Put Yourself in the Way of Beauty

The intended impulse behind Miracles in the Mundane is to look for God in my everyday life of family, work, and friendship and encourage others to do the same. So it shouldn't surprise me that a series of essays on using the sense of sight to see God would move me to experience God in …

Meatless Monday – Leek & Potato Soup

My sweet friend is pregnant with Baby #2. Her Baby #1 is now a high school freshman, so we are over-the-moon excited! A week or so ago, she posted on Facebook that 1st trimester cravings (Thai food) had been easy to satisfy locally, but 3rd trimester cravings (leek & potato soup) was slim pickings in …

Curb Your Appetite

As the day began, I didn't intend to fast. Hustling the kids off to school, I rushed out the door to meet a friend for coffee and conversation. Heading on to work, I realized I hadn't packed lunch. "It's Ash Wednesday," the Spirit nudged. "Do without. Spend time with me." One of the spiritual practices ideas I'd provided …

Be a Good Sport

I stopped playing Monopoly in college. Guy and I and another couple spent a weekend together at his parents' home in Santa Cruz. Late Saturday afternoon I witnessed a game of Monopoly transform my kind and generous friends into greedy Wall Street sharks. And that was it. I quit playing mid-game and tried to disguise my disgust as they each …

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton My rating: 3 of 5 stars "Are you a bird, an angel, or what?" ...I didn't have the answer. I certainly wasn't a bird, as far as I could tell. But in the same breath, I couldn't say I was human. What did it …

Faith Training

A few sessions of childhood swim, ice skating, dance, gymnastics, and tennis lessons hardly qualify me as an athlete. I may be the only person you know who has never participated in a team/competitive sport. I once asked my parents if I could join a soccer league. My mom said no, citing scarred knees as …

Fat Tuesday

I didn't grow up in a church that observed a Lenten tradition. As an adult, however, I have come to appreciate the tradition of giving up or taking on spiritual practices as a way of drawing near to Jesus. I came to Fat Tuesday even later, and mostly because I like to cook. Mardi Gras means …

Wild Child in Bow Tie

Teen wore a bow tie for his Confirmation. He chose to participate in Confirmation, a five-month process for high school students during which they met monthly with their leader and peers for teaching/study and with a one-to-one adult mentor to discuss life and faith. At the end they publicly professed their faith in Jesus Christ through …

Tuesday Treat – Vegan Chocolate Pudding

Nope, this isn't a bait and switch. I promise to point you to a recipe for a delicious vegan chocolate pudding, but first I'm sharing a Tuesday Treat of a different kind: Fried Brown Rice. This meal came to me like a miracle this evening. Goofy kid schedules, friends coming and going, phone ringing, Guy at …

Spelling Bee

Tween participated in the school-wide spelling bee. Placing in the top two in his classroom bee, he joined seventeen other 3rd through 5th graders. All winners before they hit the stage, Tween made it to 4th place. Miraculous, as years ago experts predicted that given his particular set of learning (dis)abilities, his spelling level wouldn't exceed third grade. …