Today is a Good Old Day

 The Precious Present is a story of a man searching for the meaning of life. The present that would unlock the secrets. In the end, he realizes that the present is living in the present not the past or the future but the present. Don’t get me wrong. Anticipation is a good thing. It is wonderful looking forward to what is to come. The memories of our past are also such a gift to recall. But neither of these should preclude us from being present in the moment that we are living. 

I love pouring through photos of days gone by. Right now I am looking forward to attending a wedding today of a sweet lady who has allowed me to be a part of her life. Ronnie B and I are on a road trip with Cora, our perfect pup, to go see family in the northwest. So today is a good old day. One I will look back on fondly. 

This phrase came up in my Bible study yesterday. The idea is that we need to cherish the here and now. Recognizing that today is a day that will be a memory whether we embrace it or not. There is an opportunity in every moment to connect with others, be creative, and live life. Moping is not an option if we want to live a life fulfilled. I often go back to the lady who had terminal cancer that continued to volunteer by making phone calls. It was all she could manage. But she believed that each day is a gift to be used to help others. What a lesson she taught me. Her heart for service has gotten me out of countless pity parties over the years. 

So today is the good old days. Tomorrow is not promised and yesterday holds memories that bring a smile to my face. Whether you are a teen, a parent, or a senior like me, do something today that will connect you to others and bring you joy.

In Him,

Joyful

11-15-25

I Strive to Remind You that for those Tears I Died~Peace in Community

 Trust, fear not, turn your hands up to let go of what you cannot control. God knows that we have anxiety about the possibility of loss, death, illness and betrayal. He knows that each of us will face. the hard things life most definitely will throw at us. The truth is none of us lives a life free of heart crushing circumstances. What He also promises that not a one of us has to walk through life’s storms alone. We have community to lean in and comfort us with their embraces and their love. Jesus promises to be only a whisper away in the dark of night when our mind spirals to the worst case scenario. We can be sure that even when things are not as we hoped for or even what we feared, there is hope that each step is toward His light. 

And Jesus said come to the water stand by my side. I know you are thirsty, you won’t be denied. I felt every teardrop when in darkness you cried. And I strive to remind you that for those tears I died. This song has been a comfort throughout my life. It is His promise that I don’t grieve alone. That He is ever present in my story and provides others to share my journey. 

Step close if you or someone you love is going through uncertainty. Wrap your love and support around others and let others wrap you in their arms. We were made to live life in community not alone in our bed. Fear is real but so is the comfort that comes with openly sharing our fears with others. Don’t make the mistake of telling yourself that everything is going to be alright. It will be what it will be but the good thing is that we will walk through the even if together. Then celebrate and rejoice that God knows our steps and will lead us by the hand through even the most difficult situations. 

I would never choose to lose my son to suicide or have a son who is homeless in Los Angeles but here I am worrying about the son who still lives and at peace with the fact that one of my sons is safely in Jesus’ arms. The blessings that have come over the past fifteen years since losing Ryan don’t change the fact that I would change it if I could. But because it is my reality, I embrace the ways God has allowed me to touch others because of my walk through loss. Life is going to have hills and valleys, sunny days and stormy ones but I know that I am never alone. I have the opportunity to rejoice and grieve with those in my life who never miss a moment to reach out. For this I am grateful and this gives me peace.

In Him,

Joyful

11-11-25

My Weekend was not too Short but Just Right

 Monday, Monday…….aww to be retired and not be scurrying around to get out the door for school. What tradeoffs we have of aging with the wrinkles, white hair and a few aches and pains but the time to sit with a cup of coffee a bit longer under a cozy blanket. My companion pup, Cora, asleep beside me after a quick potty break in the brisk morning air is such a comfort. 

This Monday is not the relaxing one that I usually enjoy. My day is filled with appointments and packing for a month long rv trip with Ronnie B to go to Jessica’s wedding and travel to see grandkids in the northwest. But still there is time for Bible study and a few clicks of the keys to share my thoughts with you. 

Remember when each Monday morning we would ask a coworker how their weekend was? Their response was the predictable…..way too short. That always seemed negative to me. Rather than reflecting on their time off that was always as the same number of hours each week unless a holiday was attached, they whined about the predetermined length. Today, I want to share that I had a fabulous weekend filled with smiles and connections. Friday night I had a date with my Ronnie B then got to watch Mayve on Saturday morning. Saturday evening was a social one with Julie coming for dinner and a movie early then a gathering at Jenn’s where I may have eaten too much pecan pie and had a bit more whiskey than I should have. Luckily, it is just across the street so Ron and I walked home safely. Sunday was a trip to see our sweet Aunt Linda who is approaching eighty-one and still sharp minded as her steps slow down with health issues. Sunday night football topped off the weekend before I laid my head on my pillow. So I am not saying my weekend was too short. In fact, it was perfect and filled with those I love and enjoy. 

Today, I will shorten my time on my favorite spot on the couch and get around for our next adventures. Natalie and Nate get keys to their first home today which we will see next week when we get up north. I am taking Jenn for a cat scan that she would appreciate prayers for. My lists are dwindling as I get the laundry washed and the packing done. Ron and I are looking forward to our time in our traveling casita. It is always so fun to roll along together in our cozy home on wheels. My hope is that your weekend was just the right length and even if you are getting ready for work that you have work family to look forward to and smiles along the way. 

In Him,

Joyful

11-10-25

A Lifetime of Memories and a Good Chuckle

Last night with a group of friends, Ronnie B shared a story from our high school days. I just have to share it with all of you. Yes, we were high school sweethearts in the early seventies. So one day Ron got the bright idea to put someone else’s locker padlock through my back belt loop and leave me stuck there in the hallway. When the bell rang I obviously was not going to class. An administrator came by and asked me what I was doing. I explained that I was locked to this locker. Remember this was way before computers and such. Eventually, she got the padlocks number, poured through paperwork, found the combination and set me free. Everyone in our group last night chimed in that after that I still married this man?! Yes, I did and would again. Even with his ornery streak he is the best. That goofy, misinformed act is still making us laugh over five decades later. 

Sometimes the silliest or most random moments can embed themselves in our brains for a lifetime. Susi and I met while we were both working at a primitive camp in Flagstaff for underprivileged kids. One trip to Lake Powell found everyone scrambling for cover as a rainstorm hit. Kids were taken care of first to get them to a dry spot. When we had that accomplished the only place left to lay our heads was a way too fragrant bathroom. We were wet and cold when we laid on that concrete floor. So we put our extra jeans on our head to block the glaring light and provide a bit of warmth. We still talk about chatting the night away and that because of those circumstances we became besties for life. 

I know that I could write endless events that captured my thoughts and became memories that are cherished even now. What I know is that life rarely goes as planned or unfolds as we expect. In those sideways moments there are always a few positives in the chaos if we choose to look for them. Even when my mom was on her final day of this earth there were moments that make me smile still. Teri, Mom and I were in her room having coffee. Teri and I were drinking coffee. Mom never let that bitter stuff touch her lips. Allen came in and told us we needed to stop being lazy and that Mom should get her ass out of bed and go mow the lawn. Mom winked at him and told him she would gladly do it tomorrow. By the way, Mom never mowed the grass even though Allen always teased that she should. The next day Mom was in heaven and not riding the lawn mower through the pasture. Well, at least she wasn’t mowing down here but she was out of the bed that she had been resting in with her two daughters by her side. 

Life is a tapestry of moments that weave together the good with the bad. The memories that are created as we walk the path of life fill our thoughts on occasion. Like sitting in a living room with a group of friends sharing experiences that remain smile makers even a lifetime later. 

In Him,

Joyful

11-9-25

Encouragement Keeps Me Moving in Love

 This has been a week of encouragement, reflection and a mirror of my walk through life. Sometimes it is easy to punch myself for what I am not doing. What goes undone or unsaid can cause meto lay my head on my pillow at night and dwell on regrets. Who didn’t I reach out to that I should have? How could I have better lived my life verse of let love and kindness be the motivation in all you do. 1 Corinthians 16-14. But this week God showed me through encouraging words of others that even with missed opportunities, I am at a place in life where I am getting it right more often than not. This is not me bragging but becoming aware of how God has moved me to lean into His purpose for my life. 

I often write about the power each of us has to encourage others. Encouragement matters. It matters to keep me going in the ways I am getting it right and the power to turn away from the missteps that still occur. Thank you to each of you who reached out and lifted me up. Let me share one of these heartfelt words that Donna sent me that brought tears to my heart as they allowed me to see myself through not only her eyes but Jesus’ eyes as well. 

Barb-  I don’t say it much cause I’ve usually been a mess, but I want you to know how precious you are to me! There are no words that could be said and really convey the love that Abba pours through you. You are grace in action which moves Heaven and Earth in the hearts of people. I love you, You are cherished by Heaven and me.   Lots of love always-

This sweet card that arrived via snail mail will be one of my most treasured possessions. It gives me a glimpse of how my heart is seen. It matters that my sweet friend took the time to find this perfect way of lifting me up. That is what each of us needs to strive to do in one another’s lives. Thank you Donna for keeping me moving in the direction of knowing Him and making Him known. I will stumble but God uses even those to share His love for me and for others in my path. 

In Him,

Joyful

11-8-25

Connecting in the Skies Some Fifteen Years Later

 These smiles, this friendship is simply warm and beautiful. Marlie and Sarah have been besties since middle school. Their love for one another has been strong enough to weather a move away and life leading them in opposite directions. I adore these women who I was honored to have in Young Life while they were tweens and just discovering each other. 

Yesterday, Natalie told me that Sarah met Natalie’s father-in-law while they are both flight attendants for Alaska Airlines. When they became facebook friends, Sarah asked him how he knew me since we were mutual friends. What a small world we live in. What an honor that this lovely lady still allows me in her world through facebook. Connections matter whether they are decades ago, ongoing, or through social media.

 I get a smile on my face when I recall how these girls allowed me to be a part of their getting ready for prom at Sarah’s mom’s house. The love they showed Ron and I when we lost Ryan mattered more than they could imagine. It makes me happy that Matt and Sarah’s worlds collided in the skies. It just shows how encouraging others makes a difference even years into the future. 

Thank you my girls for remembering with me the times we shared when you were younger but just as beautiful as you are in this moment. 

In Him,

Joyful

11-6-25

Wouldn’t It Be Nice? Yes, It Has Definitely Been Nice

I remember singing this song in high school when I was first dating Ronnie B. What a gift life with my man has been throughout the past five decades. We are so blessed to still be one another’s person in so many ways. Life has unfolded and there have definitely been ups and downs throughout. But here we are at sixty-nine, forty-eight years of waking up together just like the song says. I remember even pretending to pay the mortgage and bills when I was a goofy teen. Here we are with the mortgage payments behind us and the truth is that although paying bills is not something I should have looked forward to, it is one piece of the journey. 

In a week we will leave the home we have built and head out in our casita on wheels for at least a month. Whether at home or on the road, I am so thankful that we can say goodnight and stay together like the song foresees. This November, a month of gratitude, I am thankful for the life I have lived with my Ronnie B beside me and even the bills we still have to pay. Thankfully, I don’t have to sit down with a checkbook for most of them these days. 

In Him,

Joyful

11-5-25