Open Letter to My Valentine

  Today marks our 33rd Valentine's day together, as the sun is just rising up over the tree line. It has that beautiful pink hue set against the blue horizon that's my morning favorite, casting what appears to be all the world in a rosy glow. Looking at it, I smile, because that's how my heart feels. Rosy. Swelling with the promise of a new day, the proverbial first day of the rest of our lives. And, speaking of our lives, I'm loving this particular time in it. We are deliciously in sync, hearts and minds moving in tandem, as we walk the road paved just for us. It seems every day is pregnant with possibility, and the birth of a future shining bright. We don't know the future, of...

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Love, Honor and Respect

  Hey, wife? Yes, I'm talking to you, the married woman. Can we chat for a minute? I promise I won't take up too much of your time, but there's a little something I'd like to discuss, if you don't mind. It's about your husband. You see, I overheard you at Starbucks, telling your girlfriends what an idiot he is. Sure, you prefaced it with "Oh, I love the guy," but then you launched into story after story of how he can't ever do anything right, about how he's always messing things up so you have to fix them, about how you don't understand how he manages to make it through the day. However, after everyone had a good laugh at his expense, the tone turned a little more serious, didn't it?...

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Color Me Fifty Shades of Concerned

Color Me Fifty Shades of Concerned

  I bought Valentines yesterday. A few goodies that I knew my people would like. Some tokens of affection for my man, reminding him in a Hallmark way that he's the love of my life. He's not really a stuffed animal kind of guy (unless they're wall-mounted) but, if he was, I would not have chosen one dressed in a gray suit, holding a mask and handcuffs, and bearing a card that says "Dominate Valentine's Day," like this guy: Nor would I have booked us a special hotel package "for you and your master" that included a necktie, bondage kit, paddle and spanking powder, tickets to the Museum of Sex, or free "Red Room of Pain" cocktails to enjoy with our aphrodisiac room service. Yes, all of...

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His Words (for when everything’s always changing)

  Remember how Sunday's are supposed to be for His words, instead of mine? Well, I just threw that to the wind, yesterday, and gave you mine anyway! So, TODAY, I'm giving you His! Things in this life are always changing, aren't they? Sometimes at a dizzying speed. Well, He has something to say about that.   Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ~ Hebrews 13:8 ESV For I am the Lord—I do not change. That is why you are not already utterly destroyed, for my mercy endures forever. ~ Malachi 3:6 TLB But whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God, the Creator of all light, and he shines forever without change or shadow. ~ James 1:17 TLB God is not a man, so...

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Taking the “Evil” out of Steps

  I was unloading my groceries onto the belt, yesterday, as I noticed that my checker was new, or at least I'd never seen her before. She was checking out the woman in front of me, happily chatting away, with a huge smile befitting her gregarious personality. I smiled to myself, as I emptied the last few items from my cart, as it had been a while since I'd seen any grocery checker enjoy her job so much. As it was my turn, I stepped up in front of her, and she immediately launched into a conversation. In seconds, I knew that her name was Anna, that she had started as a checker two weeks ago, and she was so happy to have this job because it was helping her with her school tuition. I...

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