I watched in awe as the group’s demeanor shifted. People who had come into the room, their minds weighed down with the day’s problems, began to lift up their heads. The mood lightened. Smiles appeared. Laughter erupted. Hearts bonded as confidence was restored. This incredible team of leaders that I had the pleasure of sitting…

Veteran’s Day is personal to me. My father is a Vietnam War veteran.  While I haven’t heard many of his stories, I know that the circumstances he found himself in, the atrocities that he witnessed, and the lingering aftereffects can never be erased.  No matter how much time goes by. Today, he proudly wears his…

This is one of my favorite seasons of the year to walk outside! I love the crisp morning air, the beautiful color of the leaves, and the opportunity to start donning my long-sleeve attire again. And, the other morning I did just that. After suiting up in my warm workout clothes, I set out for…

I was walking down the hall at church the other day and saw it.  A little girl – arms outstretched, hands open – was asking her Mom to pick her up.  I was still taking in the scene when God reminded me… Be like that.  Live open-handed.  Reach for Me.  That was the message.  Plain…

Growing up in Upper Michigan, I learned to drive on snowy roads.  Blizzards were the most nerve-racking of road conditions to navigate as they brought complete whiteout conditions in which you literally couldn’t see anything beyond the windshield.  I remember having to slow my car to a crawl of 1 mph and pray that nothing…