The Best Christmas Ever
May 1, 2025 by Marty Norman
Filed under Christian Life, Family Focus
By Marty Norman
This year we had our first white Christmas ever in Fort Worth, Texas! Not only was it white and beautiful but it was a blizzard. Who could have anticipated such a day?
I tried to prepare my son as he loaded presents and luggage into his Suburban for the three-hour drive from Austin with his wife, two dogs and three kids.
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Beautiful Snow
April 25, 2025 by Norma Vera
Filed under Christian Life, Family Focus
By Norma Vera
Sitting by my window trying to write next month’s article, I am fascinated by the snow coming down over the West Texas Plains. Running through my mind is a poem written by a young unknown writer. She died broken and alone during the early part of the Civil War. Among her manuscripts was found the poem, “Beautiful Snow”.
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A Grandmother’s Heart
April 16, 2025 by Caro Jackson
Filed under Christian Life, Family Focus
By Caroline T. Jackson
So much has changed in my life over the past few months. I became a grandmother. Or maybe I should say that we became grandparents. I was always told that there was nothing like it in the world and that your life would never be the same. I laughed inwardly at that suggestion, never wanting to hurt anyone’s feelings and looked forward to my daughter’s due date as just another very special day.
The Possibility of Love
April 6, 2025 by Jane Thornton
Filed under Christian Life, Family Focus
By Jane Thornton
“Papa, tell me a story about the wild, wild, west!”
“I’ll tell you a story about the wild, wild, west where I met the girl I loved the best, and her name was Mimi Hot Shot.”
Thus began many a tale told by my grandfather to my big brother. I often listened in, but I don’t remember any of the adventures, dangers, or shootouts. Girly girl that I am, that introduction sticks out for me. Papa loved Mimi. Their love story lingers as a family legend.
A Labor Of Love
March 27, 2025 by Rachael Sales
Filed under Christian Life, Family Focus
By Rachael Sales
As the mother of eight children, six of which I naturally birthed, I am always interested in hearing the testimonies from the birthing room experience. As an avid supporter and participant of supernatural childbirthing, it never ceases to amaze me how God births life in and through the very creation that He birthed and that He paid the price on Calvary for it to be a glorious experience. There is nothing more beautiful (after experiencing new birth in Christ) than watching a child take its first breath on this side of it all. For this reason, I count it a privilege and a joy to gather the stories of wives and mothers, and provide a platform for them to be heard. Amidst the piles of laundry, the late night feedings and the little bumps and bruises, their voices cry out declaring that God is both able and willing to keep. Consider the following snippet of the labor room experience from wife and mother Kimberly Van Johnson:
When it actually came time to birth, our daughter came two weeks early. I started out contracting at home and later that evening went to the doctor. They sent me back home saying that I had dilated four to five centimeters. The contractions continued to come once I was home. One of the most beautiful things about that time was that my mother and mother-in- law were both there with me. I slept between both of them. Between contractions I’d just turn over and rest between them. One was on each side of me and my husband was kind of over all of us.