On Habitats and Habits

ROCKWALL/HEATH, TX (Jan. 1, 2015) My family survived the summer of the arachnids. First there were ticks. Not a few ticks on our dogs but a full-on invasion into our house. By summer’s end, tired of drowning more than 100 ticks per day and making constant trips to the sink or toilet, we set up […]

Lost in the Holiday Shuffle ~ Grandma’s Christmas Birthday

ROCKWALL/HEATH, TX (Dec. 21, 2014) The Christmas tree of my childhood held 1960’s ornaments—silver orbs with spikes and color-filled depressions. We threw on strips of foil “icicles” and pronounced it good. Maybe that’s why our late-December visits to the grandparents’ house felt like arriving at Disneyland. Grandma loved to decorate at Christmastime. She adorned the […]

Celebrate Recovery: Healing for Our Hurts, Hang-ups and Habits

ROCKWALL, TX (Dec. 18, 2014) There’s at least one group in Rockwall County that won’t take a break for the Christmas holidays. In fact, this Christian fellowship is offered every Friday night of the year—52 weeks running. “Well, we did cancel for an ice storm once.” Sarah Kelly explained to me that addictions and other […]

Thankful – to be or not to be

ROCKWALL, TX (Nov. 26, 2014) The American holiday we call Thanksgiving is filled with concepts that seem, for many, to originate from a land long ago and far, far away. The idea of humbling oneself before a higher being and expressing gratitude is rapidly becoming an extinct dinosaur, laid on the ash heap along with […]

Holiday Function: ‘Giving thanks to the One who made and maintains us’

ROCKWALL/HEATH, TX (Nov. 24, 2014) It’s time to dust off the turkey platter and polish the silver. But wait…we can use the casual dinnerware. No need for silver spoons. I’m good with laid-back gatherings on Thanksgiving Day. My growing-up years featured holiday dinners laid out in the garage, with tables lined up cafeteria-style to hold […]

Heath moms partner for mission trip to Haiti

ROCKWALL/HEATH, TX (Nov. 21, 2014) It’s simply amazing all of the good that can stem from one simple little conversation amongst friends. At least, that’s what Rachael Ortiz discovered not too long ago while talking with a couple of other moms from Heath. The conversation topic: what they would like to do together someday in […]

The Last Well: Answering a Threat More Deadly Than Ebola

ROCKWALL, TX (November 13, 2014) Todd Phillips spent the last day of July watching a country shut down. Government offices and schools closed; stores and marketplaces emptied. The Ebola outbreak had turned parts ofLiberiainto ghost towns—practically overnight. Dr. Phillips, of Rockwall County, is Executive Director of The Last Well, a ministry that provides clean water […]

Lord’s Acre event to raise funds for historic Royse City church

ROYSE CITY, TX (October 26, 2014) First United Methodist Church of Royse City will host “Lord’s Acre,” a 42-year-old tradition that includes a Country Store showcasing baked goods and one-of-a-kind handcrafted treasures, a basket raffle, silent and live auction. Bring friends and family to Family Life Center, 200 Plum St. in Royse City, on Saturday, […]

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