Joni and Friends^®

She recently lost her husband to a heart attack.

She is seeking God's help to piece together her life following a broken marriage.

She struggles with a history of alcoholism and feelings of unworthiness.

She battled cancer -- twice.

I'm the single mom of three.

These are friends (one of whom is pictured here), I was seated next to last week in a church sanctuary. Each of us on our distinct journeys . . . gathered to hear from Ken and Joni Eareckson Tada.

Their message spoke to us, distinctly.

Ken and Joni shared a message about their love for one another ...

Today is National Thank A Mailperson Day.  Today I actually bid farewell to our mail carrier of over a decade. Mr. Stephen, as we affectionately refer to him, is being reassigned to a new route. 

Reflecting on Mr. Stephen's service through the years, our mail arriving punctually at the same time every day, he's truly epitomized the postal service creed, "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."

He will be missed - he's been a daily fixture in our neighborhood through many seasons of ...

I have several playlists on my phone.  The one I've added to the most is my "worship songs" playlist.  As my children have heard the songs, I learned some new things about them - including that Rachel's favorite hymn is Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing and that my other two don't have a favorite hymn . . . yet. 

Joni Eareckson Tada is one of my heroes for countless reasons; one reason is her affinity for hymns.  She writes on the Joni and Friends^® website:  "Spend time with me, and I'll have you singing along on a hymn - I ...

When dropping off my elementary school age daughter at school this morning, I did what most others moms and dads across the country did . . . I held her a little closer, a little tighter and I said an extra prayer.   I prayed for her safety but I also prayed for those moms and dads who don't have their precious elementary school child to drop off at school today.

As the country asks "why" something as devastating as the Hook Elementary School tragedy occurred, Joni Eareckson Tada reminds that more important than wondering "why," we need to ask "how?"

"Since the ...

Change is so pervasive in our lives that it almost defeats description and analysis.

There are different forms of change though. There's the simple change . . . like when my 10 year old daughter changes her outfit 3-5 times in the morning before school before choosing the "right one."

Then, there's the more significant change that's all over the news right now with Election Day here and both Presidential candidates standing on their own respective platform of economic, social and political change.

This past week though, Joni Eareckson Tada reminded three special college students (and me!) that our role ...

Yesterday marked the birthday of someone extra special to a lot of people -- Joni Eareckson Tada celebrated her 63rd birthday.  A quick glance at her recent ministry activity and it's no wonder that she is referred to as a "national treasure" (thanks to Ron Harris, NRB Executive, for coining the phrase!).

Cancer -- Joni's Journey

Earlier this month, the NRB Network premiered Joni's TV message sharing about her cancer journey. "During my battle against cancer, I purposed not to 'waste' my hardship -- I wanted to pass on to others all that God taught me through the rigorous demands ...