Category: life stories
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I Looked Back at Sorrow and Found God’s Kind Surprise
The month of October always causes me to pause and remember Bill. This year, I was able to see God’s kindness in the midst of tragedy.
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Who Knew Their Hunt for Eggs Could Have Eternal Significance?
It was an”eggsiting” day at the Dagens house on Easter, time for the annual egg hunt. We were determined that this egg hunt would be joyful and equal — and tear-free. But would we get to that result? And what means would we use to get there? That is the story!
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Out of All the Memories I Could Keep, This Was the One
People who knew my mother tell me I remind them of my mother — in my looks, my mannerisms, and in the way I speak. This mark was one more way I was like her.
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Ping Pong and Purpose Softened My Heart for Jesus
A single event, one night when I was a lonely teenager, changed the trajectory of my life. You are welcome, he said, just as you are. And I accepted the invitation.
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You Might Have Had Me at Hello, Except You Never Said It
If you knew saying “hello” to a stranger would make the world a kinder, friendlier place for someone else, would you initiate the effort?
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What More Could You Want Than Text and Audio From Your Favorite Blogger?
Would I like to create a podcast of my published blog posts? Is that even a thing? Yup. The real question is this: Will anyone listen?
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Pave Your Road to Success With God Intentions; Don’t Settle for Good
What we need are not “good” intentions but “God” intentions — and add our attention to those and to God Himself. Then we can succeed.
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This Is Why You Should Do Everything As If You Were Doing It for Jesus
Only God could orchestrate a chance encounter that would bless my grandson and encourage my writer’s heart, too.
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So You Want to Reconcile With Someone You Once Loved?
Five years ago, I gave a speech that reveals how my decision to do the right thing led to reconciliation with my brother Scott.
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My Marketing Job Has a Holy Goal: Reach 1 in 100
Who knew mimicking Jesus would be part of a career in tech transfer? “Thy words were found and I ate them — yum, yum, yummy!” The lyrics from my college days that I sang alongside friends during Campus Crusade for Christ meetings are in my head as I write this post. We sang about finding…
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Some People Are Too Nice to Own a Cat
The prodigal cat. The idiot cat parent. If she weren’t such a bother, I’d be proud of my cat’s many talents. Please don’t skip this read because you hate cats.
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I Read the Bible in One Year; This Is What It Did for Me
(Spoiler Alert: I Need to Do It Again) “In two more days I will have read through the entire Bible in one year,” I enthusiastically told my husband the morning we were returning home from our brief holiday trip to see family. I wasn’t bragging exactly. I felt some shame because it’s the first time…
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What I Really Want Is Less of Me
I search for more in all the wrong places when what I really need is less of me and more of Jesus.
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We Returned to the River Without Him and It Hurt So Good
It’s difficult to return to a favorite spot you’d always shared with someone you loved but is gone. But this year we returned to the river — and the missing was good.
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Here’s Why I Know the Online Life Is Overrated
The lazy spring days of vacation disappeared surprisingly fast and were delightful — except for that nagging urge to get online. Which backfired…
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Freaky Friday…
My Freaky Friday involves a series of unfortunate events during which two varsity baseball teams exchange playing skills. That was just the beginning of crazy.
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OCD Action News…
With visions of the school burning down through the night because of my candle, I left my sleeping husband and drove the 20 minutes — just to check.
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Where have all the timers gone?
Reflecting on time — and timers — as I end my too-busy day and remember, too late, why I do everything I do. It might have helped.
All Things Work Together 