After the Storm

We sat in bleachers watching my dad’s softball game at fields surrounded by corn fields on the west side of Slater, Iowa. It was hot and sticky with a subtle breeze that teased of rain. I was nine years old and to me baseball was boring, but it had gotten us out of...

Ombre Dyed Blanket

If you are anything like me, chances are you work hard to keep the “front” of your house clean while you own personal bedroom is a disaster. Every time company comes over, the clutter from every other room finds its way to the top of my dresser. Normally, this doesn’t...

Seeing Treasure in Those Considered Trash

Jackie is an ordinary woman but she’s doing extraordinary things to help Russian orphan graduates. Jackie grew up in northern Minnesota, went to school for hotel management and worked in hotels and then in children’s ministry. In 2002 Jackie met her future husband,...

Life’s Just Better with Friends

We looked ridiculous. One friend ran in front of me wearing white Michael Jackson-style gloves, 12-month-old footie pajamas flung around her neck like a scarf, managing to look graceful despite her strange accoutrements. Behind me, our other friend jogged even while...

Something’s Gotta Change

“And I don’t like what they’re doing in the bathroom, Mom,” he said with a tone of strong indignation and serious concern. WHAT? I thought, as I caught my internal response before it came out of my mouth. “What are they doing in the bathroom?” I said calmly. It was...