Serve by Design

I haven’t heard the local meteorologist say much about the drought monitor lately. Last season, our area was locked into some serious drought conditions, but 2026 is quite different for us. The intersection of highs and lows, along with the jet stream, is pushing an abundance of thunderstorms and higher rain totals our way! We are on the plus side (five inches so far in June!) for rain totals here in central Illinois. A Rainy Day Retreat!  We have a neighborhood pond about a half-block away from our house. Over the years, I have seen a few mallard ducks crossing our property with a half dozen ducklings imprinting behind the mother hen. It is nature, at its best, to see the next generation in motion! The frequency of these visits seems to have increased with each flood watch report this spring! It has me thinking that even the ducks are seeking higher ground! There is a good bit of relational advice in the saying, “Take the high ground!” I’ve heard something similar, “If someone g...

When our grown children “talk shop” about their jobs and careers, I often hear reoccurring themes of office politics and “one-upmanship” in the workplace. Experts will say that such bravado is a mixture of competitiveness and personal insecurities. But, the goal is usually to make another’s accomplishments seem small if not inconsequential! I recently heard a retired family member lament about this subject, “That’s why I’m glad to be retired!”  Follow Sophie, the Leader! That's Better!😊 The metaphor. “Stay in your lane,” has been around a while and may have had its origin in driving and sports (swimming and track) applications where a lane is involved to prevent accidents or interference. In professional settings, the phrase is usually used as a cautionary warning for coworkers to mind their own business and avoid overstepping into another’s responsibilities. The ultimate putdown is to harshly question a coworker, “Why don’t you stay in your lane?” Strongly telling someone to “b...

Monique is back reading again! She grew up hiding under her covers with a flashlight and an enjoyable book (like The   Boxcar Children !) long after her dad warned her to go to sleep. All during our dating years and early years of marriage she was always reading little paperback romance novels or something by Danielle Steel. I was never at a loss for book ideas for her on special occasions like her birthday or our anniversary. Use Your Local Library! It's Free!! Of late, she is back at our local library, most Saturday mornings, checking out a stack of books for her week’s reading. Recently, I was tickled to see that there was a half-dozen boys’ and girls’ bicycles parked (with helmets attached!) at the front bike rack. Monique reported to me the number of hugs those kid-readers gave to their “favorite retired sub” as she was checking out! I did not grow up with an appreciation for reading. My parents were task-oriented and “doers” by personality type, but not readers. My childhoo...

Have you noticed the proliferation of mobile services? It used to be that you would have to go into the office to do your work. Yet, half of our employed adult children and their spouses work mobile or remote from home, either full-time or part-time. These same family members use store grocery shoppers and appreciate timely delivery to their doorsteps. There are a variety of mobile services that can be leveraged by today’s busy families! Mobile Pet Services! Imagine my surprise the other day when I looked outside the kitchen window and saw a mobile pet-grooming van parked at the end of our next-door neighbor’s driveway. I immediately texted these friends to let them know that their busybody neighbors were spying on them again! This is what I wrote: “A mobile pet grooming business? What a great idea! Who would have ‘thunk’ it?? This is the kind of stuff a blog writer loves!” These neighbors were not surprised by my comment. I send my weekly blog articles to them, and they often reply wi...

Earlier this month of May, I was squeezed in between the house and the backside of our Rhododendron! Once again, I was trying to capture that “perfect picture” of this beloved flowering plant in full bloom! I have been all around this towering plant of spectacular spring flowers doing the same thing for thirty-four years. I can honestly say that I have yet to get that picture that truly reflects the stunning colors and breathtaking beauty of this standout example of God’s creative work! Our Beloved Rhododendron! As I was clicking off one pic after another, that’s when I heard them. The bumblebees were busily buzzing from one petal to another, undeterred by my presence. I have been stung by honeybees, hornets, wasps, and yellow jackets, on occasion. Yet, I am fearless around these buzzing pollinators and thankful for all they do within our ecosystem. I am delighted to see them moving with purpose among several flowering plants throughout our property. The bumblebee has mistakenly been...

I’m not accustomed to seeing very many Mourning Doves in the springtime. Many hunters in our area like to harvest these bullet-fast birds for sport and food in September. I do know that it takes a good mess of dove’s breasts to make a delicious bread-dressing recipe! I have read and understand, though, that many of the eleven varieties of the dove species, who habitat in Illinois, do not migrate, but spend their winters in the Prairie State. In late April and early May of each year, doves begin building nests and mating in earnest. Mourning Doves receive their name from their low and soothing mating call that sounds like a lament or sorrowful song. Some have mistaken this sound for an owl! I looked out the kitchen window recently and saw one of these beautiful birds gracefully moving about our rock patio. It was pecking and foraging for small seeds. Ornithologists say that a dove eats up to twenty percent of their body weight daily! That’s incredible to me! The dove plays a prominent...