The Gazebo The crowning jewel of the quaint Pennsylvania town that watched me grow from a shy pig-tailed girl into an independent young woman is a historic gazebo situated in the center of Market Square. Celebrations meriting significance are often held in that lovely white structure. In a tiny borough such events include Veteran’s Day ceremonies, annual coronations of the “Cherry Blossom Queen,” and visits from Santa Claus. I often thought that the gazebo was fitting of a wedding. I’m not sure if ceremonious vows have ever been exchanged on its platform, but I have seen many radiant brides pose on its century-old steps. The gazebo in my hometown, is quite different from the small wooden gazebo I once encountered while walking my Dachshund. Being naturally drawn to such buildings, probably because of my small town upbringing, the first time I saw it nestled on the grounds of an apartment complex I walked ...
Category Archives: Angela
Super Powers
Aside for my adolescent affection for David Banner and his mean green alter ego, "The Hulk," I've never been a fan of movies or T.V. shows based on comic books. Had I not married a man who stomps his feet with excitement whenever a trailer promoting the latest flick about an iconic hero with superpowers is shown for the first time, I most likely would have gone the rest of my life without watching such characters. The first time my husband brought me to a theater to see a movie based on some legend from his childhood was to the premier of X-Men. As we stood in line behind a man wearing Wolverine claws, I rolled my eyes and thought that I would enjoy the next two hours as much as I enjoy an eyebrow was (last time I had my eyebrows waxed, I bled). I was wrong. After spending just 180 ...
The Hair is Always Prettier on the Other Head
I have never liked my hair. Not even when I was four-years-old and my golden locks rivaled those of Rupunzel. Oh, I liked the length, and when it was properly curled and styled I pretended to be a princess…but I did not like the tangles…and even less did I enjoy the pain and aggravation caused by the untangling process. My mom, being the one who had to listen to my whining protests, decided that my long hair had to go. This decision was made when I was in the fourth-grade, and it was one with which I agreed. Oh, but there was a downside…I was in grade four during the year of the mullet. Not only is the mullet an eye sore, it is a lot of work. My hair still easily knotted in the back and a brush was no longer the sole implement required to style my baby fine tresses. ...
Contradiction
“But when full understanding comes, these partial things will become useless. When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” -- I Cor. 13: 10-12 (NLT) Recently, I was reminded of the awkward girl who inhibited this body of mine more than 15 years ago. Yes, I’ll admit, her body was leaner and her stomach flat. Hardly, the body I see in the mirror today. But less recognizable to me is her personality. She barely spoke above a whisper or made eye contact with others. She walked stiffly, wore a veil of rejection, and ...
The Wonderous Cross
You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. Colossians 2:13-15 My grandparents once lived in the beautiful and historic Brandywine Valley. I enjoyed walking down Briton Bridge Road with my PapPap and marveling at the picturesque countryside complete with rolling green hills, sprawling estates, and inviting orchards. Even an old, dilapidated barn appeared lovely amidst the gorgeous landscape. Once, after at least six months had passed since our last walk together, PapPap excitedly whispered, “Wait until you see what they did to that old barn.” The ...
Shades of Hope
God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:17-20 NLT My teeth...they have issues. Actually, my entire mouth has problems. For starters, it is small. So small that my dental hygienist uses the child-sized equipment to clean and X-Ray my teeth, but even ...
Renewal
All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. Psalm 119:160 (NIV) For the past month, I have been in a state of mind that I will refer to as writer's funk. Unlike a case of writer's block, I was able to come up with topics to write about, and even words to fill a page...but my interest to write waned. I kept telling myself that it was because I had nothing new to express. My style felt stale. My passion simmered to stagnant. Friends consoled me with assurances that all writers felt this way at times. Perhaps that is true. But still something registered faulty in my soul. You see, for me, writing is just not a hobby...it is part of my quiet time with God. When I write, I pray. When I write, I search through scripture. When I write, I hunt through concordances. When ...
-
Genny Heikka
Managing EditorGenny started her career life thinking that the business world was where she wanted to be. But after her daughter was born and she began reading books to her, she realized that what she really wanted to do was be a writer...
