tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183820242012-02-16T01:50:41.092-05:00What's on my mind...I write what I believe.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.comBlogger1021100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-85311625023304260712012-02-14T19:52:00.001-05:002012-02-14T20:05:01.831-05:00

Ever wish you had a wardrobe assistant? Someone who would pick outfits, coordinate accessories and organize your closet? Someone who would weed out the acid-washed jeans because you never really are ever going to wear, (or fit into) them again...someone who would take one look at your attempt at a power suit and say, "Eh...not so much!" Will you agree that sometimes even a mirror will lie to you?

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-15010298813767231422012-01-22T18:37:00.001-05:002012-01-22T18:37:45.064-05:00

There is a very fat squirrel who lives inside some razor wire at a prison. The prisoners feed this squirrel by hand and he's not afraid. He gets peanut butter, cookies and all sorts of non-squirrel food. And his life shows it. He's content to stay inside the fence and feast. He is not sleek and fast like his cousins who live outside the fence. They are too shy to trust the hand of humans. They

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-47493808586763408862012-01-07T09:12:00.000-05:002012-01-07T09:19:32.691-05:00

It's the new year and I've flipped back to the start of my Daily Chronological Bible. Today was the story of Abraham and Sara and some heavenly visitors. At the age when most people would say it's time to retire and enjoy a rocking chair...this elderly couple are told by 3 heavenly visitors that they are going to become parents for the first time. There is no mention of Abraham's reaction...he

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-70121547362619717442012-01-03T19:37:00.000-05:002012-01-03T19:37:01.067-05:00

Happy New Year! The year 2012 has begun whether you like it or not. Depending on your life, it either met you at the door like an unwanted salesman or a surprise visit from someone you didn't think you'd see. The Bible talks about doors...the two doors I would like you to check out are found at opposite ends of the Bible: Genesis and Revelation. Door #1: "If you do well, will not {your

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-34270249500280561352011-12-24T14:30:00.002-05:002011-12-24T14:30:16.681-05:00

When people ask you What you'd like for Christmas every year Do you stop and wonder if Mere gifts could stop the tears? Have you held your heart inside A fist so tight and strong That nothing and no one could help You heal from someone's wrong? You did not come by twist of fate Nor earthly invitation Not even kindly words of friends Did beckon to this station This Christmas you will find a

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-74847275558768252712011-12-11T08:13:00.006-05:002011-12-11T09:50:26.273-05:00

It was a dark and stormy night aboard a cargo ship in the Irish sea. Eight men on board a vessel containing 3 tons of limestone...when the hull cracks and they begin to take on water. A 2:00 am mayday call was sent out and area ships answered to provide shelter for survivors. The men donned their immersion suits with strobe lights and found themselves in the chilly waters off the coast of

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-8033946220746908402011-09-18T20:06:00.004-04:002011-09-18T20:43:33.470-04:00

Here's a cooking tip for you if you need an easy way to peel garlic: turn it on the flatter side and press with the heel of your hand until you hear a "pop". That loosens the outer peel that contains the clove inside. You can then peel the garlic clove easily so it can be prepared for cooking.So why would I put a cooking tip in my blog? Well, sometimes when I am doing the most mundane things like

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-74111146134531153932011-07-30T09:25:00.006-04:002011-07-30T11:40:38.605-04:00

"It was the best of cakes, it was the worst of cakes." That was a pretty good synopsis by my husband as we celebrated our son's birthday.You remember the scene, either as a parent or as a child...a lovely concoction called a "cake" and enjoying a slice with them. Memories of a pink and purple strawberry cake with thick pink icing comes to mind...a sugar bomb if ever there was one. Or, a different

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-7230826467057854902011-07-16T11:49:00.004-04:002011-07-16T12:45:41.213-04:00

I was sound asleep one night while my dad was visiting. He sleeps on the other side of the house in my son's old room. This night I was awakened out of a deep sleep. I clearly heard my dad's voice call my name. It was like he was just outside the door! (Yes I heard him above hubby's snores.) It was so loud and distinct I almost stood up in bed...dropping the chains of a deep sleep on the covers.I

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-61812773613221572112011-03-15T19:50:00.005-04:002011-03-15T20:25:34.834-04:00

The easy way out is never easy in the end. You always have to play some kind of catch-up or pay a huge fee of some kind.My Dad always says, "Do the hard stuff first." Then you could take it a bit easier as you get older. That wisdom is true for schooling, work and even taking care of your health.Instead of taking a year off before starting college, jump in with both feet--work through summer

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-24184697856467685742011-02-07T19:07:00.006-05:002011-02-08T21:09:07.958-05:00

My brother and I had a little bit of an anxious weekend. You see, we both tried calling Dad and didn't get an answer. In fact, his phone machine that normally answers with it's generic male voice (that sounds like a robot on too much caffeine) didn't even pick up like usual. We called and listened to the line ring and ring and ring. It seemed like nobody was home.We wondered, did Dad pick up and

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-56393203354586539172011-01-18T19:43:00.006-05:002011-01-19T18:25:35.106-05:00

As I was grocery shopping the other day, I overheard a conversation between two little girls that almost floored me. One asked the other a very simple question...but the weight of a two letter word slapped me in the back of the head.The little girls where trailing their mom's cart and were deep in conversation. As I passed, the taller one asked the smaller one, "If you grow up, would you rather

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-21748447802206044542011-01-10T21:12:00.003-05:002011-01-10T22:06:26.656-05:00

I had a few more thoughts on our campfire experience. I decided, it's all about the marshmallows. It's not the chocolate or the graham crackers. They are just the vehicles to get the wonderful sugar napalm to your taste buds.When we stopped at the grocery to pick up s'mores supplies, there was literally one bag of large marshmallows left. We made our way home with our bag of inedible looking

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-21232786281137867692011-01-04T22:13:00.004-05:002011-01-04T22:46:56.804-05:00

We had small group tonight and decided campfire therapy was needed. The weather was cool with a spritz of rain that kept us just chilled enough while the fire burned. (Yes January in Florida can be warm!) We had glowing coals, green palmetto sticks, soft marshmallows, sweet chocolate and crunchy graham crackers. It was a good night for this.We talked about everything and nothing, we talked about

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-87031419615596968902010-09-21T20:44:00.004-04:002010-09-21T20:59:54.813-04:00

If you've ever visited a government building, it's obvious that to have access to certain areas, you need a badge. This tells security who you are and your access level. Your badge determines where you can go. To get a badge, you either need to work there or be a visitor who has been cleared with security. And even then you may find doors that remain locked.It is frowned upon at these

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-64983424019114792472010-07-08T19:04:00.004-04:002010-07-08T20:29:59.615-04:00

Have you seen the Seed Cathedral at the Shanghai 2010 Exhibit by the UK? It is incredible! If you haven't seen it yet, I am providing a link to a video of it.There is some background music...if you listen, you will hear it softly say:Safe Tomorrow , by Lali PunaNever going anywhereNever going anywhereIf we meet turn your headTry to make it home by nightNever going anywhereNever going

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-89830004539040395772010-03-18T20:16:00.004-04:002010-03-19T06:06:08.940-04:00

Our Ladies' Bible study just finished Acts 27, the story of Paul's ship wreck on his way to Rome. I loved the detail that Luke gave us. You could almost taste the salt spray and hear the anchor chains rattle across the deck.The one issue that kept coming up, was that Paul wanted them all to keep going. He promised that God said no one would be lost, just the cargo and ship. If everyone would stay

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-34062835041603512282010-02-24T05:49:00.003-05:002010-02-24T06:15:45.941-05:00

When my son was old enough, we gave him the honorable chore of taking the garbage out of the house. I think maybe the first time he did it he felt pretty grown up, but week after week the repetitive process really got on his nerves. So he started to "forget" the chore...a lot.A three person family can generate a pretty good amount of trash. And if you don't get it out to the curb, it piles up.

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-27734364298869044132010-01-21T18:17:00.003-05:002010-01-21T18:53:19.667-05:00

My friend Ruth said she saw Elvis at the post office last week. When she dropped that tidbit during Bible study this week, we couldn't leave it alone. In fact, my friends dared me to blog about it so...here we are!Ruth detailed what he was wearing, that he was getting out of a car and going in to the post office. In the midst of her hilarious retelling, we asked if he broke out into song or if he

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-72065920424348996762010-01-01T12:13:00.004-05:002010-01-10T14:30:40.794-05:00

I went to the door to welcome hubby home the other evening. The dog was barking frantically and when I opened the front door and looked outside I could see why. There was a strange car just closing it's doors and quickly pulling out of our driveway. My hubby came walking up the sidewalk with lunchbox, papers, and a puzzled look on his face.He said, "That was weird."I said, "Why, who was that?""I

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-33092455702112208242009-12-07T16:40:00.001-05:002009-12-07T16:43:31.247-05:00

We had lunch in a Thai restaurant the other day. Like all restaurants, they like to dress the plate with fruit or green stuff. This place chose cantaloupe...which looked lovely in all it's delectable orange splendor. But one bite told my son it was all show, no flavor. I explained to him that in Florida, cantaloupe's season is summertime. Some growers try to force the fruit to produce out of

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-7189499122519971332009-11-24T11:10:00.009-05:002009-11-25T08:50:26.036-05:00

I am drying bread in my oven today. The whole house smells like bread baking. This is the first step for making my Mom's recipe for Thanksgiving dressing. I am excited that the Thanksgiving cooking sequence has begun!I think this step is the most important for good dressing. You see, if you don't remove the moisture in the bread, there is no place for the turkey stock, butter and veggie juices to

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-46257618786603792132009-11-10T17:11:00.002-05:002009-11-10T17:15:49.751-05:00

So I was with a dear friend today and her sweet little boy. We stopped at a huge fountain and gave him coins to toss into the water. He was at first amazed that we would allow him to pitch pennies into the splashing water, but loved the game. Happily he toddled back and forth from us to the pool and tossing pennies one by one into the bubbling water. The coins seemed to vanish magically.Have you

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-11893709797852465782009-11-03T13:23:00.004-05:002009-11-03T14:05:09.384-05:00

I have a 70 lb. lap dog. He is a cross between a collie and German shepherd. He's very protective of his family and likes to herd grandkids around the yard. Recently he met our neighborhood armadillos.The dog is fascinated by these "armored squirrels" that root around in our yard. They come to harvest earthworms wherever they can be found. And, they leave behind holes just big enough to turn your

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-46285475348536709832009-10-27T14:53:00.006-04:002009-10-27T15:08:27.168-04:00

I have just returned from a women's retreat. It was 72 hours of concentrated teaching. During the lecture series, we were to sit with the same group of women throughout the whole retreat. And each table had a name from a women in the Bible. My table was the table of Rachel.Can I tell you a little bit about Rachel? She was a shepherdess. Her job was to lead her sheep to better grazing areas,

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-40490045181286227362009-09-24T17:47:00.002-04:002009-09-24T17:51:45.938-04:00

One of my earliest memories was about my Dad. I can remember being in a group of adults. I was toddling around, looking for my dad and the sun was in my eyes. I couldn't see him, but I could hear his voice laughing and talking. I found his slacks, so I reached up, and said, "Daddy up!"I was picked up. To my surprise it was not my father. I panicked and looked around for my daddy...he was not far

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-84438995648605955132009-09-18T06:59:00.007-04:002009-09-18T08:45:05.913-04:00

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet." ~JulietI have always been interested in names. There have been a few babies born at our church and I loved hearing what the parents decided to call their children. Names are important, they are the one legacy that really sticks with you. Have you ever looked up what your name means? It's pretty cool, especially

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-34118307098618551122009-09-10T11:36:00.007-04:002009-09-11T06:41:01.850-04:00

Our family was in the Medicine Bow National Park, specifically the Snowy Range camping area near Laramie Wyoming. We were gathered to spread my mother's ashes. It was difficult, but a necessary step in our grieving process. Once we found the spot, we had a short ceremony and huddled in tears.I wanted so much for a special message from God for my family. I asked God to send an Eagle, a butterfly

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-30216384136704771052009-08-07T08:37:00.003-04:002009-08-07T08:47:41.952-04:00

We had an afternoon summer thunderstorm the other day. I was enjoying the rain and lightshow by my window until a bolt of lightning hit very close. So close in fact that I saw the fireball and felt a wave of static electricity like a slap. The dog and I then did something very brave...we ran to the bedroom and trembled. We didn't lose our electricity. I figured all was fine until I tried to turn

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-63113923693467974212009-07-21T07:42:00.003-04:002009-07-21T08:10:20.015-04:00

Its summertime and I love going barefoot. The grass underfoot is God's carpet. Even the scorching heat of a blacktop road is a summertime kiss to the soles of my feet. A quick dash to the water hose and they cool instantly...only to do a quick tap dance in the puddles for a summer mud bath.When fall comes to town I will reluctantly pull on socks and shoes. And for those first few weeks of autumn,

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-44857909003407145382009-07-09T16:09:00.002-04:002009-07-09T16:13:41.198-04:00

I had a friend forward an article to me from Harvard Business Publishing. It was a blog about "The Generation M Manifesto". I read it and could hear the verse, "deep calls to deep". (Psalm 42:7) Could it be that people are finally getting tired of fast food, fast relationships and fast living? The writer says that Generation M stands for "movement" or "...mostly about a growing number of people

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-58084027601797243382009-06-19T09:07:00.004-04:002009-06-19T09:31:34.707-04:00

I found my faith at the bottom of my purse the other day. You see, my granddaughter gave me a necklace just before my mom's funeral. It was the word "Faith", with a bit of bling in it.After the memorial service, when I packed to move back home, I slipped it into a special pocket in my purse and forgot about it. This week I was cleaning out the frass of life from my purse while waiting in my

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-88249741359820338252009-06-11T17:54:00.005-04:002009-06-11T18:01:10.569-04:00

I joined a sewing group recently. They are getting together gifts for our team from church who are traveling to Israel this summer. So far the group has made 300 backpacks for kids, and several quilts for a nursing home. The colors are beautiful, the handiwork is wonderful too. (If you have material to donate, let me know!)After some of the piecing, there are scraps left over...bags and boxes of

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-25425896011804887332009-06-02T20:49:00.007-04:002009-06-03T07:48:14.806-04:00

Last weekend I attended a packing party...and it was fun. My friend is moving back to Iowa soon, and her hubby is already out there. I figured she needed some help. I put out a call and some wonderful volunteers stepped up.My friend was very humbled by the offer to help. She was reluctant to let us in. It wasn't the state of her house but the state of her heart that was a big deal to us. Most of

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-67592905064533713582009-04-29T09:11:00.009-04:002009-04-29T14:04:01.915-04:00

I remember when I was in elementary school and asked my teacher how to spell something. Invariably she'd tell me to "look it up" in the dictionary. Now for a word like hospital, that was an easy find. But a word like gnat or pneumonia...it seemed impossible!I would reply, "Well I can't find it in the dictionary, it must not be a real word!"These days dictionary publishers are always adding and

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-75503285880930175672009-04-17T09:58:00.010-04:002009-04-17T11:02:53.465-04:00

A curious thing happened with a bouquet of roses at my Dad's house. These roses were given by my Mom's brother for her memorial service. I was cleaning up the wilting flowers and noticed that several of the long stems had sprouts of new growth on them. I had never seen that before. We saved some of those long stems to see if they would root. Sadly, they did not take so they were discarded. It was

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-45267306424562719722009-04-08T20:20:00.007-04:002009-04-08T20:45:02.502-04:00

It was Easter Sunday in our little church several years ago. We had decided to launch the Easter festivities in a different way. We decided to have a woman run up the center aisle of this tiny church, dressed in Biblical garb and carrying a basket of spices. It was to be a reenactment of Mary's telling the disciples that Jesus was alive.I stood outside the church door, waiting for my cue. It was

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-56623882779758503632009-03-29T07:37:00.006-04:002009-03-29T07:46:47.049-04:00

Whenever Mom told me about her Dad, she told me about following him around--basically being in his back pocket when he was at home. She was the first girl after two boys and loved her daddy. Grandpa loved to garden, so naturally she helped him with his plants.He actually developed a lovely version of the Cockscomb plant. The flower is a unique crimson velventeen ruffle that looks like the comb on

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-5950711773965771032009-02-05T15:08:00.003-05:002009-02-05T15:17:03.861-05:00

One of my favorite Christian ministries is The Navigators. I was just reading a quick article on the Navigators in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They have gone back to basics with Bible study and teens.“We recently taught them a devotional method called Lectio Divina,” Abe says. This includes five steps: lectio or divine reading; meditatio or meditation; orotio, or prayer; contemplatio where people

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-44504511735258674912009-01-08T10:35:00.005-05:002009-01-08T13:16:25.401-05:00

We had our belated Christmas party last night at Bible study. There was food, study, debate and a gift exchange. What was interesting about the gift exchange is that we brought items from home that we had an abundance of. At the end of the study, we sorted out the gifts and decided to open them at home. It was exciting to bundle mysterious packages into my car that night.When I arrived home, I

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-66959001272325896102008-12-30T08:14:00.004-05:002008-12-30T08:30:49.489-05:00

After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over {the place} where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-26404283840933861142008-11-26T22:47:00.005-05:002008-11-26T22:57:54.544-05:00

Did you ever sit at the kids’ table during Thanksgiving? It was usually a flimsy card table with someone’s turkey they made in school perched in a nest of fake autumn leaves in the table’s center. The paper plates were lively autumn colors, with matching cups and napkins. The cutlery was plastic, with knives that could spread butter but couldn’t cut turkey. We either had our plates filled for us,

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-88865998392765810722008-11-15T08:20:00.004-05:002008-11-16T20:58:54.054-05:00

Today I’m driving to a Memorial service for a special lady. You see, my friend Daphne passed away to glory on Nov 4th after a long illness. She was so stubborn that the doctors and nurses were pretty amazed at her stamina. But then they didn’t know Daphne until she got sick. I’ve known her for over 25 years.I remember first meeting Daphne. It was dinner and a card game at her house with Joe. The

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-52763453274229095112008-10-31T11:39:00.003-04:002008-10-31T11:57:07.885-04:00

I like to leave encouragement cards to the wait staff at restaurants. It normally includes info about our church or my blog. Have you ever stopped to think about this difficult job?They start their work day introducing themselves to complete strangers. They serve a beverage and take an order for the kitchen to cook up. Then they deliver the food and make sure the guests have everything they need

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-67353724101702507262008-10-20T06:42:00.004-04:002008-10-20T06:57:51.582-04:00

In Deuteronomy 34, we find Moses climbing Mount Nebo, all the way to the top of Pisgah. God was taking him literally to new heights, but He was also keeping His promise to Moses. If you remember, because of Moses’ disobedience, God promised he would never set foot in Canaan. (Numbers 20:1-13 ) However, God would show it to him.And what a view he had! From horizon to horizon…we read, “And the LORD

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-843696491344747042008-09-28T08:49:00.004-04:002008-10-04T07:57:15.226-04:00

Many, many moons ago when I was a teenager, my friend would play her guitar and sing a song by Jim Croce. It was my favorite sung by her. It's called "Time in a Bottle". For years she has been battling an illness and that song comes back to me in pieces and parts almost every day. This morning I looked up all the lyrics and I was amazed. I wondered if Jim Croce ever realized who actually wrote

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-12109832972062733082008-09-16T22:22:00.004-04:002008-09-16T22:42:16.886-04:00

I cannot imagine how people feel in the gulf cities of Texas and Louisiana right now. Yet another hurricane beat a path to their door with water, wind and tornados nearly a week ago. Lovely coastlines were erased, boats were drydocked in asphalt parking lots and cars were moored in murky water.And the people, they are everywhere except where they want to be. Those that evacuated are trying to get

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-16961798886191188622008-08-24T10:54:00.002-04:002008-08-24T10:59:09.545-04:00

The name Fay means elf or fairy. It’s a lovely name. I have a new friend named Faye. It is a delicate, female name. Even the pronunciation of the name takes a small bit of breath.When news came of a tropical storm named Fay was on her way, I did not take much notice. We had been through tropical storms before, and they seemed to be a regular Florida rain storm. We bought our hurricane supplies

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-28347183590733941932008-07-27T13:10:00.004-04:002008-07-27T13:21:06.264-04:00

I was reading an article in Worshiper* magazine today. It started with an idea that spurred my thinking. Rev. Smith said that the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality is "Sage wisdom from a culture in which the measure of all things tends to be results and success. Whatever's working, go with it!" His article goes on to talk about how that concept does not work for the worship of God.If

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-36055945756515552432008-07-17T19:41:00.004-04:002008-07-17T20:16:40.204-04:00

When someone wants to buy something of great value like a diamond ring or a house, they are usually required to put down a deposit. Sometimes it's 20% or more. The seller wants to make sure you are serious about the purchase, and that you'll be back to sign a contract for monthly payments or to pay it off completely. If you don't return, you lose the deposit.If you don't have money, then

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-68919882855169621322008-06-09T19:41:00.000-04:002008-06-09T19:42:40.788-04:00

It's still wildfire season in Florida, and I can't seem to get away from the visual of the blackened brush on my way to the grocery store.The palmetto bushes are now a riot of green against the black and brown damage of the brush fires in my area. I am amazed how close the fires got to some buildings. Two churches in my area had the fires licking at their parking lots, ready to pounce on the roof

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-41061544175008538542008-05-30T07:05:00.006-04:002008-05-30T07:14:45.362-04:00

'Tis the season for wildfires and so far we've come away unscathed. On the way to the grocery store, there are scars of fires that riddle my neighborhood. Once the fire was finally out, smoke hung in the heat of the day. It was enough to make your throat sore for days. As I drove by the blackened acres, it amazed me how much farther in to the brush you could see. Where one section was seemingly

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-15433502239789995612008-04-11T07:43:00.006-04:002008-04-11T08:01:24.116-04:00

One of the tragedies of war is something called "Friendly Fire". In the American Heritage Dictionary it is defined asn. Discharge of a military weapon that injures or kills a member of one's own armed forces or an ally. Normally this happens because of obscured vision, the aim was off, or bad intelligence was provided. The consequences can be tragic. A soldier can lose their life. If they suffer

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-74374953530793086902008-02-11T07:48:00.000-05:002008-02-11T08:04:26.184-05:00

We love to visit garage sales on the weekend. We love the adventure of a treasure hunt where most everything is $1. One time we found something really cool. There was no price, so we asked about it.The owner said, "$1".We looked at each other and couldn't give them such a small amount--we knew it's true value."We'll give you $10."The expression on the owner's face was great."Excuse me," he said,

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-83936281799219581342008-01-18T20:21:00.000-05:002008-01-19T15:06:44.451-05:00

James E. Bibbons was quoted as saying, "If a matter is not serious enough to pray about, then it is not serious enough to worry about - and if it is serious enough to pray about, and we have prayed about it, then there is no need to worry about it."When I was little and had a nightmare, I would lay paralyzed in my bed and yell for my mom or dad to come rescue me. I guess I was too afraid of the

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-92082026004106684612008-01-03T20:19:00.000-05:002008-01-03T20:33:31.887-05:00

Back in high school we had spirit week to celebrate homecoming. Each day would be a special day to show your spirit: Nerd day, Black and gold day, Hat day, 50's day and Inside-Out day. All week the excitement would build. Then at Friday's pep rally we welcomed our homecoming football champions. (Go Bobcats!)My favorite day was 50's day. Another fun "spirit day" was Inside-Out day, where students

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-8445752133098375192007-12-13T20:38:00.000-05:002007-12-13T20:48:27.494-05:00

Last weekend I was in Bethlehem. Well ok, not the Middle East and not Pennsylvania. Our church created an authentic marketplace in Bethlehem. It was amazing. My job was to tend the vineyard. I got to dress up in a long dress, head covering and veil. I carried about 4 pounds of grapes in a basket and talked to visitors.As characters in Bethlehem, we were to step back in time and forget all about

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-8462280420866173322007-11-19T16:16:00.000-05:002007-11-20T14:39:23.934-05:00

It's almost Thanksgiving and we are in the crush of the holiday season. With our calendars filled to the brim, we will somehow cram more than the usual amount of festivities into every 24 hours. There will be shopping and cooking, gift wrapping and visiting. All with the usual work and school schedules wedged in between.There will be countdowns to Christmas, last minute gift buying and Top 20

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-46250630874384025792007-11-07T13:31:00.000-05:002007-11-08T12:35:29.002-05:00

I like the quiet at night when everyone is asleep. There is a gentleness outside as people crawl into their beds to rest from the day. If I step outside with the dogs, I can hear the nocturnal animals waking up for their part of the day. Rabbits call to each other to look out for the dogs. An owl screeches like a patrol car, rounding up a vermin snack. An armadillo shuffles through the leaves in

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-35968104324143611722007-10-19T12:58:00.000-04:002007-10-19T13:00:46.464-04:00

Kim Peek is the man that the movie Rain Man was based on. He is an amazing autistic savant, who has an unlimited photographic memory. His father Fran Peek is his caretaker and they go everywhere together. To strike up conversation, his father will ask you your birthday. Kim can tell you what day you were born, and what day your 65th birthday will be on in seconds. He has memorized entire books

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-48744326132781427532007-10-09T12:39:00.000-04:002007-10-09T12:44:55.067-04:00

In Peru's Nazca Desert there are curious lines on the ground. As you walk around, there are pathways cleared of their dark colored rocks to expose the light sand beneath. From ground level, it seems like a maze of paths that stretch for miles. However, from the vantage point of the sky, amazing drawings come to life. You can see animals, people, insects and geometric designs. When you take into

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-48061888560994072302007-09-23T16:48:00.000-04:002007-09-23T16:51:58.093-04:00

It was after the evening church service and we were all standing around, talking and laughing. There was a Florida rainstorm going on, so inevitably the lights went out. It's amazing how quickly the room went silent. All you could see were the EXIT lights, showing the way out of the pitch black room. The lights came back on again, and everyone resumed their laughter and conversation. My

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-44977193840516792982007-09-10T19:53:00.000-04:002007-09-10T20:06:03.430-04:00

Six years ago, September 11 was like any other day. People were just getting in to work, dropping off their kids at daycare or stopping for a coffee. In minutes, their world would change. Evil touched the United States and thousands lost their lives in one stroke. Were they in the wrong place at the wrong time? Were they bad people, did they somehow bring it upon themselves? Harsh questions, I

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-52896129856935485092007-08-09T10:22:00.000-04:002007-08-09T10:47:24.771-04:00

The shuttle lifted off to another mission this week. We stood in the parking lot of the church and felt the ble minutes later. The launch had a beautiful orange tail that changed colors as it made it's way through the atmosphere. The trail of smoke was towering, then bent as the shuttle found it's "window" to space. The winds in the sky then seemed to make the rocket trail dance a bit as the

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-91249514856868844272007-08-02T18:46:00.000-04:002007-08-02T19:56:02.138-04:00

In August it rains a lot in Florida. You can pretty much count on afternoon rainstorms that last 20 minutes and dump an inch or more. Today was no different. I had errands to run and the rain started. After an hour with no let up, I figured I better get going. I wouldn’t melt.On the way out of my neighborhood, there were huge puddles. Ponds were so full they were spilling into the street. And

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-46712712905083930472007-07-12T07:59:00.000-04:002007-07-22T17:57:17.344-04:00

I have a dear friend who made a big decision to sell her house, buy an RV and travel the nation with her husband, a dog and a cat. They decided together that now was the time, and when her house sold so quickly, it was more confirmation to get going.She is sorely missed at our Bible study group. My sister in law called her the other day. She made it safely to Tennessee and is settling in nicely.

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-56619692324215742672007-06-27T06:54:00.000-04:002007-06-27T06:58:09.843-04:00

My friend and niece had a baby. The same friend lost her brother this year, tragically. Then our pastors did a sermon series on Heaven...got me to thinking and a poem practically wrote itself! Enjoy.A Parallel UniverseWhen we are bornwe departa small universeNo more floatinga tiny orbitinside a darkened spacePropelled into lightwe leave with no choiceto land in a worldso different from whatwe

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-89505586595561775302007-06-08T07:36:00.000-04:002007-06-08T07:41:49.527-04:00

My husband is in the electrical wholesale business. We had a discussion this morning on the term Power Factor. I thought, man that sounds like a great title to one of those self-help books! He saw that look in my eye...the wheels were turning and he went off to work. Then I started digging.Did you know, Power factor is the ratio between the amount of energy supplied and the actual amount of

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-39519888276347010842007-05-22T20:57:00.000-04:002007-05-22T21:01:17.045-04:00

I am humbly acquiescing to my ankle doctor. It seems that sprains need immediate attention. They do not thrive on neglect and activity. They will continue to change color and swell no matter how high you elevate, no matter how much ice you pack on and no matter how expertly you wrap your ace bandage. I was missing one gizmo, the boot. It seems it was the continual flexing of my foot that was

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-55662445810040645442007-05-03T19:59:00.000-04:002007-05-03T20:08:23.085-04:00

As I sit here with my leg elevated, I once again feel a blog coming on.I play basketball with my son almost every weekday morning at the gym. It’s fun to play. A lot of moms have told me, “I can’t do that! I wouldn’t even be able to shoot.” But I figured, if I don’t try, I wouldn’t have those memories to hang on to. And how better to show my son that I love him?Today I got hurt, which was

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-46296116006248796562007-04-17T17:12:00.000-04:002007-04-17T17:19:19.728-04:00

Liviu Librescu survived the genocide of European Jews by the Nazis during World War II, but yesterday he did not survive America’s holocaust at Virginia Tech. As the gunman made his way through the building, Librescu barred the door with his own body so his students could escape through the second story windows. He lost his life and is a hero today.Do you think Liviu ever wondered why his life

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-50563826511426558652007-04-14T13:43:00.000-04:002007-04-14T13:45:28.477-04:00

My son loves practical jokes. His new one is an oldie—the “can of nuts” with a spring-loaded snake inside. It even has a nutritional index on the back of the label, so it’s pretty realistic. He left it sitting out at our last cookout, hoping for some unsuspecting relative or friend to get hungry and open it up. He was a little frustrated since no one seemed to bite the bait, so he offered to open

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-45386332973158342722007-04-06T07:07:00.000-04:002007-04-06T07:11:59.645-04:00

My husband and I were driving to a restaurant the other evening. It was date night and we had a lot of talking to catch up on. We started to get testy with each other because we were finding it hard to understand each other. I thought, "Great...get some time together and we end up snipping at each othter instead!"Suddently my hubby reached up and turned off the radio. I hadn't even realized the

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-73291480758365983092007-03-28T07:13:00.000-04:002007-03-28T07:27:21.225-04:00

At a certain age, boys seem to stop listening to their mother. The simple phrase, “I’ll ask Dad,” pops up more and more every day. Some days I find myself hounding my son, trying to get him to do his chores, clean his room or do his laundry. It’s like trying to nail jello to a wall.When I realize he’s not going to listen to me, I call his father at work and hand my son the phone. For now, only

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-81679213265411058322007-03-11T17:46:00.000-04:002007-03-11T17:54:47.916-04:00

My father-in-law was an expert bricklayer. Even though he was missing a few fingers on one hand. Just after he was injured, he was hired by a man to lay brick.He tried it for a while, and told the man, “I don’t think I can do this.”His boss said, “I hired you to lay brick, you take as long as you need to get the hang of it.”Because his boss believed in him, he persevered and he adapted to the

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-1172627230953590252007-02-27T20:46:00.000-05:002007-02-27T20:47:10.963-05:00

If you see a penny on the ground, do you pick it up? What do you do with it? Save it in a jar at home, until you get enough for a cup of that Fourbucks coffee? Or do you toss it in the nearby fountain, making a wish as it kersplooshes into the greenish water?One of my favorite authors, Ruth Bell Graham wrote, "Temptation and testing are two sides of the same coin. Satan uses an occasion or a

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-1170983210942084392007-02-08T20:04:00.000-05:002007-02-09T08:40:17.916-05:00

There was a 5K run the other day, and a West Melbourne engineer won the race.He said, “It was pretty crazy. I actually ran my best time in three or four years...”He thought that maybe being a brand new father, he had newfound energy to run. But there was a simple act a lot of runners don’t do; he left his watch at home. What a difference it made to not have the hurdle of time to jump over! He ran

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-1167960367769142422007-01-04T20:24:00.000-05:002007-01-04T20:26:07.786-05:00

I have an orchid that grows by my front door. My mother gave it to me. It has a lovely milky white flower that blooms when I water it consistently. The spidery bloom lasts for weeks and seems to put up with my sporadic gardening. The one curious thing about this orchid is that it has no scent in the daytime. You can put your nose right up to the bloom opening and sniff hard and get nothing. When

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-1165881636195300582006-12-11T18:55:00.000-05:002006-12-11T19:00:36.206-05:00

Invariably on Christmas morning, you open a package and there is a fresh pair of socks or underwear. Thanks to Mom or Grandma, you’re covered for the next year in new unmentionables. (I wonder if we were to return the favor and get them new skivvies, would they appreciate the thought?)What kind of clothing would you rather find under the tree? Does a warm coat or silky blouse appeal to you? How

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-1164233366123697202006-11-22T17:05:00.000-05:002006-11-23T06:39:18.956-05:00

Most people can tick off a list of things to be thankful for on one hand: family, job, home, health and friends. Thanksgiving is a good time to pause and count your blessings.But what if you remove one of those things? Let’s say the job. Money gets tight, your home might be at risk of foreclosure, the worry impacts your health, the stress causes you to bite those closest to you, and your friends

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-1162512624116583142006-11-02T19:08:00.000-05:002006-11-02T19:10:24.136-05:00

We had a blast at our Halloween alternative-Trunk or Treat. I decorated my trunk with pumpkins and told the kids how Christians start out like pumpkins. It was fun to see the reactions of the kids as I told them how God picks us up from where we’ve been planted, cleans off the mud and—if it’s ok with us—cleans out the miserable gook inside our hearts. Then, God puts a light inside our heart so we

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-1158509070001824662006-09-17T12:00:00.000-04:002006-09-17T12:24:32.933-04:00

We’re all familiar with the fairy tale Pinocchio. It’s about a lonely woodcarver who made a boy puppet. One night, the boy puppet is brought to life by a blue fairy. The woodcarver was very happy, because it seemed he was not going to be lonely anymore. But the “boy” had other plans. He wanted to be a real boy, not just a sideshow for others to gawk at. He didn’t like his nose growing when he

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-1155346173102245222006-08-11T21:25:00.000-04:002006-08-11T21:35:15.670-04:00

Have you ever heard of the phrase, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”? It’s normally used in situations where a person is in some kind of physical endurance test: hitting that last hill in a bike race, sprinting the last 50 yards in a marathon, or looking at a menu with 5 lbs to go in a strict diet. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. You know what you ought to do, but your

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-1153825088182155642006-07-25T06:54:00.000-04:002006-07-25T07:30:40.703-04:00

I love those makeover reality shows. Something about changing a hair color or wall color is so appealing to me. My most recent favorite makeover show even appeals to my hubby: Overhaulin’. This show is about a person’s beloved junk or project car that turns up “missing” one day. The team then rebuilds and repaints the vehicle and it turns into something the owners never would’ve recognized if

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-1152576556562479212006-07-10T19:57:00.000-04:002006-07-11T09:16:15.290-04:00

We have a small wood plaque on the wall in our home. It is a piece of recycled pallet. The length is about from your wrist to your fingertips. The nail holes are still visible on one side, it’s sanded, stained and varnished. There seems to be black lettering carved into the wood, and it puzzles people. It’s always there; we never take down.Most people see it and ask, “What is that, some kind of

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-1150853122892209742006-06-20T21:22:00.000-04:002006-06-20T21:25:22.903-04:00

Man did I blow it on Father’s Day. We had a big Sunday dinner at our house, had 19 people with assorted kids…special food for the Dads, goofy cards, pranks and hugs. We had a great time visiting, watching the baby become one with her strawberry shortcake, and listening to the boys thunder in the backyard. By 11pm that night, I was exhausted and ready for sleep.It was then I realized I forgot to

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-1149641940450537092006-06-06T20:52:00.000-04:002006-06-06T20:59:00.463-04:00

The other night we had a prowler at our bedroom window. I know this because he awakened me with his attempt to cut the screen on our window. The noise of me trying to wake my husband scared the intruder off, and we called 911.The next day I made it my mission to meet our neighbors and warn them of this prowler. It was nice getting to know them, but I was ashamed it took a prowler to get me out

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-1147609168866095402006-05-14T08:16:00.000-04:002006-05-14T08:30:14.026-04:00

A long time ago I had a conversation with a friend. We were talking about babies and how many we wanted. She wanted three. I was in my early 20’s and I remember saying I’d like four: 2 boys, 2 girls. (A brother for a boy and a sister for a girl.) It was a nice even number. My father came from a large family, and I loved going home to visit numerous cousins in Wyoming. I had plans of being the “

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-1146535606690904552006-05-01T22:02:00.000-04:002006-05-02T21:34:13.126-04:00

Did you think about the chair you are in right now before you sat down? My computer chair is one we bought at a garage sale. It was $5 and the adjustable height doesn’t work. It goes up with no one in it, but when you put your weight in the chair, it slowly descends.Last weekend we found another couple chairs at a garage sale, the owners wanted $10 for two aluminum, forest green, wicker-like

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-1144876993129784792006-04-12T17:21:00.000-04:002006-04-13T06:50:20.126-04:00

I have never withheld the fact from my son that he is adopted. I have never let him forget that he was chosen—not an accident, not an illegitimate child or an unwanted life. I waited for him for 12 years, hoping and praying that he would come soon. And when he did, what a celebration! When I remarried, my husband gave my son his name and considers him the same as his children born to him. The law

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-1142378424849103032006-03-14T18:13:00.000-05:002006-03-14T18:20:24.870-05:00

My grandparents settled on a farm near a small town in Wyoming. They were in a “subsistence farming” program, where you grew enough to support your family. The bit left over was sold to pay off bills and loans. Bolts and replacement parts were too expensive, so rigged pieces of bailing wire and strategically placed nails were sufficient until the next repair. Bailing wire was scarce for them,

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-1141566115702118902006-03-05T08:40:00.000-05:002006-03-05T14:26:58.283-05:00

My pal and I were on a road trip in Atlanta one evening. We were attending a conference, and had purchased tickets to one of our favorite artists at the Fox Theater for that evening. We had our tickets, a yahoo map with directions and a rental car. I was driving, since my friend was +7 months pregnant. She was in charge of the directions. We were so excited…we had heard the Fox Theater was a

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-1140055537401247652006-02-15T21:02:00.000-05:002006-02-17T14:48:54.556-05:00

One of the most exciting things about childhood development is realizing your baby has started to communicate with you. You might imitate the baby noises and babble back and forth, but if that is the only communication the baby hears, will the child ever learn to speak? So you try to get them to say “ma-ma” and “da-da”…and that first day when they actually repeat it, the parent/child bond is

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-1138501957490480622006-01-28T21:26:00.000-05:002006-04-01T21:56:52.943-05:00

When our Saturday night worship leader suggested the God flirts with us, I thought the spotlight had overheated his brain a bit, or he had been zapped by the sound system somehow and was a bit dazed. It was something to think about, so I did. For about 30 minutes. The next time it came to mind was about two months later…while on a trip to Wyoming.I had not been back to my home state in several

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-1137117727841326192006-01-12T20:53:00.000-05:002006-04-17T07:34:03.306-04:00

I flew to Wyoming to visit family this week, and was surrounded by sniffling, sneezing seat mates on the airplane. I felt like I was in a cloud of germs and wanted to take a shower when I finally arrived at my destination. So many people are worried about germs…flu germs, virus germs, cold germs…humans almost duck when someone standing next to them sneezes. We do what we can to protect ourselves

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-1136079981994561502005-12-31T20:36:00.000-05:002006-01-22T15:39:54.843-05:00

This past Christmas, many kids put out cookies and milk out for Santa on Christmas Eve. Crumbs and an empty glass were evidence that the jolly elf had visited their home. I remember the year I decided there was no Santa. I was 13 and very wise for my age. When I woke up Christmas morning, I dragged myself out to the family room and saw my grandmother sweeping…I figured my little brother broke

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-1134393992279195092005-12-12T08:26:00.000-05:002005-12-12T08:26:32.293-05:00

This Christmas there might be some kids out there who awaken to their stockings jammed with what seems to be candy and toys, only to find new underwear and whopper-sized fruit. I know I’m dreaming about what’s inside those pretty packages and can’t wait until Christmas morning. Some of the givers spent a long time shopping for something they knew I’d love. But what if it turns out to be something

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-1133580380217204632005-12-02T22:24:00.000-05:002005-12-02T22:26:20.233-05:00

We are blessed with an outgoing son who sometimes needs encouragement to stay on task in school. His wrestling coach has been a huge help in this area. A few weeks ago, Jared had a bad day at school. One teacher went to advise the coach of his misadventures that day.When wrestling practice was almost done, the coach called Jared over to do one more match. He did not look forward to it since it

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-1132197374503917192005-11-16T22:14:00.000-05:002005-11-16T22:16:14.513-05:00

I hate snakes. I know this is a built-in aversion to the animal that reaches back to that fateful date with Eve in the garden. (Gen 3:1-15) I try to avoid them at all times, even to the point of changing my path. My son and I were running errands the other evening, just after dusk, when we saw a shadow starting to slip across the road. I swerved to miss it.My son said, “Mom, that was a snake! You

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18382024.post-1130865087435961072005-11-01T12:08:00.000-05:002005-11-01T12:11:27.446-05:00

Everyone has that one movie that they always seem to miss the beginning of. My husband’s daughter had never seen the trilogy series Lord of the Rings, all the way through. She couldn’t understand all the rave reviews it was getting. She didn’t know why Frodo was such a reluctant hero and why the elves were so worried about the whole situation. One weekend she finally got all three movies and made

Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11332765814714168945noreply@blogger.com0