Why

Just over a week ago I had the opportunity to spend 8 hours in solitude driving to my parents house to help my mom out after hip replacement surgery.

Funny thing about being alone with your thoughts, sometimes you get some pretty big revelations.

I think I did just that.

Have you ever thought about the origin of the question "Why?" It was what was on my mind during part of my drive. I sort of came to the conclusion that without sin we wouldn't have the question "Why?" because life without sin is a life of perfect trust and obedience.

Think about it. If the serpent had never asked Eve "Why?" we would never have reason to ask it! Now, am I condemning everyone who ever says "Why?" Certainly not! But I know when I ask "Why?" of God, eventually I have to get around confessing the sin of arrogance that I actually deserve to know the answer to "Why?"

I hear people say a lot (and I've said it, too) that when I get to Heaven, I have a lot of questions for God about why... and you fill in the blank. But I wonder if we'll even be able to utter the word? Because isn't that where it all started? Questioning God's wisdom on the subject of knowledge of good & evil?

What do you think? Why?

Playground fund, paid forward...

So here's what just over $2700 bought. We had in mind something much larger, but all in all this is a huge improvement, as you can still see some of the old equipment in the background of one of these. God is good.

Playground fund still alive and well!

A few months ago I posted for the first time about the Cherokee Mental Health Institute's playground and the resulting fund to enable them to purchase new equipment for the children who need to be treated there.

Tuesday, Mark and I were honored to receive a large corporate donation on the playground's behalf. The fund is now at just over 10% of the goal. We continue to trust that God will move in the hearts of many to give, with no benefit to themselves, to this most worthy cause.

If that's you, let me know. I'll be glad to share more information on where you can send your gift.

Bright Title, Dark Subject

Brouwer's The Canary List was an easy selection for me. I was introduced to his work several years ago, and have been hooked on anything that bears his name ever since.


I wasn't disappointed with my choice. He had me from the first word of the prologue. Brouwer skillfully weaves a tale of intrigue and wonder. Making me question whether such events might truly take place within the confines of the organized church.

I'm a firm believer in Satan's attempts to deceive and infiltrate the good work Christ has accomplished, so this book wasn't necessarily shocking in it's content, but nevertheless I found it disturbing. While convincing, to discover that one of the characters was cavalier about what he was fighting for left me questioning which side, darkness or light, truly won out in the end.

I am grateful to know the end of the story, and that when the last day comes I am securely on the side of The Light.

You can pre-order the book here.

Indivisible is indispensible

Attention all suspense junkies! Get your hands on a copy of Kristen Heitzmann's Indivisible and read it without stopping, cover to cover. This is a must-read!
Heitzmann is a master of suspense, she allows the events of her novel to give the reader the insights they need, bit by bit, as the characters discover them themselves. She keeps you reading, and when you're done with the book, wondering about how the people you've just met between its pages are faring now.
Suspense being what it is, I'm hesitant to go into much detail about the book, lest I give anything away. Just get yourself a copy and get reading and enjoying this book!

Lady in Waiting-A Gem Worth Discovering

Immediately upon reading the back cover of Lady in Waiting I knew I would have a connection to its main character, Jane Lindsay. This year, 2011, will mark my 22nd anniversary of marriage. Honestly, based on that fact alone I was leery of reading the book, for fear of seeing too much of my own life within the pages. Thankfully, this was not the case. While Jane and I are approximately the same age and in the same life stage, I'm happy to report that my marriage is not in crisis.

That said, this book remained poignant for me, as it did give me cause to evaluate my life. I'm glad I read it. Susan Meissner is an excellent storyteller, the fictionalized retelling of the factual life of Lady Jane Grey was most intriguing. I appreciated Meissner's admiration for the 16th Century noble; her authentic recreation of the period and her skillful weaving of the modern day into the narrative.
I have read a lot of books by authors whose endings are neat and trite. Lady in Waiting is not one of those stories. While the ending is a hopeful one, it is not all neatly tied up in a sweet little package. Life is messy, and Meissner allows her characters to live in that messiness.
I would highly recommend this book, both to modern day and historical fiction lovers as it skillfully bridges the gap between the two. Meissner was an unknown to me. I intend to get to know her work better in the future.

You can purchase a copy of your own by clicking here or here.

Precious Memories

   Perhaps the most outstanding memory of Gramma is her humming. No one could recognize the tune, and when asked, Gramma couldn’t name it, she’d just answer, “Oh, I don’t know, it’s just a tune.” And continue on. Although each of us can still hear the song in our head, none of us can replicate it. Gramma carried the tune of her heart with her to Heaven, and is singing it with fervor for her Savior.

   Gramma was an amazing cook—potato donuts, strawberry-rhubarb pie, the most perfect gravy you’ve ever slathered over your potatoes. She was, however, weak in the beverage department. See, Gramma would take a gallon of milk, and “stretch” it, using dried milk powder to make the one into four. There are some among the cousins who cannot tolerate milk to this day because of this particular frugality. Sorry, Gram! Another beverage we’ll remember her for is Tang. Or rather the unique taste/texture she made out of it. Somehow, Gramma’s Tang was always watery, and gritty. Many of us remember sitting around the on the bench by the big kitchen table trying to figure out how to get out of there without drinking the Tang. But she always had a smile on her face when she chided us about not drinking it.
   Gramma was crafty, each of us can attest to her skill with a crochet hook and a sewing machine, although her “taste” in fabric wasn’t always what we would select. Case-in-point, each year, Gram would make each of us kids pajamas for Christmas, out of whatever bargain bin fabric she could find. Unfortunately, one year her bargain bin scouring yielded fabric that was better suited for chair upholstery than it was pajamas. Poor Kerwin. Color selection wasn’t her forte either, do you all remember the year of the “clown” pajamas? At least those were flannel! Then she graciously cut up her old pant suits and created quilts for each of us, which we received on our 16th birthdays. Today, that quilt is more cherished than ever, like getting a hug from Gram.
   In her later years, at the Senior Center, Gramma got into ceramics. Each of us has at least one item that Gramma poured, carefully sanded, decorated then presented for Christmas or as a wedding gift . Items to cherish, and we will each remember the beautiful woman who had us in mind when she crafted it.
    Memories of Gramma’s house abound, as grandkids we probably had the coolest place ever to call Grampa and Gramma’s house. How many people can say they sat in a barber chair at their gramma’s house and got a haircut? Each “Keen” boy here can! Then there was her old wringer-washer out on the back porch. We kids got lessons in natural consequences when our fingers got squeezed between those rollers! Gramma would laugh sympathetically and say “gotta keep your fingers out of the way!” People have memories of their gramma’s attic, but ours was the coolest, hands down. It was HUGE! It was the space above the store, and playing hide & seek in there was the best day ever. Unless, of course, a bat was discovered. This seemed to happen regularly around Christmas. All the Keen cousins have stories about those batty adventures. And we each learned a valuable biology lesson in the process…moth balls do not kill bats, neither does pinning them spread eagle to a board. We could go on and on with memories of the fort on the hill, the huge garden shared with Whip & Pearl, the carving tree, the sand pit, walks to the cemetery down the road, it was all great.
   Gramma’s smile was something to behold—it took over her entire face. You wanted to have her smile, and it wasn’t hard to make happen. The corners of her mouth would come up, her eyes would disappear behind those glasses, and she would light up the entire earth. Her smile could make your troubles or pain disappear, and that’s something that we’ll all miss very much.
   Gramma’s lasting legacy is one that will not fade or wear out with time. Gramma’s real legacy is her faith. Faith that was passed down to her four sons and her daughter, and then on to each of their children. Gramma wasn’t one to preach, she lived her faith each day, day in and day out, like we say now, 24/7/365. May we each carry that legacy with us, so that those who come behind us find us faithful. Gramma will be missed, but we aren’t here to say goodbye, we’re here to say, “See you later!” Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus.