A Wedding in Paradise

“Tulum? Where’s Tulum?” Ha! That was me, the first time I ever heard of Tulum, Mexico. It was the day our oldest daughter, Michelle and her fiancé Marty, told us that they wanted to get married in Tulum!

Let me back up a bit. Michelle and Marty met in 2017 and began dating. The first time I met Marty he reminded me a little bit of Harold. He’s tall, outgoing, and has huge sense of humor. So it was no surprise approximately a year and a half later when he asked for Harold’s blessing on his proposal of marriage to Michelle. Actually, I believe he first asked our grandsons, Colby and Gabriel, then Harold. What was the surprise, was Tulum!

I soon learned that Tulum, in the last 10 years or so, has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico. It’s located in what’s known as heart the Rivera Maya region on the Caribbean Sea. More precisely, it’s on the eastern side of the Yucatan Peninsula, in the state of Quintana Roo.

This is where Michelle and Marty chose the beautiful Dreams Tulum Resort and Spa, complete with a wedding package and an all inclusive hotel package for the guests. Together, they planned every detail of their June 2019 wedding:

Thursday, June 27th – Welcome Party and Tequila Tasting

Friday, June 28th – Wedding & Reception (best day of our lives!)

Saturday, June 29th – Free day and/or Group Catamaran Cruise

Sunday, June 30th – Farewell Breakfast & Goodbyes XO

Actually, a few days prior to the big day, they had a private wedding ceremony at Marty’s hometown church, so that his elderly grandparents who couldn’t come to Mexico, could witness them marry. It was also an official wedding ceremony, as legally binding Mexican weddings require quite a bit of paperwork.

The Wednesday before the schedule of events were to begin, we flew into Cancun and took a shuttle to the hotel. We enjoyed the extra time in Tulum getting familiar with the resort and all of the amenities.

The Tulum wedding ceremony was simply beautiful. Set on the beach with a gentle breeze, Marty’s dad, Steve, officiated the ceremony.

The reception was also beautiful. Set inside a cleared outdoor area surrounded by tropical trees and greenery, we ate, laughed, and danced in the moonlight. We chose “Michelle” by The Beatles for Harold and Michelle’s Father/Daughter dance, as I used to sing it to her when she was a baby!

The following day we enjoyed a catamaran cruise on the ocean.

It was a such a memorable and wonderful time with family and friends.

It was a wedding in paradise!

And now these three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But, the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

My Harold

Harold would not likely ever write about himself, but I would!

Actually he’s not much of a reader or a writer, but he is good at math. He can add up numbers in his head faster than I can find a calculator. I’m just the opposite; so goes the saying, opposites attract.

Fun fact: Harold lived the first part of his life as “Bernard,” which is actually his middle name, and that’s what his family and oldest friends still call him.

Growing up in Madison, Indiana in the late 1940s, 50s, and 60s, he was the third child born to his parents, James and Mildred. His sister, Marilyn (1943–2024) was five years older, and his brother, Kenny, is two years older. Kenny’s name is actually James Kenneth, but, like his brother, he went by his middle name when he was young.

One of Harold’s favorite childhood memories was going to the Friday night sprint and stock car races in nearby Kentucky. They went fairly often since it was just a short car ride over the Ohio River on the Milton–Madison Bridge. It was there he began his lifelong love of car racing.

His favorite vacation memories were from Indiana Beach. They, and several relatives from his mom’s side of the family, would rent a large house on Lake Shafer where they enjoyed fishing off the docks, riding the rides at the boardwalk, and swimming at the beach. They liked it so much that they returned to Indiana Beach several years in a row.

He played basketball on school teams and also intramural basketball in grade school up through high school, either as a forward or a center. He was tall so that worked out in his favor.

As a teenager he helped his uncles put up hay and tobacco, which was common work in rural southern Indiana. The tobacco work required several different steps: cutting and hanging, waiting for it to dry out, stripping it, and tying it into bundles.

It was in his junior high school years that Harold first came to faith in Jesus Christ. He was baptized soon after at North Madison Baptist Church.

In his junior and senior years of high school, he worked as a lot boy at Bennett Motors. Working at this car dealership was the beginning of what would later become one of his two main occupations in his life.

After graduating from Madison Consolidated High School in 1966, he married his high school girlfriend, Linda, in 1967. Their first child, Kimberly Ann, was born in 1967, and their second child, Kevin Harold, was born in 1970. Linda filed for divorce in 1975, they separated, and then reconciled. They separated again in 1976. She filed for divorce again in 1977. It was finalized in early 1978.

During their 10-year marriage, he worked installing terrazzo flooring and he also opened his own floor covering business. While installing terrazzo flooring, he traveled to various job locations, including a large job in Winsted, Connecticut, where he stayed for several months. He also learned how to do install tile while working with terrazzo flooring. After approximately four years of working for someone else, he opened his own carpet and tile installation company, Crandell Floor Covering, on West 16th Street in Indianapolis.

Harold and I met in late September of 1976 while I was working at the Rodeway Inn near Weir Cook. He was friends with the hotel manager and had been staying at the hotel because of his separation. The manager introduced us one night while they were in the Library Lounge talking about a carpeting job for the hotel. We just so happened to see each other again later that night in the hallway outside the Library Lounge as I was getting off my shift. He asked me if I was hungry and if I’d like to go next door to Denny’s for breakfast. Actually, he likes to tell the story that I was the one who asked him to go to breakfast. I’m pretty sure it was the other way around, but he’s told that story for so many years that he’s almost got me convinced that I asked him!

I was attracted to his heart, his humor, and his good looks. Long story short, we fell in love. We married three and a half years later on my mom and dad’s 41st wedding anniversary: March 15, 1980. We traveled to London, Paris, and Rome for our honeymoon.

At this time in our lives, Harold was working at a car dealership in Indianapolis, and I worked for Sky Harbor at Eagle Creek Airpark. We first lived on the west side in an apartment (Westlake) and then in a duplex on the Southside that my mom owned on Harding Street. It was here that God blessed us with our first two daughters, Michelle Nicole in 1981 and Megan Renee in 1986.

Although Harold had closed Crandell Floor Covering in 1977, he still had an interest in flooring. So, in the mid-1980s we started up a small business of manufacturing carpet tack strips, aka tackless strips. We also sold floor installation supplies. It was a short-lived business though due to low profit margins, so we sold the equipment and Harold then went back to work at a local car dealership. I worked at Sky Harbor Aviation and at American Trans Air during this time.

Kim and Kevin were very much a part of our lives back in the 1980s. They came to our home on a regular basis and they both came to live with us for extended periods of time and at various times. We were a family of six and continued being a part of each other’s lives for several years after we moved away from Indianapolis. Sadly, our relationship deteriorated over the past few years to the point of estrangement: first Kim, and then Kevin a few years later.

Our first big move was in 1988 from Indianapolis to Brandon, Florida. I wrote about this in my story titled, “The Land That I Will Show You.” Harold worked at a local car dealership in Brandon, and it was here I began working at Delta Air Lines in their Tampa office in 1989.

In 1990 we moved to Torrance, California, where I worked for Delta Air Lines in their Los Angeles office and Harold worked at a car dealership in Torrance. I wrote about this move in my story titled, “The West Coast.”

In 1991, we moved to Orange Park, Florida, where I worked for Delta Air Lines in their Jacksonville office, and Harold worked at a car dealership in Orange Park. I wrote about this move in my story titled “Johnny Walker.”

In 1993, we moved to Lewisville, Texas, where I worked for Delta Air Lines in their Dallas office, and Harold worked for a car dealership in Lewisville. I wrote about this move in my story titled “Green Acres.” It was here that God both blessed and surprised us with our third daughter, Mackenzie Anne, in 1996.

We still call Texas home today. We moved from Lewisville to Krum to Denton within a 10-year period, and have been in our Denton home since August 2004. Our favorite family memories here include vacations, holidays, birthday celebrations and being an active part of our children and grandchildren’s everyday lives.

In 2003 Harold opened his own car sales lot and then a couple of years later he transitioned it into RV sales. I helped him in the RV business while still working for Delta Air Lines, and also after I retired from Delta in 2009. Each of our daughters, and Kevin, helped and/or worked for Harold in one way or another and at different times as well.

Megan first helped Harold open the Lewisville car lot and worked with him in the car sales business for around two years. She also helped him transition to RV sales in Denton. Michelle helped transport RVs and even helped sell a couple of them. Mackenzie, who, as a child, said she would never work in the RV business, ended up being very knowledgeable about RVs and the RV business in general. She worked for us the longest, sold more RVs than anyone else, confidently ran the business while Harold and I were out of town, and stayed with us until the day we decided to close the shop.

After a long and successful career in both the car and RV sales businesses, Harold retired at the age of 75 in December of 2023. These days we’re enjoying retirement and are looking forward to whatever God has in store for us. We’re thankful for the gift of faith, the gift of family, and the gift of His providence and guidance in our lives throughout our years together. We celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary on March 15, 2025, with a wonderful 14-day cruise to Hawaii. We’re still in love, and I’m still attracted to his heart, his humor, and his good looks.

It is by God’s amazing grace and work in our lives, “A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12

A March Family Tradition

The 15th of March is somewhat of an interesting date in history. As the 74th day of the year on the Roman Republic calendar, March 15 became known as “The Ides of March.” According to this ancient calendar, March 15, was associated with several pagan observances and was also known as a date for settling debts. In addition, March 15 was the exact date in which Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC. Caesar’s death played a role in the fall of the Roman Republic and subsequent rise of the Roman Empire.

Interestingly, March 15 has become a notable date in our family, and it has nothing to do with Ancient Rome, and everything to do with love and marriage.

Starting with my great great grandfather, Sylvester Anderson, who married my great great grandmother, Pauline Terhune, on March 15, 1866. Then….

My mom and dad, Sara and Herman Query got married March 15, 1941.

Then…

My husband Harold and I married on March 15, 1980.

And then….

Our daughter Megan became Mrs. John Williams on March 15, 2009. She and John met at Denton high school but didn’t start dating until after they both graduated. I remember when we first met John, Harold told him that he really liked banana splits. Banana Splits started appearing out of nowhere! The next thing I knew, John asked Harold for his permission to ask Megan to marry him.

Megan and John married in a beautiful traditional Christian wedding ceremony, held in the Cindy Nichols Chapel at First Baptist Church Denton, officiated by Pastor Brad Cockrell.

But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” Mark 10:6-9

Megan’s colors were black and white with a pop of hot pink! The men wore hot pink daisy boutonnières and black Converse tennis shoes. The reception was held in Sanger Texas, where we served a Texas style dinner, and danced to a variety of music, actually mostly country!

March 15!

Four weddings in our family on this same date.

So I think it’s safe to say that we have officially established a March family tradition. Our local newspaper even featured it in their 2009 Bride Guide!

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10

Rose Query & Family

My grandmother, Rose Query passed away in 1930 when my dad was only 9 years old. My dad’s older sisters, Violet and Mildred helped to raise him after their mom passed away. Dad didn’t speak of his mom often but when he did, tears would flood his eyes.

Dad kept a large framed picture of his mom in a small workshop storage area of our basement on McFarland Road in Indianapolis. I was intrigued by her picture from very the first day I saw it. One day, in the mid 1970’s, I saw him sitting near it and asked him if could have it one day. I told him that I’d take care of it and hang up on a wall. He initially hesitated and didn’t reply for a while. I wondered if I hurt his feelings by asking to have it. I think it was one of only a few things that he had to remember his mom by. A few moments later he looked at me and told me I could have it “one day.” His eyes were red, as if he’d been crying.

“One day” came a few years later in 1978. After suffering from the effects of polio half of his adult life, he succumbed to metastasized lung cancer at age 58. As hard as it was to see my dad suffer with cancer, it was even harder when he actually passed away. And while mementos are just tangible objects, there’s a particular comfort in having mementos of our loved ones that are no longer with us. In addition to the picture of his mom, I have one of my dad’s Bibles, some vintage White Castle coffee cups, some video cassette tapes of guitar sessions with his friends, a 45 RPM record in which he played guitar, titled, “Feets too Big,” photos, and a handwritten notebook of their 1926 family train vacation from Indianapolis to Los Angeles.

The notebook diary is really pretty cool. Written entirely by hand, my grandmother, Rose wrote 27 pages of their most memorable moments from their 1926 vacation to Los Angeles and back. It gives me a glimpse of a piece of time in my family heritage. I imagine it was a well planned and much anticipated family vacation. The family trip included my dad, his sister Mildred, his brother Chester, and their parents, Fred and Rose. My dad’s oldest sister, Beulah, passed away in 1925 at age 20. My dad’s sister, Violet did not go with them on this trip as she married in 1925.

Their trip started on the morning of July 6, 1926, by car from Quincy, Indiana to Green Castle, Indiana where they boarded the train. As they crossed over the Wabash River, my dad, who was 5 years old said, “Is that the ocean?”

The train made several stops on the way up to Chicago where they stopped and ate supper on the banks of Lake Michigan facing the famous Stevens Hotel. It was still under construction but was already famous as it was to become the largest hotel in the world with 3000 hotel rooms. What a sight to see for a young family from Quincy, Indiana!

Rose often mentioned the corn and wheat fields, thrashing machines, the weather, and the terrain they saw throughout their train trip. They slept in berths; my dad got an upper most berth. When they crossed over the Missouri River on Wednesday, July 7 at 9:30 a.m. Rose noted how muddy the ground was and and how swampy the river seemed.

Continuing on, they stopped at Kansas City and she noted seeing several large companies such as Montgomery Ward and Sears and Roebuck, and mentioned how hot it was there.

On Thursday morning, July 8, the train passed by Canyon, TX where she noted that the land was flat, however noting it was “the prettiest scenery so far.” After passing by two more Texas cities they arrived in Clovis, NM.

During a stop at Vaughn, NM, my dad saw a Ford “Roadster” and said, “I’ll bet that’s Opal and Edd” which I’m not quite sure what he meant by saying this. Perhaps they were character’s associated with Roadster’s in some way. When he saw the mountains from afar he told his mom that the mountains were “blue.”

They arrived in Gallup, NM on Thursday evening, July 8 at 8:40 p.m. and she noted that it was difficult to breathe as it was near 10,000 ft altitude.

On Friday, July 9, they crossed the Colorado River at 6:45 a.m. and then crossed the state line into Needles, CA at 7:00 a.m. and noted the weather was very warm.

They arrived in Los Angeles at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, July 9 and took a taxi to their friend’s home at 1826 Marne Avenue. The taxi ride cost $3.70.

They rested on Saturday and then went to the beach on Sunday, July 11. After a swim in the Pacific Ocean they ate lunch and then took a sightseeing drive through Hollywood.

On Monday, July 12 they went to Venice Beach where they saw a replica of Noah’s Ark and a huge road sign of a whale swallowing Jonah, as we know of from the Bible. They enjoyed the Fun House, a 40’ steep stair walk, a barrel ride, and the roller coaster!

July 13-23 included shopping, sightseeing, visiting some friends, and several beach visits which resulted in my dad getting “sunburnt.” The sunburn put a halt to their activities for a few days.

July 24-25 they visited Long Beach, Naples, Seal Beach, Anaheim Landing, and Wilmington Boat Landing. They also rode a ferry boat to San Pedro Bay and visited Fort MacArthur. The fort is named after Lieutenant General Arthur MacArthur. His son, was Douglas MacArthur, who later became the commander of our American forces in the Pacific during World War II. Their return trip on the ferry included the transportation of 11 automobiles and a spectacular up close view of two large steamboats going in opposite directions.

July 27-29 they visited a theatre, Exposition Park and Lincoln Park where they enjoyed seeing a variety of animals, plants, and trees. They took the opportunity to weigh themselves on a scale at the zoo: Fred 183 lbs, Rose 146 lbs, Chester 86 lbs, Mildred 88 lbs, and my dad, Herman weighed in at a whopping 50 lbs.

On August 1, 1926 they departed Los Angeles at 8:42 a.m. by train. Their return route was the reverse of the route they took coming out: California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Illinois, and Indiana. They arrived safely back home to Quincy, IN on August 5, 1926, thanking God and remarking, “no tongue can express our gratitude for this grand trip and of the many things that made the trip an enjoyable one.” Signed: Rose & Fred, Mildred, Chester & Herman

My grandmother, Rose Matilda Hunsicker Query, passed away approximately 3 years later after having complications from a goiter (thyroid gland) surgery. Her memorial mentions that her family was with her at the time of her passing and that “Her Savior called her to come up higher.” She passed peacefully away at age 46 at 12 o’clock on Sunday, March 2, 1930 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis.

Fred passed away in 1947.

Violet passed away in 1986.

Mildred passed away in 2000.

Chester passed away in 1985.

Herman passed away in 1978.

And,

Beulah, who was the firstborn and also the first one in their immediate family to pass away. I don’t know what illness took her life but understand she had a long history of ill health. Her memorial speaks of a gracious young girl with a host of friends. Upon realization of her impending death she began making her own funeral plans. She selected the songs, pallbearers, and the minister who was her pastor when she first trusted in Christ at age 14 and who also officiated at her marriage just 7 months earlier. She passed away in 1924 at the young age of 20, but understood “the beauties of Heaven” and that “Heaven is made up of all ages.”

Rose sometime before 1930. Fred in the 1940’s. Chester, Mildred, Violet, & my dad in the 1970’s. Rose’s 1926 vacation notebook. And Rose’s picture in its original frame hanging up in my home, as I promised my dad many years ago.

Christmas

Walking through our local big box retail store in late November 2023, I was intrigued by the array of “Christmas” T-shirts on display. Every single one of them was making some sort of fun or folly of Christmas. Now I enjoy having fun just as much as anybody, but there’s a big difference between having fun and making fun of someone or something. I found these shirts in particular poor taste:

I wondered, how did we get here?

A quick search on the internet about “Christmas” returns a lot of interesting information. The word “Christmas” literally means “Christ’s mass,” and it originated from the Old English term, “Cristes Maesse.” It was sometime in the 4th century that the early church decided to celebrate the birth of Christ annually on December 25. Interestingly, it just so happened to coincide with the Roman Saturnalia, a traditional pagan festival. Why the 4th century church chose to combine the celebration of the birth of the Savior of the world with a pagan festival is perhaps a discussion for another day, but suffice it to say that this is, in fact, what history has recorded.

Fast forward to today, it seems that while Christmas has long been a beloved holiday to most everyone, it definitely holds different meanings to different people groups.

For the believer in Christ, it’s about Christ.

For the unbeliever, it has nothing to do with Christ.

For the child or the young at heart, it’s a time of wonder, expectation, and excitement. It’s sweet in terms of giving gifts to our young children, and the joy we have in watching their excitement. However, quite honestly their excitement is likely centered around the gifts.

Have we first shared or read the Christmas story from the Bible? Do our children and family know why we exchange gifts at Christmastime? What about those who can’t afford to buy gifts? Do you think it’s possible that too much emphasis is placed on the gifts or on giving expensive gifts?

For the retail business owners, big box stores, and online retail giants, it’s a time of huge sales profits as the public spends billions of dollars buying gifts for their loved ones; many of whom go into debt to buy those gifts.

Somewhere along the line, it does appear that the importance of the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, has been overshadowed by the season of fun and folly, and the buying and the selling. All while the tradition of gift-giving has morphed into a multibillion-dollar secular commercialization of Christmas.

Maybe we could place the blame on an advertising industry that’s continually promoting bigger, better products.

Maybe we could blame our government agencies who removed Nativity scenes from government properties.

Maybe we could blame the school boards and the states who removed Bibles from schools and banned teachers from mentioning the name of Jesus, and from sharing their faith.

Maybe we could blame big corporations who promote the latest woke ideologies, and of course, Santa Claus—but never mention the name of Jesus.

Maybe we could blame the progressive liberal churches, apostate churches, and the prosperity churches who preach a false gospel.

Maybe we could blame the parents who fail to raise their children in a Christian home, who subsequently fail to tell them why Jesus was born or why He died on the cross.

But the truth is:

Satan is the god of this world and is the major influence on the opinions and actions of the unbelievers all around the world today. Satan is hell-bent on keeping people from coming into a saving relationship with Christ.

And,

As it is written:

“There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” Romans 3:10-12

And because of this,

Until one becomes born again through the gift of faith, repentance of sin, and trust in Jesus Christ alone, Christmas will remain in their eyes, to be all about the fun and the folly, and the buying and the selling.

Meanwhile, Christians celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmastime, and nonbelievers celebrate everything but Christ.

All the more reason that as Christians we should pray for those who do not yet know Christ, and speak up, not just at Christmastime but whenever the Spirit leads.

Because,

Christmas is all about Christ. It’s God’s integral part of His perfect plan of salvation through Jesus’ incarnate birth.

Jesus was the greatest gift ever given and His birth is more than worthy of celebration.

“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11

Amen and Merry Christmas

Love Letters

I remember years ago my mom told me that my grandpa used to write notes, aka love letters, to my grandma when they first started courting. He was two years older than her and was a school teacher in Wright Township, Greene County, Indiana from 1913 to 1920. My grandma didn’t attend school during this time, as she had only completed an eighth-grade education, which was common in the early 1900s.

To the best of my recollection my mom told me that grandma said that grandpa used to send handwritten notes home to her via one of his students who was also her neighbor. She replied to him in the same way. Those notes must have been very sweet as they fell in love and got married in 1915.

My grandma was 19 years old and my grandpa was 21 at the time of their marriage. They were blessed with four children, David, Sarah, Naomi, and Ralph. My mom, who later changed her name to Sara, was their second child.

Circa late 1920’s, my grandpa, my mom Sarah, her siblings David and Naomi, and my grandma holding baby Ralph.

A sweet memory from a January 1966 hometown newspaper clipping about my grandparents’ December 1965 50th wedding anniversary.

My grandparents were married just short of 54 years when my grandpa passed away in November 1969. I remember feeling so sad when I heard of his passing. I loved my grandpa. My grandma survived him by 16 years, and then passed away in November 1985. I loved my grandma too. Both she and my grandpa were strong Christians and made a big impression on my life by the way they lived their lives, the way they loved me, and the way they loved Christ.

A few years ago, I saw an article that centered around a box of old love letters, and it sparked this old memory of my mom telling me about my grandparents. I thought, how sweet it would be to have some of their old love letters.

So I asked my siblings and a couple of my cousins if they happened to recall this, or if they actually had any of those letters. Unfortunately, they did not, so my faint memories will have to suffice.

I suppose it’s safe to say that handwritten notes and love letters are a thing of the past now. Technology has definitely brought us some great advances and conveniences, but it has also changed the landscape of how we express our feelings and how we communicate with each other.

Texting is probably one of the most common forms of communication today, but there are definitely some pros and cons to texting. The pros include convenience and time efficiency, and the cons include being misunderstood, texting the wrong person by mistake, autocorrect mumbo jumbo, and missing out on the joy of in person interactions.

So, while I regret not having found any of those old notes of my grandparents, I do have something better: several copies of what Billy Graham referred to as God’s “love letters” to us—the Bible.

“It is there He tells us not only that He loves us, but shows us what He has done to demonstrate His love. It also tells us how we should live, because God knows what is best for us and He wants us to experience it. Never forget, the Bible is God’s Word given to us so we can know and follow Him.” #BillyGraham

However, according to the Baptist Press, “while the average home in America has three or four Bibles in it, more than half of Americans read little or none of the Bible. Less than a quarter of those who have ever read a Bible have a systematic plan for reading Scripture each day. And a third of Americans never pick it up on their own.”

Since becoming a Christian, I’ve read through the Bible three times and been in various Sunday School Bible studies over the years.

However, I haven’t always studied my Bible. There have been more times than I care to remember when I haven’t been actively studying or reading my Bible. Truthfully, there’s really no good reason why a Christian should not currently be in some type of Bible study.

In December 2022, I started a new personal Bible study using my Spurgeon Study Bible along with the John MacArthur Study Bible iPhone app. Later, I added Matthew Henry’s Bible commentary to my study as well. I find listening to my iPhone Bible app combined with the visual study guides really helps me with comprehension. My goal is a daily Bible study, a chapter or two a day, and although I haven’t always met my goal, I do most days. In January 2026, I completed the Old Testament which took me approximately three years to finish. As of this writing, February 2026, I am in Mark.

I believe one of the best ways for Christians to know God and His will for our lives is by studying the Bible. It’s rich in meaning, instruction, and warnings. It gives a glimpse of who He is, helps us better understand His plans and purposes, and helps us grow in Christlikeness. It also helps us make sense of some of the things we see going on in the world today. No matter how dark the days may seem, His Word assures us that we, who are called by His name, have a hope and a future in Him.

The Bible is a collection of love letters about,

• The creation story and the fall of man.

• The Old and New Covenants established by God.

• Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.

• The words of Jesus in the Gospels.

• The preaching and teaching of Jesus in Acts and the epistles.

• The end times and return of Jesus Christ in Revelation.

The Old Covenant was based on law, which required correct behavior and which the people continually broke. It consisted of a sacrificial system that only temporarily removed sins. The sacrifices were administered by priests who represented the people of Israel to God, but the people could not enter God’s presence themselves.

The New Covenant is by grace, which is a gift of God given to the people of God, and of which the Holy Spirit testifies. The sins of the people are forgiven and removed once and for all through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. It was Jesus’ shed blood on the cross that made it possible for all those who will believe in Him, including Gentiles, to have direct and intimate access to Him and eternal life.

Jesus is the fulfillment of all of the covenants, prophecies, and promises found in the Bible. He is the Messiah, God’s only Son, and the King of kings. He conquered sin and death according to God’s perfect plan of salvation. Everything about His life, His sacrificial death, His resurrection, and His ascension was foretold and revealed in the Bible.

I like this quote from Alistair Begg:

“We find Christ in all the Scriptures. In the Old Testament He is predicted. In the Gospels He is revealed. In Acts He is preached. In the epistles He is explained, and in Revelation He is expected.”

The Bible also teaches us that God is sovereign. God is good. God is always to be trusted, and so much more.

So, if you’re a Christian and you’re not currently involved in some type of Bible study, ask yourself why not?

If you’re not a Christian, why not carve out some time to read and study the Bible today? It’s God’s love letter to you.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16

Our 2023 Journeys Cruise

In October 2023, Harold and I embarked on a 14 Night Carnival “Journeys” cruise to the Eastern Caribbean out of Galveston, Texas on the Carnival Dream.

We booked this cruise the year before when I saw the itinerary went to most all of the ports that we were supposed to go on in March of 2020 to celebrate our 40th anniversary. That cruise was cancelled due to the Covid-19 hysteria. So, over three and a half years later, we finally got to go on our Eastern Caribbean Cruise!

Our Itinerary:

Day 1 Galveston (Embark)

Day 2 Sea Day

Day 3 Key West

Day 4 Sea Day

Day 5 Grand Turk (XXLD due to weather)

Day 6 San Juan, Puerto Rico

Day 7 St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

Day 8 St. Kitts, Basseterre

Day 9 St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles

Day 10 St. Croix, US Virgin Islands

Day 11 Sea Day

Day 12 Falmouth

Day 13 Sea Day

Day 14 Sea Day

Day 15 Galveston (Disembark)

Days 1 and 2 were sea days and were mostly spent exploring the ship, enjoying the music, entertainment, food, and people.

Day 3 brought us to Key West, Florida for the afternoon. We walked down to the Southernmost Point, and enjoyed several of the sights along the way: the Kapok Tree, the Key West U.S. Naval Air Station, and back to town to do a little shopping. We visited Key West in 2017 but missed seeing most of the things we saw on this day, so this was a great stop.

Days 4 and 5 were both sea days as Hurricane Tammy made it impossible for the ship to dock at Turks and Caicos. We already visited Grand Turk in 2019, so we were much more thankful to be safe rather than sorry. We filled the extra time relaxing and enjoying the ship activities.

Day 6 was spent in San Juan, Puerto Rico. We took a local tour to see the old town, forts, new town, the capital building, and the beautiful colorful homes of San Juan.

On day 7 we slept in a bit after being up late the night before. In St. Thomas we shopped a little and then went on the Skyride and saw some amazing views. It’s a beautiful island.

Day 8 at St. Kitts, Basseterre, I got up early this morning and snuck around the ship hiding 7 rubber ducks and 7 cards with Bible verses. We ate made-to-order omelettes for breakfast and climbed back into bed as it was raining when we docked. We went ashore around noon just as the rain subsided and enjoyed some shopping and the colorful sights at St Kitts.

On day 9 we docked on the Dutch side of St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, and took a tour of the island which included the French St. Martin side as well. We learned it’s a long distance phone call from the Dutch side to the French side. They also have two completely different governments. My favorite stop was at the SXM airport where the beach runs right up to the landing strip. The signs along the fence warn about death and serious injury if you stand there. We ate lunch at the Sunset Beach SXM Restaurant while airplanes landed and took off. I walked over to the beach and got a video of a jet flying overhead me as it was landing. I remember wanting to visit SXM several years ago when I worked for Delta, so it was really nice to finally be able to come visit here.

St Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, SXM, and Port of St Maarten.

We spent day 10 in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands shopping and enjoying the colorful sights and sounds. Back on the ship, we enjoyed our nightly routine of dinner and entertainment.

Our nightly dinner companions, Ralph & Pat from the Houston area, and Clovis & Donna who are full-time RV’ers.

Day 11 was a Sea Day. We (actually Harold) found a rubber duck this morning on our way to breakfast. The day was full of activities including a costume contest. Harold wore his Indianapolis Colts Manning #18 jersey and I dressed as an Indianapolis Colts cheerleader. We watched the Texas Rangers play in the World Series on the big screen up on the Lido deck, and went to bed, exhausted after a full day on the ship.

Day 12: We visited Falmouth, Jamaica and enjoyed some shopping at the port. The port is cone-shaped which lets two cruise ships dock around it at the same time. Jamaica is full of colors, music, and a lot of humidity.

Days 13-15 sea days went by super fast on our way back to the Port of Galveston. We picked out our favorite photos from our prepaid photo package, enjoyed the entertainment, the people, the crew, our dinners and especially the desserts!

Some Dr Seuss fun with Sam I Am, Thing 1 & Thing 2, and The Cat in the Hat!

Casual, formal, and our Halloween costumes!

We enjoyed every minute of this cruise and were thankful to have been able to celebrate our 40th anniversary on this wonderful cruise, even if it was three and a half years later than originally planned.

Sadly, I came away feeling sorry for some of the other cruisers. We noticed several of them who seemed bored, unappreciative, and liked to complain a lot. Newsflash: True happiness is not found in cruising. Happiness is found in a relationship with Christ.

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

And, until a person comes to the realization of the truth of the gospel and their desperate need for a Savior, no amount of cruising (or whatever a person is doing trying to obtain happiness) will ever fill the need in our lives which can only be accomplished through receiving Christ as your Lord and Savior

“Happy are the people whose God is the Lord.” Psalm 144:15

Joy!

When I was in junior high school from 1966 to 1969, the journalism class put out a monthly publication with the current school happenings and various articles written by journalism students. One month it included a section with comments from several students who had completed the following statement,

“Happiness is…”

I wish I had saved a copy of it, but didn’t, and I don’t remember any of the answers but I do remember the different types of comments. Some were funny, some were trying to be funny but weren’t, and a few were really sweet. I remember this giving me a glimpse into the different personalities of my classmates.

So, how would you fill in the blank?

“Happiness is…”

I know completing that statement might be difficult for some. I think it’s mostly because happiness is often circumstantial and is likely determined by what’s currently going on in your life. It can be difficult to be happy when life isn’t going well, when life is hard, and when tears are many.

But I do believe there’s a joy that transcends our circumstances. It’s a joy that remains in and through the difficult times in life. It’s a godly joy, and it comes from knowing the Lord and from looking to Him in all of life’s circumstances; both good and bad.

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

The joy of the Lord is actually more than a belief; it’s my experience. Joy in just knowing the Lord. Joy in the good times. Joy in the bad times. There have been many times in my life where God has given me peace in the middle of the storm, and joy in spite of my circumstances. Times when I trusted in Him no matter what, and rejoiced in Him no matter what.

Because,

The Bible tells us, regardless of our present circumstances, that we are to rejoice in the Lord. When we look to Him and praise Him in worship, our hearts are filled with His joy.

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” Philippians 4:4

Even when life is difficult.

So today, if you find yourself feeling down, upset, lonely, or sad, it’s my prayer that God will surround you with His presence and fill you with joy, peace, and hope in Him.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13

Here are the first two verses and the chorus to a sweet old children’s song (author unknown) about the joy of the Lord. Perhaps you remember it from long ago. May it bless you as you read (and sing) along today.

Title: I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy!

Verse 1:

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.

Where?

Down in my heart!

Where?

Down in my heart!

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart,

Down in my heart to stay!

Chorus:

And I’m so happy, so very happy,

I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart

Down in my heart.

And I’m so happy, so very happy,

I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart.

Verse 2:

I’ve got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus down in my heart.

Where?

Down in my heart!

Where?

Down in my heart!

I’ve got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus down in my heart.

Where?

Down in my heart to stay.

Chorus:

And I’m so happy, so very happy

I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart.

Down in my heart.

And I’m so happy, so very happy

I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart.

Male and Female He Created Them

God’s word explains, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16

And God’s word is clear, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27

There are only two sexes, “Jesus said, ‘Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female.’” Matthew 19:4

Yet, in the last few years we find ourselves living in a world where,

– Gender ideologies defying God in an attempt to redefine God’s creation of man and woman and their God-given roles.

– Men who identify as women being allowed to use women’s public restrooms and dressing rooms.

– Public school teachers proactively teaching young children about changing their gender as they teach their woke worldview version of sexuality and without the parents’ knowledge.

– Young children given puberty blockers and hormones in an attempt to change their gender, and in some cases against the will of one of their parents.

– Public libraries hosting drag queen story hours for young children, where men mockingly dress up as sexually provocative women.

– Men who identify as a women being allowed to compete in women’s sports, who are winning and literally stealing trophies away from rightfully deserving women athletes.

– Men and women voluntarily undergoing irreversible, painful, and numerous surgeries, and voluntarily taking hormones in a futile attempt to change their gender.

– Public school teachers who are allowed to teach K-12 students about LGBTQ lifestyles and agendas.

And this is just a partial list of some of the more recent societal changes regarding sexuality.

How did we get here?

Some might say we could blame it on Gloria Steinem of the 1970s Women’s Liberation movement. This is the woman who defied God and successfully convinced millions of women that they had the right to be liberated from traditional women’s roles.

Some might say we could blame it on the Supreme Court for enacting same-sex marriage laws and allowing same-sex couples to adopt a child.

Some might say we could blame it on woke corporations who’ve hired DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) managers to ensure their company meets certain expectations to keep their ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) scores high.

Some might say we could blame it on the men who fail in their God-given roles as spiritual leaders in their home and as head of the household.

Some might say we could blame it on the women who try to “run the show” in their marriage by usurping their husband’s God-given role as head of the household.

Some might say we could blame it on woke churches that allow Beth Moore and other so-called “women pastors,” who dare to defy God and His word (1 Timothy 2:12) each time they stand at a pulpit and preach to men.

While I believe all of these things have certainly played a part, they’re not the root cause.

We find the root cause in the Bible.

In the book of Genesis, in the Garden of Eden, Eve believed the serpent and chose to disobey God. As Eve was tempted by the devil, Adam was tempted by Eve, and sin entered the world through Adam.

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God actually say, “You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?”’And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.” Genesis 3:1-6

And, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.” Romans 5:12

The Bible explains our root problem is sin. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

And, sexual sin, in particular, is not only against God, it is against one’s own body.

“Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.” 1 Corinthians 6:18

God implores us to “abstain from sexual immorality” in 1 Thessalonians 4:3

However, unrepentant sinners, by nature, don’t want to repent, obey God, or His word. By nature, unrepentant sinners love the darkness instead of the light.

“And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.” John 3:19

To add insult to injury, “the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul” (Psalm 10:3-4).

But it doesn’t have to be so. The distance between an unrepentant sinner and God is not far.

If you find yourself described here, and feel God convicting you to make a change in your life, just turn around. Turn toward Christ and away from sin.

It’s not too late.

For Jew or Greek, male or female, LGBTQ or heterosexual, rich or poor, etc.

The good news is that God made a way by sending His Son to take the penalty for our sin—for all who’ll come to Christ in repentance and faith.

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

Acknowledge the sin in your life today and repent of it. Put your faith and trust in God, the Maker of heaven and earth. Cry out to Him and humbly ask for His forgiveness. Trust in Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross.

And, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

If you’re male, trust in God’s plans and God-given roles for men. If you’re female, trust in God’s plans and God-given roles for women.

“O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” Psalm 34:8

Interestingly, I remember when I was a child, I used to dress up in my brother’s army outfit and crawl around in the backyard playing “Army” with a toy machine gun strapped to my back and a rubber knife in my mouth. I was, what was commonly called, a tomboy. Vic Morrow of the TV show, Combat, was my inspiration. But, you know what? I grew out of it. How glad I am that no one tried to give me puberty blockers or tried to convince me I needed to try to change my gender back then! I love being a woman. Actually, I love all the roles that God has chosen for me in life, and I especially love being a mom, and a grandmother, aka “Maw-Maw.”

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Mother’s Day

As the years have gone by, Mother’s Day has become one of my favorite holidays. My perfect Mother’s Day includes food, family, flowers, fun, and a Mother’s Day card.

So in the days leading up to Mother’s Day, I always think of my mom who passed away in 1998. I was blessed to have her in my life for the first 44 years of my life. She was the main role model in my life and in so many ways—as a woman, a wife, a mom, and a Christian. I will forever remember her praying on her knees by her bedside at night, and studying her Bible in the early mornings when I was a child.

”Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” Proverbs 31:25-28

My mom and me in Indianapolis back in the late 1970s.

My grandma, my mom, and me in 1979.

My mom passed away at the age of 77 after suffering for several years from Alzheimer’s Disease.

“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” Proverbs 31:25-28

My grandma was a godly woman too. When I was a child I loved going to her house just to be close to her. When I was a teenager and again as a young adult, she would pull me aside and tell me that she was praying for me. I knew she loved me and she knew I needed prayer.

Here’s a photo of my grandma in our kitchen nook in Indianapolis back in the early 1970s. She was trimming the meat off a turkey to make us some of her delicious homemade turkey noodle soup.

“Older women should be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers or addicted to much wine. They should teach the younger women to love their husbands and children, be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, so that the word of God may not be reviled.” Titus 2:3-5

My grandma was recognized and honored in her community as “Mother of the Year” in the 1960s.

And here is a photo of my great-grandma Stockrahm. I think this picture was taken in the early 1950s. She lived with my grandma in Frankfort, Indiana, when she was elderly and where my grandma took care of her until she passed away. I was very young back then, but I do remember she was very quiet and that my grandma was very protective of her. I remember feeling so sorry for her because she was fragile and ill.

“Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 1 Peter 3:4

I’m so very thankful for my mom, my grandma, and great-grandma. They were wonderful and godly mothers.

My mom and grandma taught me that as mothers and grandmothers, we should never give up. We are to continue in prayer for each one of our loved ones. We are to continue modeling Christ to our family, and to take advantage of any opportunities to share Christ with our children and grandchildren. Our influence has an eternal impact on the lives and futures of our children, our grandchildren, and so on.

“Even when some children will not let us speak to them about religion, they cannot prevent us speaking for them to God. Never, never let us forget that the children for whom many prayers have been offered, seldom finally perish.” #JCRyle

“Good mothers are very dear to their children. There’s no mother in the world like our own mother.” #CharlesSpurgeon

“To be a mother is by no means second class. Men may have the authority in the home, but the women have the influence. The mother, more than the father, is the one who molds and shapes those little lives from day one.” #JohnMacArthur

I’m so thankful that being a mother was in God’s plan for me. I thank Him for our three daughters, who are mothers now as well, but more importantly, they’re Christian mothers.