>This first day of March, I think of that old saying about the month coming, "in like a lion, out like a lamb."I take the maxim to mean that if March begins with a blustery day, it may end with a calm day. The opposite seems implied; if March begins with mild weather, it may … Continue reading >The Lion and the Lamb

>I finally snuck up on a mourning dove on our deck and got some pictures, these two of which are the best.

>Yesterday I expressed my hope that the voice of the turtledove would soon be heard in the land.Later in the day, I realized that I was actually hearing the voice of the turtledove--or at least the voice of the mourning dove--which is as close as you can get in North America!This winter several mourning doves … Continue reading >Voice of the dove

> ...and never Christmas.Those words from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe have been sticking in my mind, especially today as the softly falling snowflakes glint in the pale light and stick in clumps to bare gray branches and bowing green junipers.The little girl and boy perpetually reading on the bench beside our walk … Continue reading >Always Winter…

>We recently returned from a cruise in the eastern Caribbean with my husband's siblings. What was supposed to be a seven-night cruise turned into a five-night cruise when we missed our connection to Miami due to fog in Memphis. The quickest possible alternate connection brought us to Miami about a half hour after the ship's … Continue reading >Cruise News

>The frigid day beganwith an overcast skyof indiscriminate huethat blended intoa vague horizon.Except for tinygreen mile markers,it was likedriving insidea grayscale pic.The day endedwith a cold sunsinking througha Pantone paletteof purple layerswhile trappedin icy crystalslike light insidean Orange Julius.© Glenda Mathes

>When one is raised in the context of regular corporate worship and daily family devotions, it becomes all too easy to think about sin in a vague way and simply pray, "Forgive our sins," without being struck by the serious nature of each personal sin.Some years ago, I realized that genuine repentance can occur only … Continue reading >Recognizing and Repenting

>For years my motto has been, "No more pets and I mean it."After raising four children and dealing with their motley assortment of fish, newts, rabbits, gerbils, finches, cats, and dogs (one of which was hopelessly incontinent), I'd felt I'd had enough of pets to last a lifetime.But lately Ariel's little Yorkypoo, Layla, has made … Continue reading >Libby

>There was a time when I thought it was exciting to be part of the political process in Iowa. But that was before dozens of political calls, the last dozen of which have interupted my work just today.I will be thankful when the caucuses are over!

>I can't help feeling a bit of elation to say farewell to another year. Not because it's been a more difficult year than previous ones (it hasn't), but because every year--indeed, every day--that passes brings us closer to the day of our Lord!I decided some years ago that making New Year's resolutions was not very … Continue reading >So long, 2007!