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Some days life feels unbearably heavy. One accident follows another. Families lay loved ones to rest. Fire destroys our homes, our businesses. Corruption, cruelty, and sorrow seep into every crack. We bury our grief for the seventeenth time, only to have it rise again, like a scab torn open before it is fully healed. We try to move forward, but the ache clings to us like a shadow. And yet, even in the middle of all this, something keeps us reaching for purpose. Something keep

“I’m not really good at singing, Mom.” I cringed at my daughter’s words when she appeared at my elbow one afternoon. She is indeed tone‑deaf. It was Bible School Week, and singing is always a huge part of the week. Before I could form a reply, Grace added, “But everyone has different abilities. Right, Mom?” I pulled her close. “And when did you get so wise?” A little child shall lead them. And so she has. Grace is eight, but sometimes she sees life more clearly than her mothe

Do you believe in coincidences? Because I don’t. I have seen too many miracles to believe that life just happens. And sometimes a McFlurry and a large bowl of Whoopie Pies are God’s way of telling us that He is still in control. It was the beginning of a crazy week. We had things to do and places to go, and two of our employees were on vacation. And then Lukas had a bike accident. This time, unlike his older brother’s accident five years ago, the accident wasn’t caused by a p

Sometimes it feels like Mother’s Day gets all the fanfare, and by the time Father’s Day arrives, the celebration has fizzled. Or maybe that’s just me, since my birthday usually lands right on top of it. Either way, this year I want to pause and honor the men who have shaped my life in ways both quiet and profound. I never knew my great-grandfather on my dad’s side, but his influence reached me all the same. My dad taught me how to handle money from the time I was little. He w

What is utopia? What would it look like for you? What would it look like to me? While I imagine it might differ slightly for individuals, I think the heart of utopia might be the same for all of us. Imagine living in a world where there would be no heartache. There would be no goodbyes, no tears, no sorrow. Grudges and bitterness would disappear as forgiveness took wing. Truth would always prevail. Our churches would be perfect. No conflict, no wandering hearts, no envy or pe

What do mustard, barbecue sauce, Hershey's chocolate syrup, coffee, permanent marker, blood, tar, rust, grease, and mud all have in common? They create stains—that’s what. And since I was creating a new product, my soap kitchen resembled a muddled laboratory. Small squares of stained white fabric, each carefully labeled, lay in rows on the countertop, accompanied by bottles and funnels and scales. “What’s all this?” Steve appeared at my elbow, eyeing my organized mess. “Musta

This was the kind of week that left soap on my sleeve. In our little soap kitchen, the air buzzed with energy as we measured and mixed, then mixed some more, trying to stay ahead of the clock. The wholesale show loomed large, and every batch counted. My team poured themselves into the work. Early mornings blurred into long afternoons, sleeves rolled up and spirits high. I watched with deep appreciation as they stirred, poured, and packed with care, each hour logged with deter