By Ashley McIlwain It had been nearly 24 hours since there was any sign of life. All that was left were ashes. Gray. Cold. It never crossed my mind that anything could become of it. Yet, as I piled some newspaper and kindling wood together carefully in my usual teepee formation, before I could even
By Coleen York Ever have to work on a project with someone in school, or college, or even at work? I’ve been there. And at first (before you know what a group project REALLY means…) you’re excited about it. Obviously if more than just you is working on it, it’s going to be SO MUCH
By Ashley McIlwain We’ve all witnessed it … the meltdown of a random child. You’re trying to enjoy a quiet dinner for two, but instead you’re being served a big plateful of wailing child with a side of yelling, desperate parent. Perhaps you’re pushing your cart along in the grocery store when you meet the
By Ashley McIlwain Life is tough. There’s no way around it; it’s just full of valleys and mountaintops, ups and downs, highs and lows. At one time or another for one reason or another, we all experience pain, heartache, brokenness, sadness, and sickness. It’s inevitable and unavoidable. Since we can’t do anything about eliminating the
By Coleen York Relationships can be established on a lot of different things. Hobbies, looks, goals, occupations, sex, talent, church, fame. But ultimately, there are four basic (but major) foundations on which relationships can be built. 1) Physical 2) Personality 3) Emotional 4) Spiritual Seems pretty standard. Unfortunately, relationships can be built on all or
By Loryn Purvis If you were to ask me what my greatest discovery in food has been while living in Southern California, you might be surprised at my answer. I would unequivocally declare that the one food I have come to love like never before ... wait for it ... is the taco. Yes, there
By Coleen York I know a lot of guys and girls who have settled in their relationships. They were afraid nothing else was coming. They got comfortable. They found out details about their significant other long after they began dating and made excuses because they were already attached and scared of starting over. And some
By Ashley McIlwain Forgiveness. It’s such a simple word, but behind it lays an abyss of layers. Layers that many of us struggle with. Layers that all too often we can’t understand or put into practice. It’s just one word, but within its context is a world of freedom or bondage. Forgiveness is something that
By Ashley McIlwain From across the room I watch him. There’s a gentleness in his eyes and an ease in his movements that bring me comfort. The concentration on his handsome face puts a smile on mine. Somehow he embodies strength and tenderness all at the same time. As he strums away at his guitar,
By Coleen York “He completes me.” “She’s my better half.” “I just knew there was something missing … until I met him.” If you’ve been breathing for about half a millisecond, you’ve probably heard someone somewhere saying some version of these statements. Maybe YOU have even proclaimed one of these clichéd, yet popular, sayings. Not
