We wrapped up our SOWER project at The Cove Thursday afternoon, determined to make a few more memories before heading home. One remaining must-do was Mount Mitchell, at 6,684 feet, the highest peak east of the Mississippi. Temps dropped dramatically as elevation rose on the ever-winding Blue Ridge Parkway. Late…
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SOWERing
People often ask about the SOWER Ministry through which we volunteer. Their first question, typically: What do you do?* The Hubs and I are newbies (a memorable first in 2021) but the two couples filling out our team have served 100 projects or more, collectively. They assure what we’ve surmised…
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the seasons testify
Driving 81S this week, the landscape is a canvas of autumn hues. Honey golds, bold oranges, fiery reds, splashed across valleys, splattered on endless ridges, scrambling up each peak; bright brushstrokes of delight. In Acts 14, Paul says the seasons are an enduring witness to a living God. Through the…
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the ark encounter
There’s a lot to be said for Kentucky. Verdant, rolling hills — even as August brings the heat. Miles upon miles of stark wooden fencing; graceful thoroughbreds at pasture. Small towns and friendly people brimming with character. Lush crops in full leaf and flower, proximate to neatly tended farmsteads. In…
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big kids, big trips
Have you ever struck on an idea that seemed quite brilliant … in the moment? “Surely,” you think, “This is one of my best ideas — ever!” You tell everyone who shows any interest (and some who don’t) all about it. Inevitably, perhaps much later, you realize you’ve actually got…
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short list for a long marriage
It’s so much fun to share a link to a guest blog post, published by Revelation Wellness on May 8, 2023. The “Short List for a Long Marriage” was also included in the RW collection, “Resources for a Healthy & Whole Marriage,” published on May 24. It’s been a journey,…
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called
Have you ever wondered about the call God has placed on your life? To be honest, I’ve spent far too much time trying to figure it out. Just me? There’ve been seasons when I thought I knew exactly what my calling was and how to proceed. But lately, not so…
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remembering
In November, Pete and I celebrated forty years of marriage, a milestone that coincides with his dairy farming career. Thus we find ourselves on the cusp of a new season, in a strange form of quasi-retirement, with newfound freedoms and financial realities that thoroughly unsettle me! By God’s perfect timing,…
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beloved aunt bea
My beloved Aunt Bea went home to heaven yesterday. We grieve her passing deeply. She fought so hard to recover. She overcame many complications. All along, I believed she would pull through; she’d stay awhile. I was wrong. My heart is broken. My aunt had a beautiful outlook on life.…
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trust Jesus, just Jesus
It’s snowing this morning; big, wet flakes falling relentlessly from a leaden-gray sky. There’s nothing so quite discouraging as snow in mid-April in the North Country! It’s hard to believe spring is here. Unless, that is, you know what I know. Yesterday I worked my flower gardens. It was so…