There’s been some contention in our family over the years regarding the timing of cutting the power to my husband’s Christmas light extravaganza. Last year Bob announced he was going to drive around conducting his own informal survey to see how many houses were still lit. As my mom used to say...

Just a brief follow up regarding last week’s “lighting.” Who knew lighting an Advent wreath could cause such anxiety? My husband was up all night on Saturday angsting and strategizing the order of who was to speak and when. He also had a dream that Hannah showed up in sneakers. I had my own nightmares....

Our family is lighting the Advent wreath at church this morning. We were invited to participate prior to my nephew’s tragic death. However, in light of recent events, I can’t think of a more appropriate year for us to be chosen for this privilege. Ordinarily, I don’t think my grown children would have agreed (it is a 9AM service), but...

Presciently, Wednesday, November 30th, I was doing what I’m usually doing the night before Bible study – late night cramming for Thursday’s class. I was blissfully unaware how much I would need that lesson, particularly this passage I highlighted for future reference....

The Tuesday before Thanksgiving I strategically scheduled minor surgery to repair a trigger finger. For insurance purposes it had to be done by the end of the year, so I took advantage of the opportunity to skip KP duty for the holiday. Plus, my right hand needs to be functioning properly before the Christmas onslaught of relatives when I'll be on KP duty for three days. Physical therapy began the morning following the procedure. I was given an exercise program to rehab my hand – on my own. Here’s the issue....

I thought the following story would be an excellent way to end the Thanksgiving weekend and usher in the first Sunday of Advent. I’ve much to be thankful for, but being picked from the patch is definitely at the top of my list. 

Based on what I’ve been reading and hearing, anxiety has become an epidemic in our country. Considering the vitriol we’ve been exposed to for the past 18 months, I’m not surprised. As bad as it was, Clinton and Trump are not the moving force behind the escalating anxiety that plagues our country....

A number of people I know have recently lost loved ones. I’ve been praying for one in particular who is burdened with anger and bitterness. The same day I began lifting him up in prayer I found myself behind an elderly woman at Kinkos. As I was waiting my turn, I asked her what kind of project she was working on. Ironically, she was printing cards to be distributed to those who have suffered a loss in their life....

One of my devotionals this week posed this question: “If you were asked to use one word to describe the Christian life, which one would you choose?” I was surprised by the author’s answer: good works. While service is certainly an integral component of the Christian life, works wouldn’t be the word I’d pick. Mine would most definitely be JOY. Too many Christians sleepwalk....

I am traveling this week but thought I’d pass along a devotional I read recently which seemed apropos. It comes from a gem of a book I picked up at CVS while waiting to check out. That decision turned out to be a wise choice indeed as I’ve enjoyed it immensely. The name is Once a Day Every Day for Women by Criswell Freeman. I’m not sure why....

Have you ever felt like you’re eavesdropping in a God conversation? It isn’t a frequent event, but it’s unmistakable when it occurs because they always happen unexpectedly and by what can only be Divine intervention. They are an example of how sometimes God shows up...

What’s a wedding without the postmortem? A friend once commented during a morning-after review, “You know it's a party when someone falls down. It was that kind of party.” Last weekend was no exception. My mother holds that dubious distinction, and it certainly wasn’t from over indulging or wild dancing. Nor were my husband’s back spasms, which kept us in Boston longer than anticipated. Both happened in the most ordinary and innocent of ways. My mom tripped getting into the elevator, and Bob simply bent down to tie his shoes – at least that’s the way it began. I’m sure being on your feet all day and dancing into the night contributed...

After a year with two memorials and a major health challenge, it’s been a joy to celebrate back-to-back family weddings. Who doesn’t love a good wedding? To me there is nothing more hopeful than watching a couple walk down the aisle full of excitement, eager to begin their new life together – the future pregnant with possibility. Plus, where can you....

Labor Day marks the end of a particularly laborious summer. I don’t say that in a negative way. This year just involved more physical labor than usual: gardening, sanding, painting, moving, scrubbing, and reorganizing. As tiring as those tasks sometimes are, there’s nothing more energizing than being part of a creative process whether it’s planting...

Finally got the finishing touches complete on that bathroom project I mentioned recently. While the plumber was installing fixtures, we got to chatting. I learned that his side job is spray-tanning women – preferably swimsuit models and athletes. He described his process and the paper thongs his clients use for maximum tan coverage. Curious, I inquired, .....

While walking with a friend last week, she was describing her recent trip to Montana. She recounted that her husband, an avid outdoorsman, can identify any animal by its droppings. Growing up in the city, I never knew that was a desirable or acquirable skill. The extent of animal diversity in Brooklyn was simply big or little, and it didn’t take a genius to figure that out....

I’m currently in the middle of two renovation projects – one intentional, the other by default. Project A was carefully thought out. Project B was born out of necessity and began unexpectedly without thought or direction. As you might expect, the designed one with blueprints went smoothly and efficiently with a general contractor managing all the moving parts. Conversely,...

We finally held my father-in-law’s memorial last weekend. Though he passed away in February, this was the first opportunity we’ve had to gather long-distance family and friends together to celebrate his life. My husband did an outstanding job eulogizing a complex man who was a study of contrasts...

My husband cut out an article from The Wall Street Journal recently that claims empirical evidence supporting the theory that attending church might be good for your body along with your soul. They even cited how frequency contributed to their findings. For example....

You’re probably disappointed I didn’t share any anecdotes from our family party last week. Here’s the issue: They won’t let me attend if they think I’m going to kiss and tell. What happens in New Jersey stays in New Jersey – though I’m usually the subject of many of the embarrassing stories. One niece wrote to me after the Christmas outing I hosted last year.....