Last summer while my husband and I were walking our dog, we noticed a hollyhock plant growing on the edge of the street. The plant stood tall, tucked in a space...

A few years ago, I faced a period of profound uncertainty. My job situation was unstable, and I was unsure how I would support my family. Each day brought new challenges...

One night, my 10-year-old son and I were returning from another city, and we stopped to buy him some food. The eatery was crowded, but we waited patiently and I got...

Every year I have a vegetable garden. I start by planting tomato and pepper seeds in pots inside the house months before the ground warms up. That way, when I transfer...

My father and mother separated when I was eight years old. My mom raised me and my brother, but we had very few childhood memories of our dad. The steady father...

I am a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, and I lead an annual mission trip that immerses participants in Native American culture while serving Native churches in Oklahoma. At...

Skyscrapers cast cold shadows through my drive downtown to work on Good Friday. An occasional intersection crossing, however, allowed a brief blast of sunlight. My mind drifted as I drove. Darkness...

When I was young — no older than about five — I lived in a small community in East Texas. My dad taught me how to swim at the community pool....

One year when Earth Day fell on a Sunday, my husband and I attended a sermon at the local zoo. As we sat outdoors listening to the pastor preach about the...

Years ago I was invited to a nearby church as a guest preacher for Sunday worship. After my sermon, the deacon who was leading the service invited me to kneel at...