Drawn from my archives I remember the first time I stepped through the doors of Carriage House Lane. It was my kind of beautiful. Everything from the smell of cinnamon apple pie to the country-styled decor felt like home. I came in with a few hand-made quilts hoping the woman might sell them for me and I left with a part-time job. It was part of our deal–she would sell my quilts on consignment, and I would help her out one day a week. The thing about working at Carriage House Lane is that it never felt like a job. I loved every minute I spent helping out customers, unpacking…

Drawn from my archives Turning to Matthew chapter 11, I read, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt 11:30, KJV). With those words, I’m reminded of the early years when Dad taught me how to dance. Reaching down, he held my little hands, and with my toes on top of his, we kept in step. I couldn’t have been any older than 2 or 3 at the time, and yet I somehow I remember the wonderful and easy feeling of following…

In 1 Samuel 30 we read a story about David and 400 of his men who went out to fight the Amalekites, while 200 of them stayed behind. The Bible tells us that David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken from Judah, including his two wives. After returning with the spoils of war, some of the men selfishly assumed they wouldn’t be sharing, but David rebuked them saying, “The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.” Sometimes God says to one, “You’re going to go out to battle.” To another, He…

Drawn from my archives I’ve known Terri for most of my life, but it’s only been in the past few years that I’ve really gotten to know her. Our families were friends, but not so much her and I until a few years ago. Now she’s my person. I know that I can call her any time of the day and she’ll be there for me. I’m not kidding when I say any time of the day either. Some days we chat at 3:30 am. We travel together, we laugh together, and we play games together, but what I love most about Terri is the way she lifts me up…

The Bible says, Trust in the Lord with all your heartand lean not on your own understanding;in all your ways submit to him,and he will make your paths straight.(Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV) Trading the wisdom of God for our own can be a little tricky and fearful at times. We’re so used to thinking that we’re manning the ship, but have you ever noticed how often that ship goes off course? Stop for a minute to think about this past week. Did every day go as planned? I’m willing to guess that more often than not it didn’t. I wake up to changed plans all the time. Just this morning in fact, I got…

Drawn from my archives It was my son’s sixth birthday. The only one of his 29 birthdays I’ve missed. Since I was home with our newborn that day, Michael and his brother offered to host the party of eight. Eight energetic kids on the loose and full of sugar at a local arcade. Apparently, after buying them lunch, giving them cake, and supplying them with a handful of tokens, Michael had a run-in with a six-year-old girl. With hands on her hips and shoulders pulled back, she announced, “I demand more tokens!” “It’s ungrateful, but not all that out of the ordinary for kids,” I told him. And the more…

Do you know what I love about rainy days in July? They come and they go. The clouds don’t seem to hang around as long as they do in June. The clouds roll in, and just as quickly as they got here, they’re gone. So it is with life, even in our darkest moments we have the hope that the sun will shine again. But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31, NIV) As I got to thinking about that today, I was reminded of a story…