

In the measured space between these two images, a full day of life happened. Sunrise and sunset are bookends to your day, and there is no such thing as an inconsequential moment. Annie Dillard has framed the song of my heart: "The way we live our days will be, after all, the way we live our lives."
So write the thank you note, do the load of laundry, push the swing a hundred times for a small person in your life. And when you get the chance, sign the contract, make the crucial decision, or score the winning goal. But don't be surprised, when all is said and done, if the "Big Moment" of your life comes from something small.
Remember, it's only humans who struggle with the labels of "big" and "small." God has it all figured out, and he's never ambivalent, never conflicted, always clear-eyed about what's important. Let's get in the habit of listening to him!
Happy Anniversary to US!
Calvin and I have made it to 35 years of marriage. A few years ago, I wrote THIS POST about the guiding question that has shaped our years together.
Life on the Hill
It's called "micrographia," and, in my opinion, it's one of the more annoying symptoms of Parkinson's Disease. Characterized by abnormally small or cramped handwriting, for someone who has journaled most of her life, who prefers to create rough drafts with a pen in a tattered notebook leftover from the boys' homeschooling years, it has really taken some getting used to. (This picture is three years old, and my handwriting has since become illegible.)
On a more positive note, I have been grateful for warmer walking weather, recognizing that exercise can be a spiritual discipline as it also slows the progression of the disease. My walks remind me that I have a choice to make every day:
I can operate from a negative stance, and, truthfully, some days it feels as if Parkinson's disease is chasing me down the road, nipping at my heels. That's unpleasant and quite unhelpful, so I'm trusting for grace to embrace the walking and the daily physical therapy exercises as a pursuit. I'm the one doing the chasing, and what I'm after is a strong body that will enable me to serve God and my family for as long as I can.
What disciplines shape your daily routine? Are there good decisions you can make today that will influence a more productive future?
May Book Briefs
(Just ONE this month because I luxuriated in a lot of “vacation reading!” You can find out what I learned from Amy Carmichael HERE—and maybe someday I’ll write a post about Emily of New Moon, but for now, if you’re looking for a three-book series with a sweet Anne of Green Gables vibe, this is it!
On the Road Again…
On May 10, I joined the ladies from The Church at Spruce Creek for a luncheon and a deep dive into Jesus’s teaching in the Beatitudes. And, of course, I forgot to take a single photo because who can remember to take pictures when you’re meeting new friends?
I would love to speak at your next women’s event. Click on the button to start the conversation.
Thank you for reading faithfully and for clicking quietly on the little ❤️heart❤️ or the “restack” button because each one makes a difference. I’m glad you’re here. Thank you for being the kind of people who keep pressing into the mysteries of our faith—not merely for answers but for more of HIM!
Holding You in the Light,
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You're one of my heroes, Michele, as you quietly battle Parkinson's with grace and fortitude and no self-pity! I pray the symptoms may be kept at bay for years to come. In the meantime, may that trip to PEI materialize and may it exceed your expectations! (I'm another who loved the Anne of Green Gables books. Our middle granddaughter enjoyed them last year (she's twelve now). I wonder if she's read the Emily of New Moon trilogy? It's such fun to talk books over the generations of daughters and Ds-I-L and granddaughters!
Happy Anniversary!! 💐
I always enjoy your writing!