When I got married, I inherited an amazing extended family. Mimi was a dear little grandmother who became incredibly important to me. My own grandmothers had passed away years earlier, so I found the close relationship that developed with Mimi very sweet. Mimi and her brothers and sisters were part of the Greatest Generation. Coming... Continue Reading →

Twenty-five years ago I faced what theologians call a crisis of faith. I suppose all of us go through something like this at one time or another. It was awful; I felt like everything I believed in was being shaken to its core. But there it is friends. The writer of Hebrews tells us that... Continue Reading →

My niece Amanda and I rarely get to see each other…I would have to wind through most of the Kansas prairie, around a whole lot of hills in Missouri, across stretches of Illinois and finally make my way through a big chunk of Indiana before I’d arrive on her front porch. Of course, the Doritos,... Continue Reading →

We were in downtown Kansas City and the Plaza was busy…lots of people going lots of places. I love the Plaza and all the energy and fun of it. After a pretty great meal at the Cheesecake Factory, we walked around, ducking into stores periodically to defrost because the evening was chilly. At one point,... Continue Reading →

It was February 2012. Kansas High School Sub-State Basketball was underway and NCAA March Madness had a little early “madness” competition as far as I’m concerned. Collegiate basketball is exciting stuff for sure, but the precursor to that happens in high school gyms all over the country and I think it’s every bit as exciting... Continue Reading →

“I find it shelter to speak to you.” ~Emily Dickinson “What in the world would I do without you?” You who have been here for me time and time again. You who listen without criticism. You who know that one bad day doesn’t negate all the good ones. You who listen when I need to... Continue Reading →

We seek. We seek warmth, safety, community, significance and central to it all, a life of meaning. We want not just to know with our heads, but believe with our hearts that there’s an answer to the quintessential questions of humanity…that the meaning we search for is within our grasp. As we observe our families,... Continue Reading →

Someone asked me once if I set New Year’s resolutions. I don’t, really. I tend to think about things I want to accomplish and set short term “get it done by” markers. This works pretty well for things like cleaning out the storage room, but maybe not so well for the personal weaknesses that I... Continue Reading →

The girls were lonely; homesick for their friends, their school, their own bedrooms in their own house on their own familiar street. They missed their grandma; they missed living 35 minutes away from the boys - three cousins who created “tons of fun” whenever they were together. They missed Macy and Caroline and the CCA... Continue Reading →

Spain and Israel. Mexico and England. South Africa and Russia. From the warm emerald waters of Florida to the frozen expanse of Alaska. We have nativities from all of these amazing places. Some have been gifted to us; others picked up on vacation or during one of Mike’s business trips. Some are absolutely beautiful; made... Continue Reading →