Posted by: Beth | March 16, 2026

Catch up? HA HA

Will I EVER catch up?

                        Probably not.

Ugh.
Not what I wanted to hear.
Will the things I put aside stop jumping up and biting me in the butt?

                        Maybe. AFTER you’re caught up.

You have GOT to be kidding me!
No. No. NO. NO!  Just NO!

                        NO what?

Just NO!  This is NOT how things are supposed to be!

                        Says who?

Says ME!

I mean …. Really …. Honestly …. 

The last of December, early January – I was so optimistic.  Sure, we had a busy time ahead.  School work to do and record.  Events at church. Tax returns (of course). Traveling to see sights and family. Maybe, after planning several, actually getting a photo book put together and printed in time for a birthday.  Yes, a busy season lay ahead but it was doable without a lot of stress. 

And then.  A dislocated shoulder.  Two abdominal surgeries during a thirty-nine day hospital stay.  A cap that fell off a tooth. Back-to-back weekends of historic ice and snow storms. So much for a low-stress winter/spring season!!

Add in several sermons on self-reflection and not being too proud to ask for help.  Could the timing be any more appropriate?

Yes, I had to swallow pride I didn’t know that I had. Here’s a partial list of things people did for us.
Took care of the kids while I traveled to and from the hospital. 
Drove me places while my arm was in a sling.
Sat with me during his surgery. 
Took care of my duties at co-op.
Swept the floors and folded clothes and washed dishes. 
Helped me with computer issues.
Helped with science fair experiments and carved derby cars.
Listened to me whine and passed me Kleenex.
Curled my hair and fastened a necklace.
Brought us food – lots of good food. For weeks.
Took the kids places they needed to be.
Visited the hospital.
Rejoiced with the bits of good news, sighed over the set-backs, and prayed with us through it all. 

Ten weeks later, they still ask, “Are you okay? Do you need anything?  How can I help?”  When I figure it out, I say something and we receive help.  Pride is not easy to swallow.  Grace isn’t always easy to accept. Love in action may not make the world go round, but it certainly makes it a better place to live.

“And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.”  I Corinthians 13:13, Amplified Bible

#bgwww26

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Posted by: Beth | January 1, 2026

Stable? Cave?

Most of us have grown up with the idea of Jesus being born in a stable – a shelter providing a little less protection from the outside world than a barn.  Recently, stories are circulating that he was born in cave.  Really? A cave? Are you kidding me? 

Nope. Not kidding.

So what’s going on?  The whole story would fill multiple books, so let’s hit just a few high points.

The writings that eventually became our New Testament were written in Greek.  Have you heard of the Roman Empire?  They spoke Latin, and the scriptures were being translated into Latin as early as the second century CE (AD for those of us who are old).  Around 405 Jerome completed the first complete translation, The Vulgate, which became the official translation for the Catholic Church.

Fast forward several hundred years, In Europe, Latin is the language of the educated (usually the wealthy and church leaders) but not the language of common people.  In the late 1300s, John Wycliff translated the scriptures into Middle English. Noted translators in the 16th century include Martin Luther (German, 1522), William Tyndale (English, 1526), Gustav Vasa (Swedish, 1541), and Olivtan (French, 1535).

So what does this have to do with the stable/cave question?

Imagine you are translating a work of literature.  You come across a word that translates to “stable” – a place for sheltering animals.  What do you and your readers envision?  Whatever building you are used to seeing animals living in – that’s what.  In our day in America, many people would see something like cages at a zoo.  Rural folks might see a barn enclosed on all sides with a loft.  Expensive horses are housed in quarters that make some homes look shabby.   So, if you’re living in Europe where the landscape is covered in trees and many structures are made of wood, including shelters for animals, your visual of “stable” would be very much like our traditional nativity scene depicts.

And THEN there are archeological discoveries and people who study the culture of different eras. In Israel, long ago and now, there are not a lot of trees.  Rocks, however, are abundant.  What materials do people use for building?  Those that are available. Homes for people and animals are made of rock.

Overall, does it really matter if Jesus was laid in a wooden manger or a stone feeding trough? Yes and no.  Details matter. Context matters.  BUT what matters the most is what you believe about Jesus and his purpose in coming to Earth.  Do you believe he came to restore our relationship with God? Are you willing to follow his teachings, including sharing his story and making disciples?

Note:  While I have a basic understanding of how the scriptures came to be what we use today, I used this website on 22 Dec 25 for specific information.

The History of Bible Translations: Key Milestones and Influential Figures

#bgwww26

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Posted by: Beth | September 20, 2025

Daydreams and Hope

Daydreams.

Sweet, happy, fleeting thoughts of what might be.

Maybe a connection to reality, maybe not.

A few days ago I daydreamed. I realized with a start that it had been ….. how long?? …. I have no idea …. Since I had daydreamed.

Have I planned? Oh, yes! A lot!

Have I schemed a time or two?  Mmmm…. Yeah, that, too.

But to daydream?  To let my mind wander over possibilities and maybe things that aren’t really possible – that I have not done in years

So, I bought a pack of sticky notes.  I started writing.  Some things are really a to-do list for today and next week and next month.  I had to write those things down to get them out of my head so the fun stuff could surface again.  Most of these are long-term hopes and dreams.  Most of the pages have multiple things on them.  I turned them over to take a picture to share because I just don’t feel like baring my soul to the social media world.

You may be stuck in the muck.  The muck of being overwhelmed. Sadly, I have been there so much it feels like home.  I’m pretty sure I’ll feel it again within a day or two.  Please hear this. There is hope!  Beyond the to-do lists and grief and worries of all kinds, hope springs eternal.

You may glimpse it in a sunrise, a stranger’s smile, a Bible verse shared on social media, a flower breaking through a sidewalk, or any of a thousand little things.

My heart aches deeply today over so many things – a few made the news; most didn’t.

But there is hope – a deep conviction that God is good and will take care of his children, and he calls each of us.  Will we answer him with a yes?  Will we accept his gift?  Will we live in the hope of a better future, while walking daily with the Spirit he has sent to guide us? #bgwww25

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Posted by: Beth | September 8, 2025

Mini Vacation


Ah …. How peaceful!

Pleasant temperature

Warm sun on my face

Cool breeze from time to time

Quiet enough to hear the birds singing and the cars over on the interstate

No discontent nor anger swirling about me

What a relaxing, refreshing vacation!!

Okay …. I admit it …. It was ten minutes long.  Yes, just ten minutes.  Between sleeping a little late and having the typical mom-to-do-list that is always long, I set a timer for ten minutes so I could forget about everything that’s piled and dirty or both and lessons that need to be done and people I haven’t called or visited and … oh… you know the routine.

And I share this because the thing God has been reminding me of lately is that He is enough.  No matter what is happening, he is enough. His grace is sufficient. Most of these reminders have come when I was at the end of my rope and the person I called didn’t answer the phone. Or, as has happened a few times recently, I didn’t even call anyone.  I repeat to myself, “God is sufficient.  God is here.  However this ends will be okay.”

I am very aware and extremely grateful that I have a list of friends and family who will be here in a minute if I call.  But sometimes, I need to walk through a situation with just God.  Let the Holy Spirit be my only companion.  Do I like it? NO. I am a people-person. Do I see the benefit?  YES.  Surviving adversity builds strength and endurance and confidence in the truth that God is enough.  Oh, and by the way, most of my recent at-the-end-of-my-rope struggles were spiritual more than physical world problems.

Anyway, as I prepare to get started on the day’s list of things to accomplish (and it’s nearly lunchtime …. geez) I leave you with this thought: In bad times and good times (like a ten-minute vacation 😊) God is enough. 

Also, it is OKAY to call your brothers and sisters in Christ for help.  We all need that.  Jesus did not send out individuals but teams of two or more.  Growing spiritually is kinda like growing physically and socially –you need help to learn and support along the way, and some things you just have to do yourself.

 May we each be wise enough to know when to stretch ourselves and our spiritual growth and when to be brave enough to call a friend.

#bgwww25

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Posted by: Beth | August 14, 2025

Unique

I’ve told myself it is way too early in the school year to be going down this road.

However, struggles do not make appointments at our convenience.  I suppose if they did, we would just say no and have none 😊.

My current problem is that my well-planned -okay, maybe my decently-planned – days are NOT going as planned.  I suppose many parents have experienced that already this school year, whether they are home-educating or dealing with homework and after school activities and childcare.

I have had to remind myself of these few facts.  Perhaps you need to hear them again, too.

You are a unique individual.  Your abilities, strengths, and experiences are like no one else’s.

Your child – in fact each and every one of your children – is (no news to you) a unique individual.  Each child is a wonderful, delightful, challenging blend of characteristics.  Some of those traits we adore; others frustrate us to the point of tears. Some traits are obviously strengths (reading early, ability to focus, a natural bent toward organization).  Others seem to be liabilities (easily distracted, interested in everything in the book at once, energetic). 

Because we are each unique, our “schooldays” are different from everyone else’s.  Some of us home schoolers start at 8am sharp every day.  Others laze around until 10 or later.  It’s okay to study on “second shift” – in the afternoon and evenings – if other responsibilities or personal preferences work out that way.  Just get it done.

Thinking of “getting it done” – that looks different from family to family and even from child to child within a family.  It is okay for every student to achieve skills in a different order and at a different pace.

Well, now that I’ve heard my own pep talk, let’s get to it.

Have a blessed year of learning, wherever you do your studying

#bgwww25

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Posted by: Beth | July 20, 2025

Sunday Musings

Inadequate.

Sad.

Tired.

Just exactly how you want to feel before being at the front of the church (that is, on stage) during worship service, right?

A little more background:   Some Sundays we sing three or four songs.  Some days we sing eight or so.  Some days I play the piano for one of them and we have recorded music for the others. On rare occasions, I play for all the songs.  You get the idea — it varies every week.  I am not a great pianist.  That’s okay.  To me, it’s a lot more about worship than technical skills.  So, I usually play something simple.  I can practice a lot and play a moderately difficult piece and people clap when I’m done. Or, I play a familiar hymn and add in a few notes as I go along with a pause here and there and we like it just as well. The point is to help create an atmosphere where people can prepare their hearts to hear from God’s Word.

All that brings us to today.

By the time I arrived at church I felt a little better.  God uses cracked pots, right?  Early music practice went well.  Sunday school was a little heavy – there’s a lot going on in our extended church family.  Our choir runs through the special for today. Then, it’s on to worship service.

The first song went well – recorded music.  Then I played the next two songs, and messed up them both!  Choir special went okay.  Then I played the next three songs.  And noisy mistakes in every single one.  I don’t know when I have ever made mistakes in that many songs in one service.  It was bad.  The one positive thing is that I kept going; kept trying.  Sometimes I’m the only one who hears the mistakes.  Today, they were noticeable.  Praise the Lord, we had the highest attendance we have had in months!  I suppose if I’m going to mess up like this, might as well do it big time.  I’m back to feeling not so great.

 I try to sneak to my seat.  There’s one more song.  A solo with a recorded track.  Randy sang “Through the Fire” – first time I heard it.  I don’t know who asked for it to be sung, but God sent it to me.

“He never promised that the cross would not get heavy
And the hill would not be hard to climb
He never offered our victories without fighting
But He said help would always come in time” – Through the Fire by Crabb Family
Perhaps making mistakes in music is not a cross, but to keep trying when the successes seem small and far apart certainly feels like climbing a hill.  I needed the musical reminder that Jesus did not promise us a ride on a cruise ship, but a war (That was the sermon topic.), and that he would be with us.

Stay strong.

Or, maybe instead of staying strong, be weak.  Lean on the strength of Jesus.

#bgwww2025

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Posted by: Beth | June 4, 2025

Good Morning

Good morning!
Hello, sunrise 😊
Yes, I am *that* morning person who loves to be up shortly before sunrise (okay … not always in June and July when the days are SO long).  I enjoy watching the darkness slowly lighten through that soft glow of daybreak. I enjoy the gradual warming of the air as the first rays of sunlight pierce the atmosphere.  Sometimes a colorful burst of God’s artwork in the scattered clouds to adds to the beauty of the morning.  I enjoy the quiet, and the chatter of birds greeting the new day.

This morning as I read in Psalm 5, I was reminded that multiple times the scriptures call us to meet God in the morning.  In the quiet solitude, to be still physically and mentally (that’s the harder of the two) and to listen.  He reassures me of his presence and availability throughout the day.  He reminds me of his goodness and his provision.  He points out an attitude I need to adjust.  He brings to mind people and community needs to lift in prayer. Oh yes, I enjoy quite mornings.

However, I am well aware that not all mornings are quiet.  It is not always easy, and sometimes it is impossible to spend a quiet, still half hour or so to prepare for the day.

Perhaps a crying child awoke you at 4am.  Perhaps at 3am you had not yet been to sleep because of insomnia or too much study and work to do or … well, that list of reasons can be long.  Worries for your family and friends may invade your thoughts before you even stretch to get out of bed.  The alarm may jolt your body and senses, urging you on to work to provide for yourself and your family. A child or a pet may pounce on you, alerting you to urgent needs that you must meet.  Perhaps your body is screaming in pain from an accident or surgery or chronic illness.  The beep of an IV controller may have been your companion all night, and you’re not even sure when yesterday ended and today began.

Even on those hectic mornings, God is available.  We can cry out to him as we let out the dog or prepare breakfast for the toddler or mumble a greeting to the nurse on duty. Storing his promises in our hearts and minds is critical, so that on those mornings when life takes off like a dragster, we can recall his promise to walk with us, lighting our paths.  And hopefully, at some point, you can take a few moments to breathe slowly and deeply and let his words refresh your soul “I am with you always.  I will give you strength.  The comforter will guide you.”

#bgwww25

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Posted by: Beth | May 14, 2025

Right? Left?

     We decided before our little vacation that we would take NO schoolwork with us – no worksheets, no books.  We would not even have Damain practice right and left.

     But today we headed home and it’s back to schoolwork.  On the way home, Chuck decided to get in a little right/left practice with Damain.  The conversations went something like this.

Chuck: Damain, which side of the truck is Mama sitting on?
Damain: The passenger side.
Laughter all around.

Chuck:  But is she to your right or left?
Damain: Neither really.  She’s in front of me and on the passenger side.  (Damain was sitting on the driver’s side behind Chuck.)

Chuck: Okay, which hand do you hold your fork in?
Damain: Either one.  I use my spoon in my right and my left.  I pick up a knife with my left and my right.  I pick up my fork in either hand, whichever I feel like.
Me:  But you tend to use one hand more than the other.  Which one?]
Damain:  Whichever I feel like.

Chuck: Okay, which hand do you write with?
Damain:  My dominant one.

We gave up.  Right/left practice: 0.  Vocabulary:  Not bad.

#bgwww25


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Posted by: Beth | April 19, 2025

Easter Eve Musings

Wash the clothes.
Clean the shoes.
Uh oh, first find the shoes.
Matching hair bows for the girls, ties for the boys.
Prepare the gifts.
Dye the eggs (maybe not at $4.50 a dozen).
Fill the plastic eggs.
Read THIS devotional every day.
No, LISTEN to this one every day.
Devil the eggs.
Bake the cookies.
Prepare the message.
Mow the grass (or not because there’s an egg hunt).
Rehearse the music.
Get to bed early because sunrise service is early. (Are you kidding?!)

Meals?!  What? I gotta feed the kids, too?!

And clean the spills on the floor?

Holidays are fun and crazy and stressful.

It is OKAY if some things don’t get done.

Breathe.
Hug some kids (yours or someone else’s).
Breathe.
Feel the grass beneath your bare feet.
Breathe.
Check in with a friend.
Breathe.

In the midst of the chaotic activity, remember to connect with the Creator.

“[God] breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.” 
    – Genesis 2:7 KJV

#bgwww25

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Posted by: Beth | April 6, 2025

better than Magical Moments

Mary Poppins floats in on the breeze to corral mischievous children.
Kitt (Knight Rider’s electronic marvel of a self-driving car)  zooms safely across the country to prevent a disaster.
Peter Pan’s pixie dust lifts Wendy and brothers into the air and carrying them to Never-Land.
Nanny McPhee’s warts disappear as the children learn to be obedient and respectful.
Cinderella’s rags become a stunning ball gown.
The Great and All Powerful Wizard of Oz is ….. what?! …. a stunt man from Kansas who has built a reputation based on technology and illusion?  What?!

Oh how often do we see the illusion when we look at others.? The tendency to “keep up with the Joneses” (whoever they were) existed long before social media, so the internet is not to blame (although it has intensified the tendency).

Once we look behind the perfect party pictures posted on social media, we may find …

a frazzled mom frantically finding care for all her children

a dozen dedicated dear friends who didn’t care who got the credit, so they all pitched in to help

a daddy or grandparents who sacrificed a fishing expedition or a weekend trip to facilitate funding the festivities

the camaraderie of the clean-up crew

Those perfect party pictures are not an illusion like those created by the Wizard of Oz, but it does require work.  Even the Wizard’s illusions required work.  I’ve heard from a reliable source than fireworks and illusion that make you go “AHHH,” “oooooo,” and “WOW” require work to present.  Work.  Effort. Time. They are behind every “magical moment” we see.

And then there are those seemingly rare moments when the results are so much more than the work alone would produce.

Plans fall into place before people even talk to each other about them.

Money is donated before the need is publicized.

Aching joints and muscles are relieved as a gentle breeze blows.

Encouraging words touch aching hearts.

Beautiful music soothes souls and lifts our thoughts to the eternal.

Old friends get in touch, and new friendships are made.

When God’s children are obedient to his calling, beautiful things happen – things that are so much better than the magical moments of theater.  I very much enjoy magical theatrical moments, but they last for a moment.  The healing that occurs when God’s children listen to him and follow through – that’s forever.

#bgwww25

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