Many years ago, I worked for a company in Beaverton, Oregon. One of the auditors, Cathy, had a young daughter. I remember her telling us with excitement everything she had planned for her daughter on her birthday on Saturday. She had everything set up for her daughter and was genuinely excited to spend time with her. However, Cathy never attended the birthday party. Cathy didn't meet her work deadline and never made it to the party; she worked instead. I thought about her recently and discovered she divorced and re-married.

People need to work because we aren't meant to stagnate, but to have a purpose and money is essential. However, work should never be more important than family. Giving more attention to your employers and co-workers can have disastrous implications.

Proverbs 23:4 says, "Do not weary yourself [with the overwhelming desire] to gain wealth; Cease from your own understanding of it." This verse is a call to rest, and it encourages people not to be so consumed with work that they neglect the other areas that God has given us: our family, church, home, gifts, talents, etc. Only focusing on work isn't fruitful for the different areas of life. When you over-work to gain more money, it's like you're telling God, "I don't trust you to provide for my needs. Money is more important."

My husband's work is usually an off-limits subject to talk about at the dinner table. His boss hasn't always treated him well. So, I want to hear about other aspects of his day, such as an interesting person he met. Or visit topics about our future plans and goals.

Work has become such a driving force in this world that when we meet someone, we ask, "What do you do?" When we ask someone to tell us something about themselves, they usually respond by saying what they do for work. Your work isn't who you are; it's what you do to earn money. It isn't your entire identity and doesn't define your self-worth.

Take the time to nurture your connections with your family and yourself. Engage with your loved ones each day. Pursue interests and goals outside of your professional life, and make it a point to try something new each week. Doing so will enrich your life and deepen your relationships, finding a balance that will truly allow you to enjoy life.

It's a familiar story, isn't it? The societal, parental, and cultural pressures that seem to dictate our lives. Get an education, find a job, start a family, buy a house, accumulate stuff, and keep working to pay for it all. Where's the passion? It's a script we're all too familiar with, and it's time we realized that what society expects is often a bunch of crap.

I, too, am a victim. I have attended several colleges and earned a master's degree. Oh yawn. I earned it in my 40's. I swear I got it just because I wanted a master's so I could put it on my fridge like one of my kids' pictures. Pffft. I've been married twice, have owned two houses, and raised my children. I've never known what I wanted to do, and I still don't. I know what my talents are and am working to utilize them. Unfortunately, I am not a stranger to criticism from unapologetic others who have chosen to be cruel because my lifestyle isn't the same as theirs, a touchy subject. I know I don't want an ever-increasing mortgage, a house full of crap we don't use, to freeze each year in the winter, having the same walking routes, and rarely seeing my husband. I don't want to one day have regrets that I didn't choose to have courage, the magic that makes dreams come true.

My husband has been on the work hamster wheel for most of his life. It's an ongoing cycle normalized: Work, pay bills, spend just a little time with family, and then return to work on Monday. He works hard, and what does he have to show for it? Hmmm, I'll get back to you on that. He wants to retire soon so we can travel, spend Christmas on the beach holding a margarita, and dance to his heart's content in his yard. He prefers clothing optional.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." My advice is to find a vision for your life. Take time to reflect on what truly matters to you. What are your passions, talents, and your dreams? You don't want to wake up one day and wonder what happened. What did I do with this incredible life I was gifted with? It's never too late to make a change. Start by taking small steps toward your vision, and soon, you'll find yourself living a life that's truly fulfilling.

"They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” Mark 12: 44

I talked with this woman today after church for about an hour. She is a kind and intelligent woman with a heart of gold. She doesn't currently have a job but is looking. She has no income and only $7 in her bank account. Afterward, we walked over to talk with and pray for a sometimes homeless man. He is a joyful, inspiring, and talented illustrator. After I offered up a prayer on his behalf, she generously gave him all she had in her wallet, $2 (pfft, I only had .75 cents), so he could take the bus to McDonald's. I pray the Lord will show her much favor and bless her abundantly. May we all have this kind of faithful generosity. Picture was taken at Smith Rock, Terrebonne OR

Phoenix, I remember looking for you to adopt a dog. I wanted a Doberman or mix that was nice to cats and could go with me for protection in the forest. Your rescue organization said you required that you go home to a family with another dog, and we couldn't have kids under 16. It was a match.

Do you remember seeing your human sister Kayla and I waling toward you in the big field in Washington? Your caretaker said you were nervous and threw up in your kennel on the drive over. I remember seeing you for the first time. You looked at us with your big brown eyes. I thought you looked so small and sweet. You appeared timid but full of hope you would be going home with your forever family.

Do you remember your first day with us? You were scared, but you followed your human sisters into the backyard, and then you came and

sat by your dog brothers. I remember how you were so afraid to sit outside in our front yard, and when I put a leash on you, we walked for just a few minutes. You had your tail between your legs the whole time, and that tail stayed there for weeks. I kept increasing your walks, yet you were scared to meet anyone we encountered. The first smile I ever saw from you was when we walked to the dog park. We didn't go inside the dog park that day but walked the perimeter. You looked up at me with the biggest grin. I repeatedly told you, "Phoenix, you are a big badass Doberman, and someday you'll live up to your potential." You slowly came out of your shell. Each walk that we took, each time you saw people you began to recognize on your walk, every time we had someone over, your first time to the trail or beach, the first time you slept without your crate, or when I trusted you without a leash, you slowly got more and more confident.

I remember the shelter said you'd only be about 35 pounds, and I believed them. You're now 5 years old and weigh 80. You've turned into a very confident dog. Unfortunately, you've lost your two dog siblings since your adoption in 2020. You are now surrounded by cats, with Braiden being your favorite. And, you love the neighbor friends we see often. You don't much care that your family doesn't want to hear the barking that would make most strangers run for the hills, Or every time you playfully growl at your dad for coming upstairs, Or your love of all squeaky toys. That's just who you are. I know you're not being mean. It's just you.

So to my extreme weather-loving dog, whose favorite activity is taking a nap outdoors in the hottest conditions or making your parents cringe when you dip in a creek in the coolest. Happy birthday, Miss Phoenix, you badass Doberman. Your journey, your quirks, and your unique personality make you the special dog that you are, and we are grateful to have you. May you have much more sunshine during your next 5 years. I know you will. 😉

You can see the world through any set of glasses. You can see it through dark and gloomy glasses or rose-colored. What you focus on is what you'll find. Choose to see it through glasses full of love, beauty, and goodness: we are surrounded by many of these qualities if that's what you focus on. A smiling face from you as you pass by someone or even a simple hello can mean so much to others.

Brett and I like to hike Dog Mountain, a 6-mile roundtrip strenuous hike in Cook, WA. We could either choose to focus on how hard it is with its 2800 ft of strenuous butt and quad-killing hills: or we can know our efforts will be awarded by the spectacular, breathtaking views of flowers and surrounding hills at the top. The choice of perspective is yours, and it can make all the difference.

After angrily slipping and sliding in gooey mud on one hike, I encountered an older woman who changed my perspective of nature.

She had her hand on one cheek and was in awe. I saw what she was seeing; the view was of the nearby mountain. The cloud cover was hitting the hills at the right angle, with the sun beaming and the perfectly blue sky, also making the clouds a nice shade of blue. She was grinning ear to ear and said to me, "It is just stunning, isn't it?" I smiled back and replied, "It really is."