Over the past two months, we've focused on ways to become more aware of ourselves. Listening to our bodies makes it possible for us to try softer. We try softer by giving ourselves enough grace to find balance in a world of competing pressures. Trying softer means...
It's tempting to declare that we're beginning a new series on the first Sunday in July. It's tempting for many reasons, so why not just call our next several Sundays by a catchy title and announce a "new" topic? And I love new beginnings. Instead, welcome to Parts...
Last week I wrote about the importance of giving negative emotions enough space. Positivity, in this case, is highly overrated and can be toxic. But this week, I'm back on the positivity train again. That's because this week, we're not talking about something bad...
Are you a positive person? For me, my attitude varies with the day. For example, one morning this week, I received a text from our farm manager Matt. He wanted to let me know about the latest theft and vandalism incident on our farm the night before. These acts of...
On the Wednesday after Easter, we began a new adventure into the slow but rewarding process of self-discovery assisted by author and therapist Aundi Kolber and her book Try Softer. In parallel to our worship series Masterpiece, our Book Club went deeper into the...
Millions, perhaps hundreds of millions, of persons pray for peace in Ukraine. Yet, peace seems elusive. The same can be said for countless other circumstances bringing pain, suffering, and death from no more mass shootings to cures for cancer to an end to COVID. Why,...
I can’t wrap my head around the latest massacre this past week at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Nineteen young children and two adults were lost to yet another school shooting. The shooter used AR-15-style rifles. This style of weapon is known as a “modern...
An invisible fence is a popular way to keep pets at home without constructing a physical fence. The concept is simple. A wire is buried that carries an electrical charge when turned on. The pet, usually a dog, wears a collar with two electrodes aimed at the neck,...
Larger windows let in more light and expose more scenery. Pets prefer vantage points with plenty of viewing areas to keep watch on their domain. Our dog, Duke, likes the backyard view offered by sliding glass doors. After nearly a decade of getting excited over...
In a post on pairedlife.com, Jeannie Marie writes that while social media has done a lot to help couples find that special someone, the "relationship status" option found on Facebook adds unnecessary drama and complication to dating. In her article, Jeannie navigates...