September Series: Rest So far in this series, we have focused on physical rest—why our bodies need it and how we can intentionally make room for Sabbath. But have you ever stopped working physically while your mind continued working overtime? Your body may be lying in bed while your thoughts race through tomorrow’s responsibilities. You may be sitting quietly while replaying a difficult conversation, anticipating what could go wrong, or trying to solve a problem that has no i

LESSONS FROM THE GARDEN · AUGUST SERIES Our little orchard is a lively place right now. The grapevine is laden with grapes, the wild blackberries are ripe, and the apples are slowly maturing. The deer—and Bear, Max, and Grace—are already enjoying the bounty. The dogs happily eat the apples whether they are ripe or not. Apparently, their philosophy is: If we can reach it, it must be ready. But the garden refuses to place everything on the same timetable. The blackberries do no

Lessons From the Garden Series One of the gardens around our home is what we call our Three B’s garden—planted especially for bees, butterflies, and birds. I can sit on our deck for hours watching bees disappear into the lavender, hummingbirds hover at the penstemon to drink its nectar, and butterflies settle among the milkweed. I love watching the garden come alive. We didn’t plant those flowers only because they were beautiful. We chose plants that would provide nectar, she