Patience and Popsicles
On January 11, 2022 by Elle R.In the book of Exodus in the Bible, God rescues the enslaved Israelites from their Egyptian captors. King Ramses II is the reigning Pharaoh of Egypt and after witnessing God’s mighty displays of power through a series of ten plagues, Ramses reluctantly allows the Hebrews to leave. Ramses’ decision lasts about a couple of hours,
Last Christmas
On December 30, 2021 by Elle R.“Last Christmas I gave you my heart… But the very next day you gave it away… This year to save me from tears… I’ll give it to someone special.” The Last Christmas song by Wham was a chart-topping hit in 1984 and 1985, respectively. I think the song has a timeless appeal because we believe
The Christmas Fruit Basket
On December 4, 2021 by Elle R.I wrote this four years ago. It felt appropriate to update it now. 2017 – Confession ~ Our family received a holiday fruit basket last week. I am 47 but I acted like a 4-year-old upon receiving it. Ungrateful. I delayed thanking the gift-givers (a couple) – and the husband called me to check if
How I Came to Christ
On November 30, 2021 by Elle R.Twenty-nine years ago, I was a newly minted wife and mother. I had a toddler daughter and a son in my womb, ready to be born within days. I should have been happy – fulfilled – but I knew deep down, that something was missing. It wasn’t something though. I had tried all the things
Let Them Die
On November 29, 2021 by Elle R.I rarely write about things I see in the news media, as I know how there are two sides to every story. Sometimes there are three or four sides. This is a little different, as this topic hit home on a visceral level. A few months ago, I read that a firefighter in Glastonbury, Connecticut
Grief and Gratitude
On November 23, 2021 by Elle R.A neighbor and dear friend recently suffered the loss of his beloved son, only days before Thanksgiving. It is in bitter moments like these, I am reminded that the first Thanksgiving celebrated in the United States was rooted not only in gratitude but grief. One hundred and two passengers sailed aboard The Mayflower, landing at
Storm Clouds
On October 20, 2021 by Elle R.Tonight, at bedtime my ten-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter wanted me to read a bible story. I chose the story in the book of Mark where Jesus calms the wind and the waves. “That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took
Mondays, Dog Barf, and God
On October 8, 2021 by Elle R.I saw a t-shirt for sale that had this written on it. “Dear Monday, everyone hates you.” As a homeschooling mom of a large family, I can sometimes really agree. However, you have to be willing to take what God sends you and work with it. The good. The bad. And the dog barf. Monday
耶稣
On October 7, 2021 by Elle R.Pray and Speak Boldly Two weeks from now it will be a year since I answered one of the most frightening phone calls I have ever received. The police called to report they had found my daughter. She struggles with opioid addiction and I had not heard from her. I feared the worst. No parent
Treating the Root Cause
On September 23, 2021 by Elle R.On December 13th, 1885, a young woman living in a small mountainous Italian village gave birth to a baby boy she could not afford to raise. The next day, she stroked his dark hair and watched in loving fascination as his tiny hand curled around her pinky finger. She gently wiped her breastmilk from his