One of the sweet memories I have of my daddy was sitting beside him many years ago on a hand-made, hand-painted bench in our back yard. He made it out of scraps of wood from his wood pile and it has remained strong and steady for over 40 years. He built it with the skill […]
An Afternoon Life Lesson
Trish was in our After the Boxes Are Unpacked study many years ago, after she moved here from California to retire. We would see each other at church for a few years after that, then our paths didn’t cross again. As the years slipped by, Trish faithfully stayed in touch with our ministry and became a […]
Podcast episode 6 – Kindness: Small acts, big impact
The smallest acts of kindness can have a big impact. Susan Miller reminds you to just “show up” in the lives of others. You don’t have to be skilled, have all the right words, or be an expert. Included are ideas for acts of kindness for anyone you encounter, from the bank clerk to the […]
A window into your husband’s emotions
This was written by me and my husband Bill in 2008 for a Valentine’s Day message one year before his death. I had asked him to share his thoughts on our years of moving, with the hope that it would give women insight and perspective into their husband’s often hidden feelings and emotions about moving. […]
A chair, a raspberry scone, and words remembered
A southern brunch in the deep south–aahh, there’s nothing like it. Shrimp, sausage and grits with gravy, hot biscuits stuffed with country ham, egg casseroles with melted cheese on top, a fruit compote with whipped cream, homemade scones dripping with butter. my.oh.my. bring.it.on. I can smell the aroma and taste the goodness right now. The […]
Just married, Just moved, Just found out the cancer has returned…
A few weeks ago a beautiful young woman in her twenties, with an infectious smile, and a lovely British accent showed up at the door of our After the Boxes are Unpacked class. I welcomed her with open arms, introduced her to the other women in class, and asked her the usual questions–where are you […]
Five hidden treasures from Daddy’s back yard
A friend was standing in my kitchen the other day, chatting away, when her eyes locked in on a picture hanging on the wall behind me. She walked past me and looked closely at the picture. “This is so lovely! I thought it was a painting at first glance.” She paused, then said, “What is […]
Come on in, the water’s fine
You never forget an experience like that. The memory has stayed with me. My eyes filled with tears as I listened to incredible testimonies of restoration from broken relationships, healing from physical and emotional pain, and a renewed hope for the future. Men, women, children, teens, and even families, walked out on the stage and […]
