was compliant.  He mowed my yard…

 It happened.  The stone has been rolled away.  The tomb is empty.  The angels asked, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?  He is not here but is risen!”  After that quiet Saturday.  That dark Saturday when it seemed all hope was lost.  It happened!  Jesus Christ became our resurrected Savior! And I’m so thankful!  My life would useless without this wonderful gift.  I can imagine that Saturday was probably a day full of grief for those left behind. They had walked with Jesus.  Broke bread with Him.  Talked with Him.  Laughed with Him.  Ministered with Him.  They truly did life with Jesus.  So, a life without Him…

Good Friday.  The word “good” brings mental images of pleasant things.  Your favorite ice cream.  A sunny day.  Smiling faces.  So, pairing the word “good” with the Friday that Jesus experienced can be perplexing at times.  It forces us to consider that our perspective may be skewed. Jesus was guilty of no crime.  He was walking in His purpose.  He was fulfilling God’s call on His life.  After He was arrested in the garden of Gethsemane, He was taken before Annas, a high priest, to stand trial for his supposed crimes.  Annas wants Jesus to explain His disciples and His doctrine.  Jesus responds by saying that He taught in public…

365 days have passed since I crash landed at the bottom of the very slippery slope that I was climbing.  I landed right on my butt, and let me tell you, it hurt.  I expended so much energy trying to do wrong.  I was exhausted before I ever fell.  But the fall…it knocked the wind right out of me. At the top of the slope was the prize.  The thing that I desired most.  A family to call my own.  The opportunity to carve out my little piece of heaven in this world.  A place to belong and feel desired.  A place to feel chosen.  But I went about it…

What’s the first book that you read and just completely fell in love with?  Do you have one?  I remember my red books that my aunts used to teach me to read.  Although they hold a fond place in my heart, I wouldn’t say that they were my favorites.  I had a love for the written language long before those red books came into the picture. Different books have taken center stage at various points in my life.  I recall Teddy Ruxpin.  Although his name makes him sound like an R&B singer, he was a battery-operated bear.  When I was a kid, he was a hot ticket item.  And he…