Appalachian Blessings
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A Visit Back Home
I don't have much to say this week other than that I LOVE these people. Got to spend some time with family in WV over the weekend. This one is Mom, my niece, and me.
Her Last Communion
We took communion at church last week during our Ash Wednesday service. Communion is a joyful sacrament. But as we enter Lent, it's solemn as well. And as I took the bread and the juice, I remembered watching Betty--one of the saints of the church--do the same more...
The Annual Spring Tease
Spring approaches in the mountains in fits and starts. Days in February alternate between bone-chilling cold and balmy. Last week we were threatened with snow and Thursday is supposed to hit the upper 70s. And all the signs of spring are here trying to trick us! The...
A Flame in the Darkness
The news out of Turkey and Syria is horrific. The death toll keeps climbing into the tens of thousands and even more people are suffering from hunger, exposure, and impossible grief. Safe and comfortable here in North Carolina it's tempting to simply look away from...
The World’s Oldest Dog
I LOVE dogs. I have yet to meet a dog I didn't like. Even the grouchy, snappish ones. Of course, I love my very own Thistle the most. And now that she's 12, I've been trying to resign myself to the fact that she's a "senior" dog with limited years ahead of her. And...
Strength in Weakness
Why is it so hard to admit we can't handle all the STUFF In our lives on our own? Pride. That’s the short answer. How many times have I asked friends and family to pray for me as a last resort? Why in the world would that be my last resort?? I'll try all sorts of...
Lean Times in Appalachia
It’s January. In case you hadn’t noticed. At the grocery store these days, I can buy strawberries and asparagus. This (along with an occasional warm day) supports my delusion that spring is just around the corner. My great-grandmother had no such luxury. The turn of...
When Miracles Don’t Happen
I've been praying for a miracle. I've had a nagging health issue for nearly 20 years now. In the spirit of Paul with his thorn in the side, I won't name it. But it's a drag. And as the years have progressed, it's gotten draggier. I've done plenty of things to fix...
Meet Sarah
