Monday’s Warm Cocoa

Jeremiah’s path of possibility


I’ll never forget the morning I met the large, well-built, at ease with himself, Jeremiah Johnson. It was a cool, crisp, not too cold morning when we met at the glass doors of a small office building, at nearly the same time. I tugged on the door. It was locked. “You must be Lynn,” Jeremiah said in an open, gregarious […]

‘Personal exercise of expansion’ can soften others’ distress


He, Isaiah Cowherd, had been watching his friend from a distance for quite some time. He’d sensed a change in her, but couldn’t put his finger on what that change was. Then one day he thought he saw her one gas-pump aisle away. He felt awkward, for sure, so he found himself shifting his gaze. Soon, his fluctuating look became […]

‘Neighborhood’ fox gives insights into with whom we surround ourselves


My daughter Annie and her husband Hector were visiting us for the Christmas and New Year’s holiday. They had driven from their home in Columbus, Ohio. It’s a long drive and they were tired when they arrived. “We saw a fox down the street,” they said excitedly. “It was just lying, relaxing, on the grass, on the front lawn in […]

Enduring hard things is part of a natural process of becoming better


“We all endure hard things,” Steve said as he looked earnestly across the table. “It means you’re heading toward something better.”  Steve calls this process of enduring hard things, “Purposeful Sacrifice.” “There is purpose in sacrifice,” Steve explains. “It is a refinement process.” It’s likely that no one understands the refining process better than Steve Nolte. Steve is an imaginative […]

A innovating way for saving and giving to those in need


“We had been volunteering in another country and getting ready to come home,” Jason Maxwell said. “It was our last day there and I was thinking of all the work we had accomplished over the last week. That was the moment a profound thought came to me.” That was the moment of a life-changing message, “There is a lot of […]

The wisdom in ‘just listening’


There are not many of us who remember 1932 and can talk about it firsthand. That was the year Helen Demaree was born. Can you imagine the changes she’s seen during her lifetime? Luckily, her nephew Jeff Fraas, a writer, has been able to learn much of what Helen has to offer by spending time with her and “just listening.” […]

We all should listen more — on the ‘inside’


“Hi Lynn. This is Keith Clay. Kyle Christensen suggested I give you a call.” The words were a little surprising to me as my friend Kyle passed away last year. Those same words also gave me a twinge; a heart ache as a result of the loss of a dear friend. And, Keith’s introductory message alone was motivation enough for […]

Truly providing ‘fostering’ care


“When I was in the third grade I met Deborah. And from the moment of our meeting we became best friends,” Sammy Laney explained, as we talked. Deborah was adopted when in the 3rd grade, but Sammy didn’t know that and she didn’t care. Of course, when Deb came to school, no one else knew either. Nor did any of […]

The power of three-dimensional thinking


There was a growth on my dog Harry Pupper’s left eyelid. Truth be told, I didn’t notice it. That’s partly because he has a sort of “guyliner” highlight around his eyes. And, that little black line was hiding the small bump, the bump that wasn’t a big problem yet. But, it was growing and beginning to rub his eye and […]

We’re all on the pajama train together


Brenda met me just outside her ticket office. I wasn’t expecting her to be watching, to be kind enough to come out to offer a greeting. Because she’s so welcoming it’s easy to become completely enthralled with this delightful person. And, I was about to learn that her personal story is just as captivating. Brenda Rouse has been the Director […]


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