Count the moments when you ONLY felt pure joy. They are few and far between. Count the days when grief was so overwhelming that there wasn't even a moment of a rainbow. Also, praise God, those days do not occur often. Yet, I've experience both. You too have undoubtedly walked through the rainbow and the... Continue Reading →
Let the Nesting Begin {And other 21 week updates}
To be perfectly honest, I've been fighting sickness this entire week. Sunday my throat was sore and sinus pressure was building in my head. I had to tell my kids that "Mrs. Hasz was sick" on Monday, so that I had an excuse to sit more while teaching. Somehow I struggled through Tuesday and Wednesday.... Continue Reading →
Seeing with New Eyes {Advent’s Secret}
Advent is a season of secrets. For some of us, these secrets remain forever hidden. Sure, we wake up Christmas morning to dig through stockings and open presents. We eat cinnamon rolls and all manner of Christmas goodies. But, for some of us, the real gifts are never revealed. Gifts hidden for us since the... Continue Reading →
Childhood Christmas Wish
Sweet Belgian waffles and powdered sugar decorated my plate this morning at Verbena's Cafe. And, while "Seasons Greetings" was artfully proclaimed by the red and green place mat, no holiday message could compare to the delightful childhood memories conjured up by warm waffles and syrup - not even the ridiculously strong coffee poured often by the smiling wait... Continue Reading →
Twinkling
Christmas trees sparkle with gaudy baubles hung just so. Garlands add swagger and sway to light posts and stairwells and fireplace mantles. Hope twinkles brightly in children's eyes and wishful giggles. We tell the old, old story of our Savior's infant birth. We join choirs with carols and mangers with camels. We expect peace on earth... Continue Reading →
It’s a serrated howl
"'If it were up to me . . .' and then the words pounds, desperate and hard, 'I'd write this story differently.' I regret the words as soon as they leave me. They seem so un-Christian, so unaccepting - so No, God! I wish I could take them back, comb out their tangled madness, dress... Continue Reading →
Preparations of the heart
"Our God comes with power to save us. Each of us can name what it is we long to be saved from. Today, let's imagine ourselves freer. Throughout the day, let's picture new ways of responding to challenging relationships, habitual sins, and other ruts we are in. As we envision our freedom we experience how... Continue Reading →
Just when you think the sun has come out to stay
If you grew up in Texas on the coast as I did or in any other wet climate, then you know what it is like to experience rain day after day after day. I remember one summer that precipitation occurred every day in some form or fashion for more than 40 days. We joked that some little... Continue Reading →
