Dec 09, 2019 • Written by Heidi Scott
Who doesn’t love an old-fashioned Christmas- a crackling fire in the fireplace, twinkling lights on the tree, something yummy in the oven, and favorite Christmas songs on repeat? I know I do! My music students have been working on Christmas songs for weeks now, and everyone loves the holiday cheer it brings into their homes.
One of my favorite carols is Hark! The Herald Angels Sing! I always get a kick out of asking my students— what does “hark” mean? It’s not a word we use anymore. According to the dictionary, “hark” means to listen, pay close attention, or listen intently. In the song, it means Hey! Everyone listen up! The angels are singing!
Read More...
Dec 02, 2019 • Written by Nicki Behnke
My hair stood on end on a beautiful 80 degree day. This wasn’t the first time it had happened that week. On day nine of what I had been referring to as the “trip of a lifetime” to Israel, I found myself standing in an empty tomb.
This wasn’t just any tomb but was the suspected tomb of Jesus- the place where the burial and resurrection took place. I had seen it on flannel boards and raised my hands in remembrance of it with the Easter Sunday choir over the years, but to stand in that place was a powerful reminder of the cornerstone of my identity and faith. The spiritual significance of the moment sunk deep into my being…..
Read More...
As I get older I find that I battle a sense of entitlement. Entitlement that says, “I have worked hard all my life, I deserve to take it easy and let others deal with it.”
But you don’t have to be older to feel entitled.
“I make so much more money, therefore I should have the respect of my peers.”
“I arrived here first, so I should have first pick.”
“I deserve an apology. I have my rights!”
Sound familiar?
Read More...
What is Advent and why would a few books about Advent help me this Christmas season?
Advent is traditionally known as the period of four Sundays and four weeks before Christmas and means “Coming” in Latin. You know, as in Christmas is coming- I better get the gifts, bake the cookies, deck the halls, and …why am I doing all this? With this type of “Advent” I need more than four weeks! It helps my perspective when I remind myself that my hospitality mentor and Christmas décor muse Martha Stewart did end up in jail for something that may or may not have been related to Christmas preparations.
Read More...
Carpool. Dinner. Laundry. Baths.
Volleyball. Soccer. Business trips. Deadlines.
Church, school, groceries, permission slips.
Selling cookie dough for the club fundraiser—aaaack!!!
Read More...
