Third culture kids. That’s what we called our children who were a part of Youth With a Mission Amsterdam. Our missionary children came from a culture of origin, lived in Dutch culture (and attended Dutch schools), and were members of a third culture, our international community. My children are fourth culture kids; I came from …
Ice and Roses: Cultivating True Treasures
"Our treasures are many...they just walk around in human form." In these lean economic times, circumstances force us to simplify. We reduce our spending and weed out extravagances. In the process, we search for meaning. What is truly important? We muse. Fear of financial security permeates the media. Talk among co-workers riddles with ways to …
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Fear Not!
Fear, the one mistake you can make. Monsters that leap out and grab you every time faith promises. “I have bad news.” The voice on the other end of the line crackles. Fear surges through my veins and digs its talons into my chest. I try to brace myself for what might follow, but to …
Cotton Candy Skies
“Sure, I can do that for you. Yes, just give me a few days.” I bustle about my kitchen chatting promises to a friend. I'm a spinning top of activity while the cupboards blur around me. Then something strange catches my eye out the kitchen window. The bird house atop a lodge pole is pink. …
Remember Me
When I was a young mother, I held my newborn son in my arms and contemplated the desperate prayer of Hannah: "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give …
The Distractors
Forging forward in following God’s will is difficult at best. At times, we do not clearly see the road before us. Like driving in a thunderous downpour, sights and sounds spook our senses and cause us to cling to the steering wheel with a white-knuckle grip. Doubts pummel our thoughts until we can no longer …
The Passage
Have you ever had a desire seed in your soul and grow until you seriously contemplated its possibility? Perhaps this gentle inkling softly whispered “One day you’ll write a novel,” or “You’ll inspire others to create.” At first, you brushed the words away as if they were merely Tinkerbell fantasies. Yet in time, the idea grew …
The Great Seduction
I vividly remember the time when a man with a kind face reached across the table, placed his hand upon mine, looked into my eyes, and whispered, “I never thought you would be so beautiful.” I melted like soft butter on warm toast. He had me. At the time, I was a lonely single mother …
The Summer I Let my Gardens Die
The summer I let my gardens die is still fresh in my mind because it just happened. That’s right. This past summer I did not tend to the garden plots that usually grow prolifically with strawberries, tomatoes, squash, and herbs. In fact just the contrary occurred. I watched vermin, wily and pesky squirrels, strip not …
JoDee Luna Art 