SPIRITUAL SPARKLE
Planting Seeds that Nurture Deep Friendships
“Would you like to meet me for coffee this week?” I cannot tell you how much it means to me to hear those words from a friend. To be offered someone’s precious time, along with the authentic desire for us …
Living in Light of Eternity
I woke up New Year’s Day to a dreary, misty morning. Not exactly what I wanted to wake up to the first day of 2017. As the mist cleared, however, it did not look much better as I stared out …
Still More
It was the middle of November and the holiday season was rapidly approaching. I mentally began going through my closet, thinking about what I was going to wear for all of the upcoming parties. Half the excitement of dressing up for …
Sharpen to Shine
In my many years of shopping for vintage costume jewelry, it seems I have been able to find the look-alike of nearly every gemstone imaginable in a fabulous 1950s setting. And November’s birthstone citrine is no exception. I came across …
Lasting Happiness
It was a Saturday morning. The sun was shining brightly and I woke up in the mood to create something new and exciting. Something out of beads as I really enjoy designing jewelry. We were made to be creative and …
Peridot in Paradise
Throughout my life, even as an adult, I could never have imagined a time when I would be unable to call my mother anytime I needed to talk, ask for advice, or simply hear her voice. We spoke to each …
Our Story, His Masterpiece
Purple, turquoise, blue, green, and pink…these are a few of the favorite colors of the women at Exodus, a ministry that “empowers formerly incarcerated mothers and their children to achieve a productive and fulfilling life through Jesus Christ.” That is their mission …
The Wealth of Wisdom
One of my favorite weekend activities is to check out the local antique shows nearby in the Dallas area. I can usually find at least one really good show each month that delivers a fabulous treasure hunt for me which consists …
Delight in the Details
It is a blissfully cool morning in July. My sister, Heidi, and I are spending a long weekend at our own private writing retreat just outside of Nashville at a rural paradise called Evergreen Farms. We are staying in a …
More Precious than Pearls
Jean de La Bruyère (1645-1696), a French philosopher and moralist, once said, “The rarest things in the world, next to a spirit of discernment, are diamonds and pearls.” When I first read this quote, I understood the rarity of having a …
Green: God’s Color for Rest and Renewal
Imagine living in a world without color. How incredibly dull and dreary that would be! Thankfully, we have a Creator with an amazing imagination who gave us color everywhere we look. Research has shown that color can affect the mind, …
A Masterpiece of Grace
There is something very special about a particular type of vintage costume jewelry I like to collect called “micro mosaics.” From far away, one of these can look like a small and solid colorful piece of art. But once you …
Kingdom-Focused Clarity
Vintage costume jewelry created with dazzling clear rhinestones is nearly impossible for me to pass up when I happen to come across any of it on display at antique shops and shows. I have repurposed many of these sparkling pieces, …
A Time to Mourn
Have you ever lost someone whom you dearly loved? If so, you know exactly what grief is all about. And if you haven’t, that day will most likely come at some point in your life. After losing my precious mother …
Because of Her Love
It has been four years now since my mother went to be with Jesus in heaven. I could have never imagined my life without her here on earth. We were as close as a mother and daughter could possibly be. …