By Heidi McLaughlin – The feeling of being barefoot and feeling the sand squish between my toes evokes the giddiness of freedom. I feel like a child when I flirt with the ocean and get near enough...

By Heidi McLaughlin – An unrelenting knot in my stomach signals the beginning of my Easter week. My emotions become tender and anxious because Good Friday is approaching – again. This tension started ten years ago on...

By Heidi McLaughlin – There is one line in Bob Dylan’s song, “Forever Young” that puts a smile on my face. “May you build a ladder to the stars and stand on every rung”. This lyric may...

Heidi McLaughlin – Each year I ask God for two words. That may sound dull and simplistic but for over ten years this ritual and discipline has profoundly impacted my life. Here is how it works: Each...

By Heidi McLaughlin – Every time I open my mouth I plant a seed. There are days I wish this was not true, but there is no escape from this law. We can call it sowing and...

By Heidi Mclaughlin – What were those strange, muffled sounds coming from behind my parent’s bedroom door? With my socked feet, I quietly tip-toed past my parent’s bedroom, hoping that no once heard me. Once again, I...

Many months ago my husband Jack and I announced: “It’s time for a Family Reunion!” It makes we wonder if some of our children secretly shuddered when they heard that we wanted everyone to come home for...

By Heidi McLaughlin – “Everything is wrong with this place. We don’t have all the tools we need, not enough billable work hours and even the air conditioning is not working.” Those words whizzed through the air...

By Heidi McLaughlin – I learn everything the hard way and this time is was because of burned baby back ribs. My intentions were honorable, but it ended up all wrong. I made a huge batch of...

By Heidi McLaughlin – My husband is the pastor to the 55 and older generation in our local church. Every year there is a celebration for those who have been married 50, 60 or 70 years. I...