I went to the cemetery alone because I thought it would be a difficult visit. I pulled up, noticing the live oaks contrasting with the dead tombstones. The trees’ branches were covered in green ferns that gave them a live, jungly look. I found the grave and stood looking down at the only earthly remainsContinue reading “Because He Trusted”
Category Archives: Devils Lake Journal
The Fine Wine
A woman darted out from the shoulder of the road. My husband slowed down to try to avoid hitting her. She still bumped into the side of the van. We rolled down the window. “Please,” she sobbed, “please. I need a ride.” We told her we would drop off our children at home and comeContinue reading “The Fine Wine”
Hang On
Though I love the icy North Dakota prairies I call home, my first home was the tropical Atlantic coast of south Florida. In the year before I was married, I rode out three hurricanes there with my family, standing in awe beside my brother at the stillness in the eye of the storm. The eyeContinue reading “Hang On”
Though Worms
I made two full serving pans of worms and dirt for our church Christmas celebration. If you’ve never had worms and dirt, it is chocolate pudding with oreos crumbled throughout, topped with gummy worms. The pans weighed about twenty pounds each. It was a lot of pudding, but it all got eaten. We had overContinue reading “Though Worms”
Out Good-ing God
‘Tis the season of good cheer, good food, good feelings, and good deeds. The season just doesn’t seem complete without checking those good deeds off our lists. There’s a house I drive past where there is no hot water heater and only thirty minutes of electricity at a time. The children there will not haveContinue reading “Out Good-ing God”
Going in Haste
I usually leave all the hurrying to my husband. I would rather leave early and get there late than hurry to do anything. But, there’s hurry in the Christmas story that was totally justified and just can’t be ignored. The shepherds were keeping watch over their sheep by night. While they were diligently, methodically, butContinue reading “Going in Haste”
Little Pictures
“Do you have any tattoos?” The little girl circled me inquisitively, picking up one of my hands and examining my arm. “No tattoos,” I answered. She continued looking anyway, explaining that her teacher and her mom have tattoos. “Why don’t you have tattoos?” she asked. “Well, why do they?” I was hesitant to answer herContinue reading “Little Pictures”
Rooted in Memories
I can tell Christmas is coming by the flood of magazines in my mailbox. Everyone wants a little piece of my holiday spending, and they try all kinds of tricks to persuade me to buy their merchandise. This week, a magazine boasted personalized needlepoint stockings, just like grandma used to make, alongside the words, “ThinkContinue reading “Rooted in Memories”
Replacing Foolish Talk
If I’ve talked to you recently, we probably talked about the weather, the holidays, our children, or maybe tips and tricks for household tasks. I might have told you about the latest happenings around my house, and maybe you told me about the funny thing your grandchild did last week. None of our conversation wasContinue reading “Replacing Foolish Talk”
Attentive Hearkening
The older I get, the more my hearing is impaired by background noise. Noisy rooms are the worst, and if I am nodding and smiling at you, you can be fairly confident that I can’t hear what you’re saying. Ephesus was a noisy city. Besides the regular hustle and bustle of city life, there wasContinue reading “Attentive Hearkening”
Sarah Dixon Young 