noticing and responding to God in our everyday life
The sound of cranberries popping on the stove. Colorful, lively reminders of our day of thanks. “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Col 3:1-2 The verse floats around […]
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Our plane door closes. “All cell phones must now be turned off.” I finish my text and shut down my phone. I let go. Of unfinished reminders. Of anything left on my to do before I go list. Our plane taxis. “We are number one for take off.” It is a day of blue skies […]
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We sit at the tables in Wesley Hall. Twelve women gathered around the table, studying the fruit of the Spirit. Someone is talking about a scripture, trying to remember what book of the bible it is found in. Eyes turn towards me. They joke, “you are the pastor’s wife, you must know the answer!” I […]
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I push the overflowing grocery cart out the automatic doors. My vice, a red carton of caffeine hidden on the bottom. I pause as I admired the deep blue sky. I feel like I could fall into it. Fluffy clouds resting on treetops. The rolling hills of Western PA in all their glory. My car […]
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I love fall. For quite a while I couldn’t understand how it was not everyone else’s favorite season. I am now more open to other perspectives, but it still is the season I most anticipate. The one where my soul sighs and says yes, I’m at home. As I look forward to fall, I had […]
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Today is August 28th. For eight years, August 28th has been etched in my mind as the day the phone rang. I can picture, no more than picture, I can feel my husband, mom and I in my parent’s basement. We were visiting them in Minnesota from Seattle. My dad was out playing his normal […]
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The morning quiet. My secret. My fuel. The morning quiet. My children’s safety and nourishment. My husband’s support and joy. My day’s structure and flow. The morning quiet. The Spirit’s outlet. Grounding, freeing. Redemption of tired. Of cranky. Of drained. The morning quiet. Her stillness and grace. Always making room for all of me. I […]
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I recently was reading a biography on Frances Ridley Havergal. She was born in 1836, a poet and hymn writer. Her best known hymn is most likely “Take My Life and Let It Be”. What struck me tonight was the mentioning of some of her last whispers: “I did so want to glorify Him in […]
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I pulled the shirt out of a pile, getting ready to do some yard work. I paused as I put it on. My college had separate Mothers and Fathers weekends every year. I always looked forward to them. My hands ran over the words “Wheaton College. Fathers Weekend 1988.” I remember the year that Fathers […]
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I’m walking along a new path. White butterflies flit by. An acorn stops me to say hello. And the thought comes to mind “This is where I live.” Maybe I should write it as “this is where i LIVE”. It is in this space- the one of a thousand details, that my soul sings. It […]
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Hi. I’m Melanie. Thought since it has been a while, I should introduce myself. I wrote the following about a month ago, but has taken me that long to post it. Such is life right now. We’ve lived in our new house for a month. When I hang pictures on the wall it feels like […]
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We both laid on the soft carpet of the bare room. Staring at the red walls. The dark red walls. We got as far as putting the blue tape on the trim. Our daylight hours were waning, so was our energy. We were a few days from moving into our new house. So much excitement. […]
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And this button if you would like to read last years:
