I am in Dallas this week, so thankful to be here with my dear ol' dad. He no longer knows who I am, but it seems he knows that he should know me, and it makes me sad seeing his distress about forgetting. Yet he continues to be sweet, funny, and generous, and his prayers are precious. … Continue reading Foot-washing →

Have you seen the movie “The Lady in The Van”? It is an interesting story, mostly true, about a homeless woman named Miss Shepherd who lived for years in a London neighborhood in an old van, parked in the driveway of a reluctantly kind bachelor named Allan. After Miss Shepherd’s death, Allan wrote a play … Continue reading The Presence →

Sometimes my brilliance surprises me. I had this great idea: Last Sunday we went out to a special restaurant to celebrate Mother’s Day, a full week ahead of the maddening crowds. Wasn't that inspired? We had almost the whole place to ourselves; it was so sweet. The memory of it made all week happy. I … Continue reading Happy American Mother’s Day, Everyone! →

Jake leaves for Bolivia today. He’ll be there a month, leading a service team at Camp Kewiña. Watching him get ready has reminded me of the first time we and our three little girlies went to Cochabamba. It was my dream-come-true, to be a missionary. I was supposed to be happy. But the details and … Continue reading My Journal →

Today is a praising day. I am remembering a time when God was over-the-top generous to me. It was 2004. We had been in the USA and had returned to Bolivia for one more year so Daughter #4 could finish high school and Jake could hand over his camp responsibilities. We needed a place to … Continue reading The Pleasant Palace on the Plaza →

I loved celebrating Easter in Bolivia. For our Catholic neighbors, Good Friday was the day. The streets would be filled with pilgrims, walking and seeking blessing by visiting twelve churches and giving homage to The Virgen. Out of different cathedrals, people paraded in somber processions, carrying a life-size glass coffin with an image of a … Continue reading A Glad Day →

Yesterday I threw out a hole-y, faded old pair of jeans. Last week in Dallas I visited B., a dear friend of my mom’s, who has recently been moved into assisted-living. Years ago I watched F., my friend, suddenly lose her husband. I've been thinking about all the ways and times we have to let … Continue reading Gift and Grace →