Survivor's Guilt

By MAD21

There are people who come in and out of your life at unexpected times. And you never really know the full impact of their friendship until after a number of years, and in this situation after an illness threatens to take their life.

Around 1994, I was teaching a children's class at our church and I needed some help. I asked one of the parents of the kids in my class if he'd be interested in coming every week to help us out. He gladly accepted. Little did I know how that decision would impact both of our lives.

Roger worked with me until I changed positions in the ministry about a year and a half later. He then moved on to help another teacher for several years after that. He served many people in children's ministry including the special needs ministry, and was also elected and served as a Deacon. The kids, their parents, and many, many others came to love Roger over the years, including myself. But even more important, Roger developed a close relationship with Christ.

Click to read more ...

Being Human

By Kelly (Living is Simple)

Take joy in the un-rushed living.
In the unfolding.
It takes time to...

 Words from about a year ago.

How much life takes you and spins you around into places, relationships, and events you never could have imagined. I wish I could peg the best of those moments.

Click to read more ...

Death Up Close And Personal

By Michelle (Graceful, Faith in the Everyday)

Last year we experienced death up close and personal, in our own backyard.

Throughout the winter we had observed a large cocoon dangling like a leather satchel from the river birch tree. We weren’t confident it contained a hibernating creature – Rowan had prodded it too vigorously a couple of times, batting at it like it was a miniature tether ball, so we didn’t have high hopes for its metamorphosis. Nevertheless, one May evening Noah stormed into the house shouting, “The moth is here! The moth is here!” and we all dashed out to take a look.

Its body was furry and plump, like a tiny fruit bat, with a wingspan as wide as my hand. Two bushy antennae sprung from the moth’s head like centipedes, and on its intricately patterned wings shone bright yellow spots, unblinking owl eyes. It dangled a few inches from its cocoon, gingerly folding and unfolding its giant wings, hairy legs twitching a little as they clung to the branch. We all posed for photos with the moth like it was Julia Roberts suspended from the tree.

Click to read more ...

Act Your Age

By Sarah (Living Between the Lines)

When I turned 25 years old, I had a minor meltdown.  I sat on my friend Rick’s couch and just wailed about how I was “getting ready to be thirty!”  I just thought that my life was over!  Rick, bless his heart, had the patience of Job and though I’m sure he rolled his eyes, he listened and tried to sympathize.  

When I turned 29 years old, I really started to panic.  I saw 30 rolling in like a freight train and all I could focus on was what I felt I had missed in life.  For a few months, I caught myself really whining at God about it.  But my 30th birthday came and went and soon I noticed that 30 wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it was.

Click to read more ...

"Because I Said So!"

By MAD21

I was reading Kristen's blog, We Are THAT Family, yesterday. She had a great post called, "Things I Say in a Day." In it she listed the funny "momisms" she finds herself saying to her kids. It was so fun reading her list, as well as all the comments she received, but all I could think of was Bill Cosby. He has a fabulous video called, "Bill Cosby Himself" that he filmed in 1983. It has always been one of my favorites because it's just so funny (and real). The majority of his material in his video is related to family, and even though I was only a teenager when I first saw it, it was still funny. But now, as a parent, it has taken on a whole new meaning and hilarity.

Click to read more ...