Karen and Richard Carpenter This morning over my bowl of granola, I was tapping my toes as my den clock chimed one of my favorite oldies from The Carpenters, “I’m on the *(downbeat) top of the world looking *(downbeat) down on creation …” when I came across a tiny notice in the newspaper that today ...
Papa God’s Waiting Room
While driving through a pastoral area last week in rural Florida, I was enjoying the peaceful scenery of cows, horses, and the occasional pygmy goat herd (aren’t they cute?), when something caught me by surprise. There, standing beside the fence bordering the highway, all alone, was a blindfolded horse. Knowing absolutely nothing about the care ...
Dream On
When I was a young high school tennis player, I dreamed of greatness … Wimbledon, The French Open, Arthur Ashe Stadium. My grandmother used to tell all her little old friends that I was as good as that there Chrissy Evert. The only caveat was that Granny had never seen me play. But her vote ...
Hats Off to Ya!
England’s Prince William I’m a hat girl. You already know this if you’ve read any of my books or know me at all. Hats are one of my favorite hobbies, my passions. My closet looks like the Cat in the Hat exploded. People I pass in stores often comment on my headwear and I never ...
Happy New Year to All and to All a Good Diet
In honor of the exciting new year opening up before us, I’d like to print the audaciously appropriate poem below. It’s been around a while in various forms and unfortunately, the author is unknown – I sure with she would step forward and receive accolades for her genius. And genius it is. The gold standard ...
5 Incredible Christmas Words
The young woman holding the guitar looked nervous as she took her place on the stool at the front of the auditorium where 400 women chattered, all seated around beautifully decorated tables for the annual church Christmas banquet. An expectant hush fell over the room as hot tea-sipping women dressed in their holiday finest turned ...
Everyone Needs a Papa
I’ve had several recent requests from readers to explain the origin of my use of the term, “Papa God” in my books. I’d be happy to oblige. I guess it’s one of those things you do that is so much a part of you that you don’t think about it anymore. Like parting your hair ...
Don’t Want to Flunk This Lesson
Yeesh, it happened again. Every single time I teach a children’s church lesson, Papa God brings the exact dadgum lesson home to me. He knows all along that I’m the one who needs to hear it more than the kids. And sometimes His timing is, well, unfortunate. So there I am, wearing my big floppy ...
New Give-Away Contest
Fall 2013 Give-Away Contest I’m tickled pink about the new Too Blessed to be Stressed Perpetual Calendar. By the way, “perpetual” means the 365 full color pages are dated but have no year, so it can sit on yourkitchen counter forever. Or until Junior sloshes spaghetti sauce all over it. And to make sure you’re as ...
Grace That’s Truly Amazing
It was no use. The $100 bill was gone. My daughter Cricket searched her pockets for the third time just to be sure. Then she ransacked the tote bag she’d been carrying around the expansive neighborhood garage sale yet again, panic evident on her pinched, bloodless face and wild eyes. “Oh, no. Oh, nooo! It ...