It’s that time of the year for retrospection. After posting my Top Ten Songs of 2020, Top Ten Books of 2020, Top Ten Hikes of 2020, and Top Ten Ministry Moments of 2020, I thought that I would conclude my lists with looking back … Continue reading
My parents, my sister’s family, and my family gathered together for Christmas Eve. Which we always do. But we did it in our driveway. Which we never do. I’m not going to pretend like it was “pure magic,” even with … Continue reading
It’s raking season. I’ve spent several hours for each of the last several weeks clearing leaves from our deck, our driveway, our front lawn, and our back lawn. And since I’ve been doing some extra work to rehabilitate our lawn … Continue reading
November is not messing around this year. The first day of the month brought high winds and heavy rain in the morning. It cleared up for awhile in the afternoon, long enough for me to finish raking the lawn. But … Continue reading
We’re finally finished! We’re done with painting the exterior trim on our house (a switch from tan to white). We did it partially to protect the wood, since the old paint had started chipping and peeling in many places. But … Continue reading
Our family left Amsterdam on July 10, 2012. It’s crazy to look back at the group portrait of the friends who came to see us off at the airport. We arrived in Cleveland later that same day. And there, too, … Continue reading
I try to maintain a regular rhythm in my life, when it comes to writing my reflections on life and ministry. Lately, however, I haven’t had much space or energy for it. Through this quiet period, I’m not sure that … Continue reading
The word “Ding” was written in black Sharpie on a silver piece of duct tape. The tape stuck immediately above a doorbell. And the doorbell was installed immediately above the walk-up window to Marsha’s Diner. My kids and I were … Continue reading
Our family would have been in Europe right now. Marci and I announced it to our kids on Christmas morning. The three and a half weeks immediately following Elliot’s graduation were to be a time of travel and celebration. We … Continue reading
Our household is now on Day Fourteen of our quarantine within the quarantine! Cor rejoined the household last night, after 72 hours of no fever, and we’re thankful that his sickness only lasted for five days — and it seemed … Continue reading