Dear Friends,I don't have much to give you tonight. No witty stories about Bubby. No profound words to inspire you. But I want to give you something...so for the next few minutes, I'm just going to write to you some things from my heart...some things that I tell myself throughout the day. It will probably be random...because I'm random. But it's from me to you...because I like you a lot and I just want to give something to you. I want you to be glad. I want you to love life.Here goes...(By the way, Bubby is chewing on my shirt right now. I'm letting him because I'm glad he's here and well, somehow it's keeping him entertained for a few minutes.)Today is a gift! Did you look out the window today? I hope you did because life isn't all about computers and to-do lists and cleaning and eating a[...]

I know that winter has only just begun, and I really have been enjoying it, really, but it does help me to remember that spring is coming. Warmth is coming.I planted over a hundred daffodil and tulip bulbs in our yard this fall. I put them down in a dark hole. I covered them up with dirt. And now they're resting...and waiting.I planted them because I needed hope. I need to know that the cold, dark months won't last forever. I need to know that something beautiful is just around the corner. I needed something lovely to look forward to when the wintry winds come and the sun hides his face and all is gray and bleak...for a season.And isn't life that way, too?I've been reading in the book of Hebrews and I long to express to you the hope I've found. Life is hard sometimes. Things look bleak now[...]

This year Thanksgiving didn’t go quite like I had imagined it would. Poor Pa got the flu so Mom and Dad weren’t able to come for a visit after all. Ironically, I got the flu, too, and felt pretty crummy.I was tempted to mope and pout but it seemed so strange to choose to be ungrateful on Thanksgiving of all days! Besides, I truly have so much to be thankful for. And life is too fleeting not to say the things that matter most. So, today, I’ve narrowed down 5 blessings that I’m extremely thankful for.My PaMy Dad is the most faithful man I know. He’s gotten up every day for all his working life, and worked at a job that’s been grueling and that is by no means his favorite, so he could faithfully provide for his family. While his body now suffers the effects of years of intense labor, he rema[...]

I am drawn to the woods. There's something about a deep canopy of trees and a floor of withering leaves and moss that allures me, no, compels me to enter in. Is it the quiet? The rugged beauty? The solace that I find there?The mysterious life that I see when I take time to be still? To stoop down and pause and just observe?I identify myself with the beauty-seekers. The God-hunters.God says that if we look for Him, we'll find Him, because He's not far from each one of us."...so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us." (Acts 17:26-28)I believe that's why I often steal away to come here. Because for me, the Maker of my soul is clearly seen here. He's vivid. He's real. And He's oh, so beautiful.I love be[...]

Morning came and I slipped out the back door. I didn't know the river would be cloaked in fog. I wasn't expecting to see only this one glorious tree, hugging the hillside, inviting me to be still and listen for His voice. I came seeking Him and needing to be filled.Hungry-hearted, I stood still. Hushed. "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted in the nations. I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46:9-11)And I watched as warm morning light seeped slowly through the haze, revealing soft blue above."Oh, send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your dwelling." (Psalm 43:3)Two swans appeared. Tranquility. "You will keep in perfect peace, whose mind in stayed on You, because he trusts in You." (Isaiah 26:3)The day rushes on.B[...]

One of the reasons why I started this blog is because I want to share life with you. And I want to somehow do my part to help you enjoy your life a little more. One way I can do that, is by encouraging you not to fill up your life with too much busyness and hurry, but to pause...and take time to enjoy the wonder and awe of God and His creation.This here window is in the basement bedroom that we're staying in. Every day I peek over the plants and look to see what sort of critters have fallen down overnight. This weekend, I saw something that I've been aching to see for a long time--a SALAMANDER!!! Actually, I saw two salamanders, even better.I vividly remember the first time I ever dug one of them up in the backyard as a little girl. I was completely mesmerized to find the sweetest, sleekes[...]

When Brent and I were first married (6 months to be exact), we were asked to share our story with a gathering of coworkers. We thought it would be fun to begin with a bit of humor. We called it "Building Character in Your Spouse." Hope you enjoy!Building Character--Maggie's Version:While grocery shopping, insist that you buy random spices like, “cream of tartar.” When questioned whether or not you need it, say “Of course I do…I saw it in the cookbook this week.” Then be sure to leave it unopened in the cabinet for at least 6 months. (I have to say, that nearly two years later, I have yet to open that Cream of Tartar.)While cooking dinner, experiment with your spices. Be sure to use every spice in your cabinet (except the cream of tartar of course) and by all means, whatever the recipe bo[...]

Well, I’ve decided to start a new adventure in life--the adventure of blogging. Not sure how long this is gonna last but I’ve weighed the pros and cons back and forth for a good while, and I think I’m just gonna do it.There are several reasons why I haven’t wanted to do this. For one thing, as I sit here typing my little heart out onto this computer screen, I have lots of “important things” I could, perhaps should be doing instead. Things like laundry, cleaning, finishing my newsletters, making out a grocery list for the week, pulling weeds out of the flower bed…you know, all of those fun-filled, glamorous duties of daily life.I also haven’t wanted to blog because it’s a discipline. And discipline is something I’m sorely lacking in my daily life. I mean, for several years now I’ve wanted t[...]