My husband Dave remained in Mazatlan when I returned to Kansas City on New Year's Day. His call upon my arrival was two-fold: to ask about my flight ("Nothing out of the ordinary," I told him), and to tell me he was praying for my drive home. Little did I know how much those prayers would be needed...

I watched as my student turned to his buddy in the back of the room, mouthed the word "gag," and then smirked. It was in response to a classmate -- assigned alphabetically to the seat next to him -- who happened to be an admitted homosexual and who had just answered a question I had posed to this group of high school juniors. ...

I am writing this from Mazatlan -- "Paradise" as my husband and I refer to it, for good reason. Imagine deplaning and being greeted by a group of uniformed school children singing Christmas carols. Picture a live nativity scene in which Mary's donkey refuses to budge and Joseph is forced to tug and tug at the burro, enticing it toward the inn. ...

This poem was forwarded to me this past week. Written by Steve Throne, the assistant principal at Sergeant Bluff-Luton High School, I pray it is a reminder of the Light that will shine brightly for us all in 2013. 'Twas 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38...

Evil blasted its way into an elementary school this past week as Adam Lanza, a crazed, camouflaged madman, unloaded his demonic fury on 20 trapped, helpless children and six heroic adults. I cannot fathom what it's like for those parents who sent their precious babies off to school in Newtown, Conn., last Friday morning, never thinking twice about seeing them later that afternoon, and then getting the call that something had gone terribly, terribly wrong and they needed to come immediately...

Drake and Montana, my two youngest grandchildren, stayed with me for the weekend while their parents were out of town. Before the big event, I made my lists and checked them twice. Find fishing poles. Wrap Christmas presents in white paper. Dig out every creative ribbon and trinket and magic marker to decorate them. ...

It was a picturesque day on a mountain trail outside of Steamboat, Colo., last July when my son's friend, Kendra, posed a question to me: "Have you ever thought of what your life would be like if when you woke up each morning, the only things you had left were the ones you had thanked God for the day before?" My answer ("Wow! No...") was anything but profound -- partly because the high altitude had deflated my lungs and it was all I could do to even breathe, but more realistically because Kendra had hit a spiritual nerve. ...

Last week I wrote that my three communication classes are studying about self-concept by focusing on how we compare ourselves to others. A second theory we studied, called the "Reflected Appraisal Theory," was one these high school juniors had no problem memorizing...

In my mind I am invincible, heroic and brilliant. I conjure up all kinds of scenarios where I foil a plot to detonate a bomb or rescue a blind person from a burning building or win the jackpot without using any lifeline on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." In itself, that sounds harmless enough, but the trouble is, I can't live in my imagination. ...

This week we celebrated Veterans Day, and I was asked to say a few words at one of the local events honoring these brave men and women. It was an easy task. As part of my preparation, I asked my speech students to write a note expressing their thoughts on what our veterans had contributed to our country. ...

Although he was divorced, overweight, and balding, sneaked a cigarette puff on occasion, drove a 1963 truck missing half a floorboard and ate dirt to teach his athletes how to be tough, my brother David loved the Lord and made everyone feel like the most important person on earth...

There are some things that should be left in the hands of the experts. Take, for instance, Facebook. In the two years I have been "participating," there have been only a handful of times when I truly appreciated its merit--grandkids' pictures, for instance, but most other times, it just isn't for me. This month I had a dozen requests to play games or join clubs; I have no idea what that even means, nor do I have the time to figure it out...

The anonymous letter, addressed to me, was delivered to the high school where I work. Responding to my role as judge for last spring's "Dancing With Our Stars" event, it consisted of a few paragraphs "putting me in my place." My close friends read the letter, and we all agreed on one thing: The comments went far beyond my performance as a judge; this person hated me with a passion...

Miraculous. That's what it was. And although it occurred several years ago, my husband Dave and I know there was no other explanation. It was 1981. We were living in Incline Village, Nev., and Dave had just been released from the California Angels baseball team. ...

Following this summer's drought, our much-needed rain caused the earth's dreary gray/brown tones to morph into vibrant paints, a sort of rebirth that perked my spirits and my energy. I considered it a special touch from God to remind us of His love of contradictions and beauty, as well as His love of color...

When our electricity failed last week, I must admit I felt a little competitive, like I was a contestant on "Survivor" or something. Heeding warnings that we might be in the dark for more than a few hours, my preparations began. Dave and I knew not to open our freezer, but we did risk nabbing a few snacks from the refrigerator section. ...

Amy Drake and her husband Dusty helped sponsor Tennessee's Christ-In-Youth conference this past summer. When the speaker addressed the 2,000-plus attendees -- comparing our Heavenly Father to earthly fathers -- Amy was shaken. But the night a woman gave her testimony about forgiving her father (and asking his forgiveness for telling him she hated him), Amy knew the Lord was speaking directly to her. ...

My husband Dave and I have begun the arduous process of downsizing. It has been torture. Dave puts an item in the giveaway pile and I retrieve it. I toss something in the trashcan and the next day find it tucked away in Dave's sock drawer. Broken pieces are kept with excuses like "Someday I will glue them together and make a nifty Christmas ornament," or "As soon as I get rid of it, I'll need it." It's pathetic...

After reflecting on my life as a parent, I've considered writing a book entitled What To Do When Your Children Act Irresponsibly and You Are Ready to Pull Your Hair Out, but the title is too long and sounds unchristian. Too, my personal examples seem to pale in comparison to some of my friends' whose adult children continue to bring them immeasurable woes. ...

Because of television replays, much public attention has been given to calls blown by referees and umpires. As a parent of a professional baseball player, it is frustrating when such technology shows the pitch thrown to Adam to be several inches off the plate, yet the umpire calls it a strike. Every hitter knows that if he loses his composure and "shows the umpire up," he will be thrown out of the game...

My granddaughter Amanda graduated mid-June from her high school in Henderson, Nev. It was a week-long celebration, but the best part was not listening to Amanda deliver a speech preceding the graduation walk, nor was it when she was handed her diploma. Rather, it was seeing what an extraordinary young woman she has become...

"Excuse me, but which train goes to Yankee Stadium?" "Does this train go to downtown Manhattan?" "Will we get arrested for crawling under the subway stalls when they won't accept our tokens?" "Pardon me, but is this the right line to buy half-price tickets for tonight's plays?"...

When I was growing up, a downtown Kress store was one of my favorite hangouts, mainly because it carried ceramic model horses that I could afford to purchase with my babysitting money. Lining the top of my bed's headboard, each horse was part of a priceless collection...

The first time I read in scripture that my body was the temple of the Lord, I felt like an apology was in order. I was anything but fitting as a dwelling place for something holy, mainly because I suffered from too many "too manys." Too many distractions while praying. Too many justifications for repeated sins. Too many cinnamon rolls and too many excuses for not exercising...

It was my second time to speak in public. My home church in Texas had asked me to lead their ladies' Bible studies. The first talk had gone well, and with that boost of confidence, I decided to be a little bolder in my next talk ... possibly even use a visual or two...

The day before Joseph M. Scriven's wedding, his fiancé drowned. Grieving, he sailed from his home in Ireland to Canada where he found work as a teacher. He fell in love again and became engaged, but this time his fiancé became ill and died before they could wed...

Authentic friendship is rare. It requires transparency and risk. It depends on trust, "having each other's back." It expects nothing in return and does not keep score. True friendship mandates loyalty and unselfishness. It demands that we accept others for who they are, weird mannerisms and all...

It was a dirty concrete slab. Its cinderblock walls were about six feet high, a tin roof offering our only protection, but within minutes it was transformed into a children's church thanks to some eager pre-teens and a few helpful parents. As one 12-year-old girl grabbed a broom from the back of our truck and began sweeping the floor, other youngsters began teasing with Jorge, our driver and event organizer, enticing him to bop them on the head with his inflated plastic mallet, causing them to squeal with delight.. ...

Editor's Note Due to unforseen circumstances Patty Laroche's column was unavailable this week. This is a column from 2009. A Sunday school class of first-graders was asked to draw a picture of God. When the pastor stopped by to inspect their work, the children were happy to show him their drawings...

I am a skeptic, rarely confident of any definitive outcome. Even when one of our son's baseball teams was winning 12-0 in the bottom of the ninth inning, I still could not stop yelling helpful advice and just enjoy the moment. So many variables, you know, so few endings that were "sure things." However, there was this one time...

Although 11 days apart, two surprises, both memorable, demonstrated great examples of teamwork. One involved a collective effort of the Fort Scott High School music department and the other dealt with Mother's Day. A few weeks ago, Pat Harry, the choir teacher announced her retirement. ...

Dear young mothers: Your job is difficult. Exhilarating. Demanding. Rewarding. Frustrating. If you have ever gone to bed at night, praying the Rapture comes so you can finally, finally discover the meaning of the word "solitude" (think heavenly Calgon experience), I can relate. But I'm here to tell you, please don't give up. No matter how much you want to...

The call came in the middle of the night when Dave and I were sound asleep. It was the phone call every parent dreads. Our youngest son, Andy, then 16 years old, had been burned in a bonfire accident and was en route to the K.U. burn unit. I had just had major surgery and was on total bed rest, doped on strong pain pills, so Dave made the trip to the medical center alone that night. ...

Last weekend in Wichita, Kan., 900 women came from across several states to listen to powerful testimonies of God's grace. I was hired to be the "humorist" for this event, and I had prepared for months getting my two routines ready. My friends Kelli and Jamie had helped me figure out what "reads" funny versus what "performs" funny, and Ellen, Brian, and my husband Dave had come alongside me as angels of encouragement when I began to listen to that pesty demon of insecurity that promised me I would fail. ...

She sat in my classroom, obviously upset and needing to talk. These conversations weren't new to us, but this one seemed more urgent, like the periscope had spotted the approaching enemy sub and the seconds were counting down. Only this wasn't naval warfare; this was a volatile domestic issue, like always, and, like always, she wanted to vent. It was the same story -- repeated for the past couple of years -- and to tell the truth, I was tired of listening to it. And angry...

John Doe No. 155. For 37 years, that's how he was classified. Last year, however, he was finally given a name when the police identified him as Oral Stuart Jr. As I read his story -- a mere side-bar in the Internet news -- I found myself grieving over what I learned...

Within 24 hours, I had almost forgotten what I promised myself I wouldn't. How was it possible that something so monumental, so life-redirecting, could lose its punch within one day? Let me explain. The day was close to perfect. My husband Dave and I were in Mazatlan with our friends Brian and Stacia...

He's a professional baseball player with an X-rated mouth, but hopefully his words will soon be G-rated. This spring training my 10-year old grandson, Drake, accompanied his dad (my son Adam), to Florida where he was allowed to hang out with the Washington Nationals baseball team. ...

He was the grandson of a king and son of a prince, yet he considered himself a "dead dog." Living like a pauper, he was overwhelmed when his father's best friend restored him to a place of honor, allowing him to eat at the palace table and bequeathing his ancestor's land back to him. Best known as Mephibosheth -- now there's a mouthfull -- his story unfolds in 2 Samuel...

Tammy and her husband David live in Kansas City. In October 2008, Tammy went to give blood, something she had done almost every year since she turned 21. After having her hemoglobin checked, Tammy was told she was a little anemic. It was recommended that she get some more tests from her doctor, which she did. A complete blood analysis was done; all her counts were low. Following a bone marrow biopsy in November, she was diagnosed with mylodysplastic syndrome, the precursor to leukemia...

In scripture we Christians are referred to as sheep. I resent that. Sheep are stupid. Let's face it. Sheep have some real issues. For example, the book of Psalms tells us the shepherd makes his sheep lie down in green pastures. Get that? He "makes" them lie down. Goodness, they aren't even smart enough to rest on their own. And speaking of intelligence (or lack thereof), these wooly mammals have been known to follow each other over cliffs...

It's early in the morning, dark outside, and I sit here in the quiet of my living room, noticing -- really noticing --our fireplace shelves. Autographed baseballs. Bats. Books. Pictures. Trophies. Each with a special memory of its own. But this morning my thoughts are not about the accomplishments behind each prize. ...

It's the thought that counts. That's pretty much what 1 Samuel 16:7 says when it tells us that God judges our hearts. I am given cause to remember that. . . Valentine's Day after Valentine's Day after Valentine's Day. I left work this week and phoned my husband to tell him I had to run a couple of errands before I got home. ...

They're everywhere! They're everywhere! Hearts, flowers, chocolate, even greeting cards that sing mushy love songs. We are surrounded daily by reminders that this is the month of love, yet I'm not so sure there isn't more guilt than actual affection being offered up to prove we care. It's a basic desire for all of us, isn't it?...

"Whenever I'm disappointed with my spot in life, I stop and think of Jamie Scott. Jamie was trying out for a part in the school play. His mother told me that he'd set his heart on being in it, though she feared he would not be chosen. On the day the parts were awarded, I went with her to collect him after school. Jamie rushed up to her, eyes shining with pride and excitement. 'Guess what, Mom,' he shouted, and then said those words that will remain a lesson to me . . ...

Each school year, day one, I go over my class rules. Most are predictable: "Respect others." "When I'm talking, you aren't." "Feel free to sharpen pencils without asking," etc. None of those cause much reaction. But then I lay the BOMB on these teens. "All cell phones must be put in the basket by the door when you enter this room." My advanced students get a kick out of watching the incoming freshmen stare at each other, panicked. It's obvious what they are thinking...

It starts with you. And me. God has given each of us, individually, another year to make a difference, despite how things in this world are in a colossal mess morally, economically, politically and spiritually. We turn on the news, we read the headlines, and we get discouraged, wondering if THIS will be the year Jesus will return and take us home. After all, it's never been this bad...

Her name is Ann, she is a Canadian senior citizen and she is quite the adventurer. I met her in Mazatlan, Mexico, and was immediately impressed with her go-get-'em attitude. Her latest venture is one that deserves to be retold. Ann and her husband Patrick were on a jungle trek in Burma when she was bitten by a red-tailed, green snake. ...

When our children were younger, they typically failed to recognize the benefits of the "life lessons" their frugal father was determined to teach them. Take for instance, the car Dave bought for Adam, our middle son, who was then in high school. The ultimate goal was for Adam to hand it down to his brother Andy who would drive it for several years...

Jonathan Moyers, a former student and praise leader in a nearby church, wrote the following poem. He has given me permission to share it with you. Tis the season of tons of stuff, Hustle and bustle in the name of "love." Presents, trees, and baskets of cheese,...

"You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving" I recently saw that quote on a poster, and it caused me to think. As Christians, we are called to love. No surprises there. It is, after all, what distinguishes us from the non-Christian, right? Jesus, who made the ultimate sacrifice, knew the cost of true love...

I wanted to quit. My shins had turned to splinters, my lungs groaned, and I was bored. While running on the Fort Scott Community College track for the first time following a year's hiatus, my frustration must have shown ... or perhaps my snarls and guttural noises gave it away, but about the time I turned to head home, Kristin Downing, a former student of mine, sprinted past, going the other direction...

If you were able to attend Fort Scott High School's production of "The Wizard of Oz," you no doubt recognized the magnitude of talent, the number of personnel involved and the team effort that went into this play. Inside the program you read a short blurb acknowledging the help of Russell McMurray. What it didn't tell you was that God used his kindness and positive attitude as key factors in me selecting this play, and in the end I gained a lifelong friend...

Ever had "one of those days" at work? You've done more than was asked but no one has noticed? For the fifth month in a row you've deserved that "Employee of the Month" parking spot only to find that management once again has given it to Manipulator Maria instead?...

My son Adam is passionate about hunting. He did not get that love from me. I find it cruel to stalk a deer or elk by hiding in trees or brush while baiting them with mimicking animal calls. "You have a distinct advantage," I tell him. "If the animals had cameras and binoculars and a bow and arrow, things would be equal, but this way it's not fair."...

A few years ago church marquees began illustrating clever messages in hopes passersby would reconsider missing the Sunday services. This is one of my favorites: "As you pass this little church, be sure to plan a visit, So when at last you're carried in, God won't ask 'Who is it?'"...

It's been years since I've worked with small children. Such fond memories I have of those times: showing up at work with mismatched shoes; apologizing to a mother for her son's broken tooth -- even though I had no idea it had even happened, forgetting to pick up my own sons at their little league practices; falling into bed, questioning why I was put on this earth. We all have our gifts . . ...

I've been sickened by the happenings in our community in the past couple of weeks. Self-serving actions have led to families being ripped apart, immeasurable suffering (physical and emotional), and torturous guilt for loved ones involved. We find ourselves on edge, as if we personally have been affected...

When was the last time you served someone when it cost you something? Possibly you were asked to compromise your schedule. Maybe your checkbook. Probably your pride. Jesus was the epitome of servanthood. Picture Him washing the feet of His disciples, speaking to the Samaritan woman (half-breed that she was), or even dying on the cross for a crime He never committed. It was never about Him. It was always about the other person. You and I are no exception...

One tiny thing. No big deal. Or so it seemed. It all began when my car window wouldn't roll up. That issue appeared fixed after the dashboard gauge indicated the tire pressure was low, Dave added air and the window cooperated and closed. I asked if there was a correlation between the two. My pragmatic husband suggested I never become a mechanic...

A few years ago I was an accomplice in a kidnapping at the high school where I teach. It was one of the highlights of my year. It all started when Polly, a first-year English teacher, "borrowed" McGruff, the crime-fighting stuffed dog that sat guard on the desk of our school's police officer, in order to ransom the furry mutt for chocolates. That's where I came in. My room was to be the drop-off point...

"List one thing about your appearance you would change if you could," I challenged my Bible study teens. "Just one?" they responded in unison. Each of the seven had her own complaint: high forehead, crooked nose, too fat, too fat, too fat, thin hair, too short...

Several years ago, after a 25-year hiatus from the activity, I signed up to play tennis. My previous experience with the sport had been when I was 12, but then, not knowing how to keep score, my girlfriend Chris and I simply would count how many times we hit the ball. (Not to boast, but our record was 16 volleys.)...

I am concerned that, for the majority of Christians, heaven sounds quite nice, and it certainly is where we want to end up, but in spite of its saving-grace-insurance-policy resemblance, it fails the authenticity test. There was a time when I was no exception to that belief, a fact that became obvious to me a few years ago when my friend Lael posed a question to me during one of our "girlie" chats. ...

There are moments when I do something fairly well and feel a little puffed up, but invariably God allows someone or something to come along and pop a hole in my egotistical balloon and bring me crashing back to earth. Take swimming, for example. Dave and I have been doing laps, and the other day I asked why I was so much slower than he. His response brought back "fond" memories of the last time I asked that question. Allow me to reminisce...

It was the same group of men, game after game, all of them laboring to nab the attention of the ballplayer as he entered or left the ballpark. They were baseball card fanatics, carrying with them notebooks with the visiting team pictures alphabetized and placed inside protective, plastic sleeves...

Last week's article described the first days of my trip to North Dakota where my friend Sally and I visited Marti on her ranch. I ended by describing our horseback ride through the mountainous area, our destination to see Teddy Roosevelt's homestead, remotely tucked away and marked only by historical signs set there by state workers. ...

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." That something that "lies within us" is called integrity. Definition? Doing the right thing, even though no one is watching...

This past week I had the privilege of helping sponsor 114 teenagers to the Christ In Youth conference in Tennessee. My students had talked about their CIY experiences there in the past, but I had no idea it was as life-transforming as it was. Picture 2,000 uninhibited students gathering to praise Jesus. "With arms high and heart abandoned," as the song lyrics read, these teenagers demonstrated what most churches lack: a musical love-fest between them and God...

In 1921 this poem, one of my favorites, was written by Myra Brooks Welch, "the poet with the singing soul." As a young woman, Myra's special love was playing the organ; however, years later, confined in her wheelchair due to severe arthritis, she was unable to make music...

"Recalculating." If you have a GPS system and you're like me, this is a word you hear frequently when traveling. Its definition? "You're lost again. Find a place to turn around and go the other direction, you numbskull." Some of us live in recalculating mode. We are constantly readjusting. Plan A becomes Plan B which evolves into Plan C...

If I were to be graded on how well I represent Christ, I might, on my best days, be given a D. Grading on the curve, comparing myself to my heathen friends who sometimes cuss and don't read their Bibles, I might get a C. But there is one place in scripture -- and regrettably it was of maximum importance to Jesus -- where I get an F-minus. The Beatitudes...

Divine intervention. That's what we called it, although we (embarrassingly) didn't refer to it that way until after the fact when we had a glimpse of God's handiwork. Five of us -- my four 1968 college sorority sisters and I -- were in Mazatlan waiting for another one of our friends, Colleen, to arrive...

Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. My husband retired in January. He was feeling the physical pains caused from years of athletic activity and could no longer perform the grueling demands of his coaching job. That meant we would actually be able to take a summer vacation together, the first that would include pleasurable, pre-selected stops as opposed to harried cross-country sojourns controlled by Dave's baseball schedule...

It's one of my favorite days of the year. Graduation. There are always several parties scheduled, and this time my granddaughter Montana had volunteered to go along with me to "help carry the gifts" and "get some cake." Our outing had started out less than perfect as Mapquest had sent us to the wrong side of town, a delay which prompted Mo to worry that there wouldn't be any dessert by the time we got there...

When Dave and I were first married I started noticing a strange behavior in older couples -- the majority of them would dine in restaurants without talking to each other. BORING! I told myself. What's the point of being together if you aren't talking?...

Transparent toasters. Banana guards. Toilet seat lifters. Anti-theft coffee cups. Lucky us. We live in a world of conveniences, all intended to make our lives easier. Yet in spite of these time-savers, many of us remain frenzied with all the unchecked responsibilities on our relentless to-do-list. ...

To me, one of the tenderest moments in scripture is the account of Mary anointing Jesus' feet. As the dinner guests watch, no doubt stunned, Mary breaks the alabaster jar containing a pound of costly perfume, pours it on Jesus' feet and, through tears, unbinds her head covering to wipe His feet with her hair. It is outrageous love. Extravagant love. And it is too much for crooked Judas Iscariot to watch...

Years ago, when we lived in Texas, Dave and I hosted a Bible study in our home. It was led by our good friends, our pastor Jack and his wife Lael. A new couple came one Sunday evening when Dave was out of town, and before our study began, I asked about their family. They had one son and he was...well, "perfect." I smiled and said not what I was thinking: "How nice."...

Two weekends ago, I had the privilege of being the "humorist" for a Christian conference. Nearly 1,000 women attended, and I was completely humbled by the faith and intelligence of the other keynote speakers and singers who used their expertise to impact the women present...

Some time ago I received the following email: Everything I Need To Know, I Learned From the Easter Bunny. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Walk softly and carry a big carrot. Everyone needs a friend who is all ears. All work and no play can make you a basket case...

It was our 38th anniversary. Dave telephoned from Mexico, saying he had made us reservations at our favorite restaurant and also purchased tickets for the Gala at Angela Peralta, the historic theater in downtown Mazatlan. I had numerous times -- all in vain -- visited the site to see if it was as magnificent inside as the locals described, but I never found it open...

Governor Jesus Aguilar Padilla attended the Vineyard Church in Mazatlan, Mexico, a few Sundays ago, and Dave was there. Padilla had come to honor the church's dedication to ministry and to acknowledge all the Vineyard does for the poor in the area. The governor made a monetary donation and then walked around with the collection plate, insisting his bodyguards do the same, a sight Dave found very impressive. ...

"Girls," I wrote, "I have lost 13 pounds. I am so excited!" So began the email I sent my two step-daughters before last Christmas. My "more yogurt and less potato chips" diet had paid off -- I finally would be able to squeeze into the swimsuit that had been hidden away for this very occasion, and everyone in my family would ask my secret when they saw me on the beach for our holidays together in Mexico...

Several years ago I visited a church where the pastor challenged the congregation to break into groups and answer this challenge: "Prove God." Oh, yippee! I thought. While we're at it, why don't we have a relay race so I can be the last one chosen? Cliques formed quickly, no one chose me, and my middle school days reared their ugly heads once again...

My drama students are creating skits to present to the eighth graders at the end of April. I began this activity by asking them to name difficulties they personally are facing. As they shared, I wrote their answers on the board. I was not prepared for what they were about to tell me...

Scripture tells us that all nations will one day gather before the throne of God where they will be separated into two groups: sheep on the right, goats on the left. The image of that day is a bothersome one. "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ...

When my two brothers and I were young we always knew school was getting close because our mother would take us downtown to buy new shoes, a dress pair and a school pair (not hand-me-downs but the real thing). My fifth grade year I talked my mom into letting me get a pair of black patten-leather shoes with French heels. ...

The responses I received from my Jan. 28 article on bitterness allowed me to see Jesus working in hurting lives. Individuals, deeply wounded by broken relationships, wrote to share their burdens of anger that had caused them to move away from God. They had recognized themselves in my description of the embittered woman and did not like what they saw. ...

This past week Sarah, a senior drama student, was leading her classmates in a yoga exercise. She reminded them of what her yoga instructor had said: "It's very difficult to empty our minds ... but we must try." "No problem for me," I thought. "I've been losing mine for quite some time." It's been a painless process, but it's definitely escalating. ...

A man died and went to heaven. He was met at the pearly gates by Saint Peter who offered to show him the home God had prepared for him. The man's excitement grew as he and Saint Peter passed a street lined with beautiful mansions, but they did not stop. ...

Will Rogers once said, "People who fly into a rage always make a bad landing." UNLV's 6'4" basketball guard, Tre'Von Willis, knows the truth of that adage. Willis was arrested last July, accused of choking his girlfriend because she was texting instead of paying attention to him. If convicted of this impetuous act, Willis could spend years behind bars. I read the Willis article and thought, Over a cell phone? Seriously?...

"Backward living," I call it. Holding on to our past with emotional super-glue that keeps us bound to bitterness. Living in a mental prison confined by steel bars of hostility. If you've allowed yourself to dwell on ways you've been hurt, maybe it's time you unlock the shackles and set yourself free. ...

We sat in the back of the rickety van, holding on to each other to keep from tipping over. I'm not sure what I expected, but this wasn't it. The Vineyard Church -- the one Dave and I attend when we are here in Mazatlan, Mexico, -- had offered its members several opportunities for discipleship, and this was one for which I volunteered our family -- ministering to a group of children at a local colonia...

Have you ever asked yourself why Jesus chose to leave the crowning perfection of excellence to be born into a disordered universe in a remote land called Bethlehem? Think about it. From the throne room itself, Jesus had had a ring-side seat to the world's shenanigans, watching civilization get what it deserved, yet he still loved enough to come to earth to die for the very ones who would end up rejecting him...

As I downloaded Clay Aiken's version of my favorite Christmas song "Mary, Did You Know," I began to cry as the lyrics came to life. For just a few moments, I was transported to a Bethlehem inn where a tiny baby boy was cradled in His mother's arms. Max Lucado describes the miracle: "He (Jesus) came, not as a flash of light or as an unapproachable conqueror, but as one whose first cries were heard by a peasant girl and a sleepy carpenter. ...

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13 is referred to as the "love chapter of the Bible." Although typically recited at weddings, author Sharon Jaynes has given these words a new twist, a Christmas twist, and her words are a piercing reminder of how displaced our attention might become during the holiday season, if we lose sight of love...

It was the Luke Bryan weekend, and our house was filled with family and friends. When our guests mentioned the television in their room wasn't working, I went upstairs to check the remote, forgetting that Andy's friend had taken it to California. Don't ask...

The high school musical is over, and it has been quite a journey. From music to choreography to costumes to set design, five of us adults were the team responsible for the play. Pre-production meetings were lengthy. It was my job as the director to get everyone on the same page and then figure out a way to get these adolescent actors at least in the same book. There was just one problem...

When I was young, my mother taught me to sew, a love that was lost as soon as I realized I was pitiful at it. Somewhere in junior high. Come to think of it, that's when I decided I was inept at just about everything I tried. Sewing was no exception. On home-ec assignments, I would end up with more remnants than actual ware, even though my teacher, Mrs. Douglas (bless her heart), would always try to find some redeeming quality in my designs...

Once a month, the members of this support group congregate in Dallas. With a bond that few understand, each has a story, yet most refuse to discuss it with outsiders. What do these men have in common? All were accused of crimes they did not commit and spent years in prison, until finally being exonerated due to DNA evidence...

The phone call came around 7:20 a.m., just as I opened my classroom door. Jeff, our oldest son, wanted to know why Andy, our youngest, was in a hospital in Mexico. Not surprisingly, I didn't even know Andy was in Mexico, much less a hospital. My policeman son had done little investigative work before making this call. Jeff filled in what little he knew. "I just got a text with a picture of him hooked up to an I.V. in a hospital there." My mind took off like the Discovery space shuttle:...

"I'm losing power." "Well, honey, you are 62. That's what happens." "No, Patty. I mean your car is losing power. And there's smoke pouring from the back." Within seconds, Dave and I stood on the highway's shoulder, watching helplessly as my VW became smothered in smoke. ...

Julia is a foreign exchange student who is enrolled in my drama class and hangs out in my room after school. Julia tried out for the fall musical and was given the role of the seamstress, a character who appears in three scenes and has a few lines. The Monday after I posted the roles, Julia wasn't her usual jovial self, and after school I found out why...

Our school district's recent inservice dealt with "Love and Logic," the strategy of disciplining students with dignity. Following the seminar, many of us agreed it should be a mandatory parenting class for everyone whose children are being educated in our district, but some of us admitted we need to practice it in our own homes, too. ...

My husband, mother, and I were recently in Pennsylvania. Taking an early morning walk, Dave and I encountered two opposing groups positioned in front of a Planned Parenthood clinic. The abortion advocates were easily identified by their bright yellow vests, while the opposition held up signs denouncing abortion as murder. A trio quietly prayed the rosary while others were there to share their story. Such was the case of one young woman who wore a placard reading "I Regret My Abortion."...

This past week we had tryouts for our upcoming musical "White Christmas." The actors heard my "there are no small roles" lecture, but we all know that's a nifty concept only if it applies to the OTHER guy. Five of us were involved in deciding the cast. ...

I think God loves irony, don't you? I think He smiles every time He twists life events so that the unexpected happens. I was part of one of His plots last weekend when I joined celebrity Christian author/speaker Carol Kent, comedian Jinny Henson, and radio personality Dr. ...

Bark Park recently opened by my step-daughter's house near Las Vegas. That's right ... BARK PARK. A park for dogs. Balance beams, teeter-totters, hoops, balls ... even the owners' benches are concrete doggy bones. It is hound heaven. Yes, indeedy, the economy may be plummeting and countless people might be unemployed, but thank goodness, our dogs are happy...

As the school year approaches, you might be one of those shoppers looking for bargains. I feel your pain because that means it's time for a little closet-cleaning. Sounds easy enough, but determining what to keep, what to toss, and what to give away are not easy decisions. ...

"Britney, let me see your cell phone." My 11 year old granddaughter hands it over to her mother (my stepdaughter), Nikki, who checks Britney's texts. Nikki has been out of town at her oldest daughter's softball tournament, and she wants to make sure her youngest has not abused her phone privileges. Later I ask Nikki, privately: "Your kids don't object to you looking at their call logs and texts?"...

The story is told of a man whose Model T Ford broke down on the side of a country road. He opened the hood and was attempting -- unsuccessfully -- to solve the problem, when another car pulled up behind him. A well-dressed, distinguished man got out of the vehicle and asked if he could be of any service. ...

Oh, the masks we Christians wear! Most of us have a closet-full, and we all know how handy they are when our sandpaper relatives and friends rub us the wrong way. Too insecure to "speak the truth in love," we don those smiley faces and pretend irritating people don't grate on our nerves...

How wonderful it must be to recognize God's handiwork in each situation handed to us! Author/speaker Mark Cahill knows what that's like. In his book The One Thing We Can't Do In Heaven he recalls a time he needed an emergency appendectomy. He was thrilled to have an opportunity to witness to emergency room personnel, and without that crisis he would never have that chance. ...

This week Amanda, my 16-year-old granddaughter, is playing on an all-star softball team in Denver, Colorado, while her dad, brother, sister and I are here in Las Vegas. Yesterday Amanda made an error that put her team behind. Her coach immediately pulled her from the game and had her sit on the bench. Nikki, her mother, texted me as the game progressed, and I found myself angered that such an embarrassing injustice had to be inflicted on such a dedicated athlete...

Coming through Customs at the Toronto Airport in route to Las Vegas two weeks ago was a test of my patience, endurance, and ability to stand in high heels for four hours. With most of the Custom's agents maxing out their overtime, only a few weary souls were left to man the booths. Between 700 and 1,000 frustrated travelers inched along the zigzag walkway where a sense of helplessness became fodder for conversation...

This past weekend I spoke at a Christian retreat in Canada. The conference center was beautiful, the accommodations amazing, and the surroundings breathtaking. The only negative, aside from a few curious bears and mean-spirited raccoons that roamed the vicinity, were the Canadian geese that had invaded the area...

Mr. Beckham, our principal, had been stressing this day's importance since last September, and now it was here. The national accreditation team was coming to Fort Scott High School to determine if we were "on a path of continuous improvement." Everything would be scrutinized...teachers, counselors, students, parents, the Board of Education. ...

I love graduations. Weeks ahead of time, seniors and their families begin to gear up for a whirlwind of festivities. Invitations are sent for get-togethers at graduates' houses where mini "shrines" will be set up to commemorate high school accomplishments. Food is prepared and frozen in anticipation of relatives descending in droves, and as the weekend approaches, houses are spit-shined, with even the teen's bedroom organized and the bed made. For some, a first...

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Matt 7:7) A few of us at Fort Scott High School are asking, seeking, and knocking, praying a door will be blown off its hinges. Pechone Stepps, a para-professional in our school, was once a talented basketball player and St. ...

"I have, thus far, abided by my worldview that it is not the falling that matters, but whether you are strong enough to rise again." So wrote Melissa Ruggero, a former student of mine. I first heard of Melissa's childhood when we were on a debate trip her junior year of high school. ...

When our boys were younger, they spent a lot of time in their rooms. Not of their own volition. Typically the older two, Jeff and Adam, would have plotted against their younger brother, Andy, found themselves in trouble, and were exiled (tortured, as they would tell it) to spend time in solitary confinement...

My dermatologist recently prescribed a skin cream for me. I was to rub it on my neckline twice a day for two weeks so that all of that area's hidden skin cancers would surface. After four days, I lit up like the White House Christmas tree. Apparently all those years of sun-worshipping, all those summer afternoons lying on my roof lathered in Crisco had taken their toll...

I have come to dread the UPS man who invariably arrives at our doorstep in February, delivering a box postmarked from whatever baseball team Dave is coaching with at the time. Predictably it will be a new briefcase with the team logo embossed on its side...

This Sunday many of us will celebrate with colored eggs, Easter bonnets, an obligatory church service, and a family feast of ham and scalloped potatoes. For the majority, however, the true meaning of the holiday will be lost, and we will forget the miracle responsible for the event:...

Spring break was last week, and I was ready for it. A trip to sunny Florida, time to get a little R & R, and a chance to see my husband and son. It couldn't get much better than that. Or so I thought. What I didn't count on was an unseasonal, Arctic blast that made its way south, blowing away any potential rays I was hoping to catch. ...

If Jesus Came To Your House by Lois Blanchard Eades If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two-- If He came unexpectedly, I wonder what you'd do. Oh, I know you'd give your nicest room to such an honored guest, And all the food you'd serve to Him would be the very best, And you would keep assuring Him you're glad to have Him there-- That serving Him in your own home is joy beyond compare.. ...

"Come out, come out, wherever you are!" If you were of the Wally and Beaver era, that phrase probably connotes memories of nightly, neighborhood free-for-alls, bruised knees, and sweaty bodies. I wonder how many of the video generation have witnessed, first-hand, the challenges of avoiding capture by landing on base before being plastered by Mean Jimmy... unless, of course, he's one of the freaky video aliens they're shooting to another galaxy to save their planet...

Rejection. If you have felt its sting -- and who hasn't -- you're in good company. Thomas Edison was called "too stupid to learn" by his teacher. Abraham Lincoln failed at two businesses and lost six elections. Walt Disney was fired from a newspaper because he "had no imagination." The first African American Academy Award Winner for Best Actor, Sidney Poitier, was told after his first audition by the casting director, "Why don't you stop wasting people's time and go out and become a dishwasher or something?" Michael Jordan, cut from his high school basketball team, went home, locked himself in his room, and cried. ...

"Honey, come in here. I have a surprise for you." Dave sounds excited. It is the day before Valentine's Day, so I know he's up to something. A few weeks previous, he had measured my wrist. Sort of a dead giveaway that a bracelet was coming, but I don't let on that I have figured out his secret...

If you're ever looking for a party idea, how about an evening of "The Blame Game"? You know how it works. Someone accuses you of doing something and then you come up with as many excuses as possible to prove you're not responsible. Party favors go to the one with the best answers...

Socrates once said, "The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be." Wouldn't it be wonderful if we were as nice and loving every day as we try to be on Valentine's Day? If we couldn't wait to make someone else smile, if hearts were shared and not broken, and if it were all about the OTHER person instead of about us?...

My physical psyche, if there is such a thing, has had a tough couple of weeks. It started when three students said my hair looked the best they'd ever seen it -- after I had come inside from a tsunami-type wind storm. Made me wonder what it looks like when I actually comb it...

Several years ago, when our sons were small and my mother lived with us, we gave Adam a sweet, affectionate kitten as a birthday gift. Adam named him "Grenade" or some such endearing term, and for the first few days the furry little bundle never touched the ground. He was carried -- or stuffed into a camouflage backpack and toted -- everywhere Adam went...

It's called the Dump Ministry, and it is literally that. A group of volunteers make food for the dozens of Mexicans who spend their days scrounging through the Mazatlan dump for recyclable materials. On Christmas Eve, Dave, our son-in-law Randy, and I joined 40 others for the Vineyards Church mission trip there. We met in the morning to prepare sandwiches and fill plastic water bottles before we boarded the bus for the hour-long trip...

Seven from my family are here in Mazatlan, Mexico, for Christmas break, and yesterday we were invited by our local friends, Francis and Rudy, to be part of their Christmas Eve celebration. We were to join about 30 adults, mostly employees of the resort next to where we are staying, to deliver toys to children in an impoverished neighborhood and an orphanage. All we needed to bring was lots of candy. Thanks to Sam's, that was no problem...

This Christmas season I was blessed, not because my house was all gussied up with festive garland and twinkling lights, not because I was able to squeeze in a nail appointment to get me through the holidays, and not because, for once, not one of the gifts I received dealt with counting fat or calories. My Christmas was blessed because of a group of elementary school children who helped me see "the reason for the season."...

Services for Christopher B. Berry, 29, Houston, formerly of Tyler, are scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at Mount Zion CME Church. Burial will be in Johnson Cemetery under direction of Brooks-Sterling & Garrett Funeral Directors, Tyler. Mr. Berry died Nov. 10, 2009, in Houston. He was born April 20, 1980, in Gladewater. He attended Chapel Hill High School, Fort Scott Community College and Southern University. He was a member of Mount Zion CME Church...

Last weekend Dave and I rented the movie "The Changeling," a true story about a single mother's unending quest for her young son who mysteriously disappears. Five months after the boy's disappearance, the mother, Christine, is introduced to a boy who pretends to be her son. ...

I cannot imagine hearing the diagnosis "Unclean." The priest would declare it, should he observe a raw patch of flesh or white bumps or red marks or discolored hair on his patient. The prescription? Immediate isolation. There would be no soothing ointments or salves, not even an affectionate good-bye from one's family. ...

Yesterday was Thanksgiving, but I wasn't...not nearly as much as I should have been. Thanks-giving, I mean. I was tired, already stressing over the upcoming Christmas preparations, mad at myself for putting off -- for yet another year -- buying presents ahead of time, and frustrated over my lack of discipline at the buffet table...

My sister-in-law Susan handed me a cell phone ad that ran in a local newspaper. Titled "Perfect for Back to School," it showed a student texting while hiding her hand-held phone under her classroom desk. It should have been labeled "Defying Authority In One Easy Step." Sadly, this advice is being conveyed to our youth in more ways than just a newspaper ad. It often comes directly from parents...

"You know why I love tugboats? Because they are the little guy helping the big guy. That's all they do is help the big guy." Six of us were on our annual "girls week out" trip, and Keller was looking out our condominium's window watching the boats at the nearby wharf. At the time I didn't pay her comment much heed, but for the past few weeks I've seen that principle in action at the high school where we are in the middle of musical performances...

Two weeks ago Dave's coaching friends with the Toronto Blue Jays were fired. Even his boss, the head of minor league operations and another whom Dave really respects, was let go. Phone calls started early Wednesday afternoon, and when I got home from school, Dave was still talking to his buddies. Apparently the Jays were "cleaning house." I told Dave he was just one dust-bunny away from being wiped away...

Dave and I were talking on the phone early yesterday morning. I was relaxing, having a cup of coffee, when I heard a whirling noise above my house. A helicopter apparently was landing on my roof. Even for me, this was not normal. The engine noise continued, but by then it was somewhere over my pond...and then in my front yard... ...

The Pittsburgh Pirates were playing baseball against the Houston Astros this past summer, and as Adam, our son, got out of a cab for this final game of their first series against each other, he noticed a homeless man staring at him. He looked familiar. Crossing the lane of traffic, Adam approached the man. As he neared, he realized it was Steven, a former FSCC teammate who played when my husband coached the team. Steven was everyone's favorite while he was here...

In 1980, at the age of 32, Linda Mae Richardson was diagnosed with malignant melanoma which had already metastasized into her lymph system. Her doctors indicated that her prognosis was very poor. During the next year, her husband, two sons (ages 9 and 11), family, and friends rallied to support her as she had two surgeries removing 50 malignant lymph nodes, followed by chemotherapy and cobalt radiation treatments...

Last week's column was about Max, the head of our Kansas Thespian organization, and his repentant apology to the state representatives when he mistakenly read the wrong names as winners. It took little time for me to be personally tested on Max's example...

"It's hard to step on someone's toes when you're washing them." I'm not sure who said that, but I witnessed that wisdom in action when I attended a Thespian conference in Salina last weekend. Kansas drama students had come to give speeches, hoping that we theater directors would vote for them to represent our organization in Wichita at the state gathering in January. ...

There is a story about two brothers who were so mean that the entire town in which they lived feared them. People knew them as thieves and liars and murderers. One day one of the brothers died. The other brother went to the local pastor and asked a favor: "Reverend, I know you are always looking for money for your church. ...

Several years ago, Chip Gross asked Dave and me to watch his boat, docked at Fort Scott Lake, while he was out of town. We were to check on it every few days, just to be sure it had not been stolen. The first couple of trips were uneventful, but the third venture, following a night of high winds, was a different story -- the boat was missing. The ropes were dangling from the dock's hooks, but there was no boat...

This past week auditions for our high school musical were held, and decisions made by me broke some hearts. As a high school theater director, my initial job is to select a play that will show off our students' talents. This year I chose "Crazy For You," and after ordering the script, reading it umpteen jillion times, and understanding the incredible talent it required, I realized I was "Crazy For Picking It." It needed serious tap dancers, boys and girls alike, who could also sing and act...

I was having a bad hair day. No matter how much gel, goop, and glop I added, it refused to cooperate. My flip had flopped, my bounce had boomeranged, and neither curling iron nor straight iron made a difference. Since I would be giving a speech in a few hours to a large group of cancer survivors in Hesston, Kansas, this was not the day to have my hair misbehave. My job was to "encourage the women and make them laugh." I never intended the comedic part to come from my hair...

"Be still and know that I am God." Sounds so simple, doesn't it? But how, exactly, do we DO it? How do we quiet our thoughts long enough to concentrate on how awesome our God is? Society is no help. Just go to a professional baseball game and you will know what I mean. No longer do you see grandpas with their grandsons watching nine-inning games, sharing a box of cracker jacks and a Coke. Too old-fashioned, I guess...

We had front row seats to (what was supposed to be) an exciting baseball game between two rival teams. The stands were full of supporting fans, half for our side, and half for the evil enemy. Everything was fine until the opposing pitcher threw the first pitch of the game. "Ball one!" shouted the umpire. Perfect call. Clearly missed home plate...

I attended my first symphony a few months ago. It was opening night at the new Ellis Performing Arts Center, and the event was wonderful. The musicians and conductor made it all look so simple. I knew otherwise. Years ago I substitute taught for a middle-school orchestra class in Houston, Texas. ...

"It takes a village." That's our new motto. Last week seven of us, all college pledge class sorority sisters from the late 60's, went on our annual vacation to Palm Beach, Florida. This was a perfect choice for this group of almost-senior-citizens whose logo is the pink flamingo. Embarrassing to our kids. All the more fun for us...

A Sunday school class of first-graders was asked to draw a picture of God. When the pastor stopped by to inspect their work, the children were happy to show him their drawings. One child had drawn God in the form of a brightly colored rainbow. Another had drawn the face of an old man coming out of billowing clouds. ...

We live in a world where courtesy seems to be in short supply. A few weekends ago I was in Steamboat Springs, Colo., where I had spent three days helping my oldest son, Jeff, move into his condominium (a story I'll save for later). At our farewell lunch at a local Mexican restaurant, the waitress commented on how kind we were to her, and she thanked us for being so nice. ...

Erma Bombeck was one of my favorite writers. When she was dying of cancer she scripted what would be considered some of her best advice which she titled "If I Had My Life To Live Over." This is what she wrote: "I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day. ...

When Jon (not his real name) came to me right before report cards were issued and asked what he could do to raise his grade, I was flabbergasted. "Mrs. LaRoche, why do I have an F in your class?" he asked. "Well, Jon, perhaps it's because you rarely did any of the assignments and you didn't study for the tests. You have a 13 percent in my class," I answered. Jon appeared dumbfounded. "Well, is there anything I can do to get extra credit?" (He was serious)...

I volunteer for the high school softball team. Basically that means I am in charge of bandaids, nacho cheese for the concession stand, and encouragement for the ones who make errors or strike out. It has been a frustrating spring for our girls; due to the number of rainouts, the postponements, cancellations, and rescheduling nightmares have kept our Activities Director busy and our athletes disappointed...

Dave's nightly phone call from spring training at the beginning of April ended with alarming news: Andy, our son, was really sick. His baseball team's trainer had tried four times the day before to insert an I.V. and couldn't because Andy was so dehydrated...

"Just." In most instances when it is used as an adverb it is such an unobtrusive word, isn't it? "I just arrived." Or, "Your timing is just right." Or, "He just missed the bus." Of course, such unobtrusive uses of the word "just" are not always the case. A recent conversation clearly brought that reality home to me...

Two brothers, age 8 and 10, were always playing pranks and getting into mischief. Their parents, beside themselves with anxiety, decided to send the boys to talk with the pastor of the church, a God-fearing, no-nonsense preacher. The eight-year old had the first appointment. ...

I had spent weeks organizing an Easter potluck/pool party/egghunt for church families who had no relatives in the Houston area where we lived. Dave was away coaching baseball, but the invited group included several of our sons' friends, so the three of them were actually cooperating by just hiding the colored eggs instead of smashing them on each others' heads or throwing them at passing cars. This was considered excellent behavior in our home...

Early in February, Andy, our youngest, called home, a rare event indeed. The conversation went something like this: "Mom, I'll be coming home next Tuesday." "Andy, that's great. Where are you?" "I'm in L.A. Our lease is up and I'm bringing some stuff home."...

Someone once said, "A candle loses nothing if it helps to light another." Encouragers know that. They look for ways to recognize others who are disheartened or just having a "blah day" and find ways to cheer them up. The high school where I teach, the church that I attend, the retreats where I speak, the grocery store where I shop ... ...

Two weeks ago I flew to Florida to see my husband and two of our sons who are all in the middle of baseball's spring training. It was an early morning flight and going on three hours' sleep is never fun, so I was grateful to find an available window seat where I could lay my head and catch up on my sleep. ...

Cope. Interesting word, isn't it? Merriam's Dictionary defines it as "to deal with and attempt to overcome problems and difficulties." I would like to share with you the story of one woman whose life is a testimony to how, with the help of God, we can cope with problems that might seem insurmountable...

Two summers ago I flew to Pennsylvania to babysit my grandkids, Drake and Montana, when their parents went on a baseball roadtrip together. One morning, after we made cupcakes, I read to the kids a children's version of the Good Samaritan parable. Towards the end of the story... ...

They have been called "zealots," "fanatics," "rebels," and even "nuts." They have been listed as a "hate group" by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Obsessed with helping the world see the error of its ways and unscathed by what others say about them, they speak up at public forums, college plays, and even funerals. Allow me to introduce you to the radical followers of Fred Phelps, pastor of Topeka's Westboro Baptist Church...

This was intended to be a wonderful evening. There were no students in the detention room I monitor after school; I had time to drive to Sekan and get some papers printed for a speech I would be giving in a couple of weeks; and even though this article was due, I had an entire evening to compose my draft. I wasn't sure what my topic would be, but I had a couple of ideas and knew that God is good and He is in control and He would give me words to write...

Once upon a time (as the legend goes) Rome's Emperor Claudius II, a vicious (not-to-mention insane) warrior, tried to figure out why his young men refused to go to battle. When it was determined that they did not want to leave their wives, families, and girlfriends, the emperor's answer was simple: pass a law to cancel all the marriages and engagements...

The administration at the high school where I teach not only seeks to support our strategies to meet No Child Left Behind's mandates, but it also strongly encourages the teachers and para-professionals to "come alongside" the students, to know them beyond their G.P.A. and school activities and to give them a safe place to hang. Times have certainly changed!...

The administration at the high school where I teach not only seeks to support our strategies to meet No Child Left Behind's mandates, but it also strongly encourages the teachers and para-professionals to "come alongside" the students, to know them beyond their G.P.A. and school activities and to give them a safe place to hang. Times have certainly changed!...

Kelli Toll is a jogaholic. A committed, never-say-die jogaholic. A few years ago I happened to mention to her that I was thinking about taking up her sport. "Terrific," she replied. "I'll be by your house at 5 in the morning and we'll run together."...

I begin this writing journey with high expectations, hoping that stories of my life experiences, the lessons I have learned not without occasional emotional bumps and bruises, will encourage you to look at life with a sense of humor and a renewed appreciation for how God is molding you...