Special Day Plate, Inspirational Perhaps you have a You Are Special plate. If not, run–don’t walk, and get one today! My family’s special plate is red with the words You Are Special Today printed along the rim. Some families have special birthday plates or maybe …
Grateful for Nothing
I have nothing to be grateful for this year. Nothing that I know of, anyway. We had no major illnesses requiring miraculous healings. No job loss, no house fire, no broken bones. Nothing whatsoever interfered with the normal, peaceful rhythm of our lives. What I …
My Favorite Thanksgiving Pie
Cooking for Thanksgiving is a challenge–I seem to always forget something. Two years ago I forgot the cranberry sauce. Last year I did not read the thawing directions for our turkey. I bought it the day before Thanksgiving and put it in the fridge. My …
Double-Duty
As school routines and busy schedules start with full force, moms often find their personal free time is gone. Unless a family has the extra funds to hire housecleaning help, there are also a lot of necessary but time-consuming little tasks that will have to …
Testimony of Faithfulness
My husband and I knew the heartache of losing a loved one through a car accident while we were still college sweet hearts. I received the call late one night: my stepsister had been tragically killed only six days after her twentieth birthday. My husband …
2010 Hospitali-Tea Adventures
Are you ready to board the Friendship Train for some exciting destinations? If so, the 2010 Love Your Neighborhood calendar, Hospitali-TEA Adventures, by Gail Henderson and Martha DeWeese, will take you to new views and vistas. Through the gorgeous photos, you’ll experience a Canadian tearoom …
Your Marriage Matters to God
I was fortunate to be raised in the same church in Minneapolis, Minnesota for almost two decades. Our senior pastor, Dr. C. Philip Hinerman, served a remarkable multi-ethnic congregation for a total of 37 years. (Our youth pastor Art Erickson stayed for 25 years). When …
Making Thanksgiving Memorable
Although I do have fond memories of my childhood Thanksgivings, I also distinctly remember wanting to stay far, far away from my mother all that week. She always took upon herself the burden to entertain and feed the extended family. It was certainly a noble …
Reflections of a Scrapbooker
I never dreamed scrapbooking could strengthen my walk with God. Like most, I began scrapbooking to tell the stories of family photos and enjoy a creative outlet. Surprisingly, the hobby I began as a craft spurred my faith in three key ways: I’ve recognized the …
Preparing for a Fall Retreat
Fall is a beautiful time of year to get away to a women’s ministry retreat. Here are some thoughts on how to make it the best retreat ever… 1. Take along a notepad and pen. Be prepared to let God speak directly to you regarding …