>For weeks my work has been at almost a complete standstill. Nothing fell into place. Personal circumstances made it look as if I might have to give up my work completely, and I felt as if the lack of work coming to me was God's way of preparing me for the inevitable.But, as I wrote … Continue reading >Coincidence?

>The last two months, since we received some unexpected and distressing news, have been difficult for us. Some of these weeks have been quite depressing. But something's changed. And it isn't our circumstances. We are still waiting on the Lord.Like Paul, however, I no longer kick against the goads. The ox that kicks against the … Continue reading >Submission

>George Grant's blog alerted me to the existence of a newly published book by J.R.R. Tolkien, reviewed here in the Washington Post. Grant correctly notes that the reviewer "invariably mistakes the themes of Biblical Providence for Helenistic Fate." I've added The Children of Hurin to my Amazon wish list.Gene Edward Veith's blog, Cranach, mentions that … Continue reading >Browsing

>Some apparently arbitrary word changes appear in in the 1987 Psalter Hymnal version of one of my favorite hymns, which we sang yesterday morning in church: “Spirit of God, Who Dwells within My Heart.”There were many word changes made between the blue-covered 1959 edition and the gray-covered 1987 edition, some definitely for the better like … Continue reading >Unanswered prayer

>Sometimes God cracks open heaven’s door and we glimpse glory.A ray gleamed recently for my husband and me when we participated for the first time in the Southeast Iowa Church Choir Festival.The Festival was the ultimate interactive experience. A 200-member choir sang psalms and hymns, accompanied at various times by a piano, an organ, a … Continue reading >Glimpsing Glory

>What a blessing my husband and I experienced over the weekend! We participated for the first time in the Southeast Iowa Church Choir Festival, directed by Dale Grotenhuis and accompanied by organist Davis Folkerts.Praising God with around 200 other voices, a brass quintet, and the organ was awesome in the best and original sense of … Continue reading >Festival!

>When I was a young woman, my view of life was based on what I’d heard from older folks. I thought that it consisted of good times and bad times, but the good times always outweighed the bad. My vague concept was that sickness and grief were merely interludes in the play of life. I … Continue reading >The Prayer of Moses

>This morning I walked around outside, taking pictures of the sun coming up in the winter wonderland created by this weekend's ice and snow storm.

>I've added a few websites to my creatively-named "websites" section. Check them out!LOTR fans will find the artwork of Jerry Vander Stelt particularly interesting.

>This is my amazing grandmother, who will be 102 in April, beating me soundly yet again in a game of Scrabble.