TONDA'S DEBUT NOVEL

Mary, I see you. Humble, meek, and mild. That’s what we’ve written about you over the centuries. If you weren’t humble, I’d imagine you’d be fiery mad at all the things we’ve said. The way we’ve dressed you and positioned you in our Nativity scenes. The way we’ve...

Where’s your Christmas spirit? I questioned myself in the mirror a few days ago. The reply was a shoulder shrug and a “meh.” That girl needed an attitude adjustment. I’d been staring at a partially-lit Christmas tree for over two weeks. I had Keith bring it up from...

I love saying prayers with my grandchildren. For some reason, at this place in my life, their sweet voices thanking God for “my unicorn pillow, my purple blankie, Foster’s (our dog) funny tail, my toothbrush, no rain tomorrow so we can play soccer” (you get the idea)...

For the Lord your God is living among you.He is a mighty savior.He will take delight in you with gladness.With his love, he will calm all your fears.He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.- Zephaniah 3:17 You’ll hear me say time and again that my daddy provided an...

Fall. The season of pumpkin spice and apple cider. Leaves flutter through gusts of wind in cascades of color. No matter the temperature, we swap our flip flops and swimsuits for boots and sweaters. Pumpkins abound, as do hay and dried cornstalks, cranberries, and...

We are in the throes of early voting here in Tennessee. I didn’t realize every state doesn’t have this. I try my best to take advantage of it always because inevitably something happens on election day that interferes with making it to the polls. I tend to...

My daddy was always singing. He sang when he was happy. He sang when he was sad. He sang songs to God. He sang songs to us. The music came from a sweet, sacred space within, seeming to start in his toes and bubble up till it flowed from his lips.  One such tune...

Last night Keith and I took our family to a really nice dinner in celebration of our youngest son’s birthday. We chose a rather expensive place, Jeff Ruby’s, because in December we had received an equally nice gift card that would offset the cost. We were dressed up...

Read Ezekiel 12:2, 21-28 (paraphrase mine): "They have eyes to see, but do not see, and ears to hear, but do not hear…what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel, 'The days pass slowly, and every vision fails?…The Sovereign Lord says: I hereby end...

Have you ever had one of those dreams about being naked in a public place? I have! Not sure what that says about me. Just keeping it real. A young friend popped by yesterday wearing a t-shirt promoting a nutrition and exercise program. It said, “cause everybody...