In my mind today, I'm thinking of Resurrection. It was in today's gospel reading. Lazarus was brought back to life. With the pandemic that lurks over our country and world, lots of people begin to reevaluate and start thinking about the BIG question: What happens when a mortal person dies?...

In my mind today, I am thinking about the recent disease pandemic. This morning I began looking at news updates before I opened my devotional. Big mistake! Then I began reading about all of the epidemic and pandemics of the past. I was trying to find some type of consolation for this rapid spreading disease. I had to make myself stop and open my devotional...

In my mind today I am thinking of breaking bread. This was something Ken and I were always adament about with our family. We always ate together around the table, no devices, and enjoyed each others company sharing our day. Breaking bread with each other is such a beautiful example of human communion...

In my mind today I am thinking of all of the people who fight chronic illnesses: ALS, cancer, addictions, MS, Duchenne MD, or Alzheimer's. The list could fill the entire page. What makes one jolly and another bitter and sullen? I read this just this morning:...

In my mind today I'm having an emotional day. Being a mom of a college student is much tougher than I ever imagined. I miss my bird but know God has plans and has planted so many seeds in her soul. The visits are brief and I hate to see her taillights in the drive but seeds were made to grow and produce fruit...

In my mind today I'm bufuzzled. I ran across this verse last week, "Who are you?" My brain wants to add o's and sing it like the band The Who does. Just when you think you have it all figured out, you do or say something and think did that come from my mouth? It's so tough to be the person that you are called to be...

In my mind today, I'm thinking that Christmas is practically here!!! The second week of Advent flew by and now we are on the cusp of the final week of Advent. Christmas is just around the corner! Christmas is a time for little miracles. They happen with gifts of love from our families and friends. ...

Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side. Psalm 23:4 In my mind today I am thinking about evil. Evil exists. Psalm 23 reminds us never to fear even in death. This is the darkest time of year here in my little burg. We get less sunshine than any other season. It just so happens that it is our first week of Advent. Happy New Liturgical Year!...

In my mind lately, I've been on a respite. The Autumn March for ALS consumes me for about four months and then poof! We are finished and amazed at how everything fell together. The last words I spoke to my committee the night before the race was, "Whom shall we fear?" God is always for us. Really He is...

In my mind today, I am thinking about treasures. It's been a crazy, hectic, and amazing October. I have been frantically zipping all over my little burg advocating the Autumn March for ALS. Meetings, designing shirts, collecting donations, and praying for a beautiful event day have had Sal the Autumn March Gal busy as a bee, literally! Am I exhausted and on the brink of mutiny? Of course, but I love it! As long as I can roll in my scooter and breathe, I will advocate for a cure for ALS, establish scholarships for my local school systems, and give to local non-profits. ...

Take nothing for the journey. Luke 9:3 I read these words over and over in my mind this morning. Each day I wake I lose something to ALS. It's not until I try to use a muscle that I realize the disease has creeped further into my neurological system and taken something else. ...

Recently, my life has been filled with recovery time. August is a busy time for parents and teachers. School starting and renewing routines take a lot out of us. August also happens to be the month that I begin searching for sponsors for the annual Autumn March for ALS. ...

Every day I try to learn a new word or expose myself to a random word. I started doing this a very long time ago. I remember reading a biography of Eleanor Roosevelt as a child. One of the things Eleanor did everyday was to pick up a dictionary and randomly shuffle through it and put her finger on a word. ...

Reflecting today on my readings, I realize that I have become a Mary. I watch the flurry of social media posting about back to school and I visit the season before ALS. I was such a Martha. I enjoyed every busy moment of every busy teaching day from inservices preparing our minds for another year of teaching to the bone-tired days of May. ...

Today I am thinking about fruit. Summers in the South give us lots of wonderful fruit: watermelon, cantaloupes, honeydew, peaches, grapes, strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries. Each summer my heart leaps when I see the roadside stands full of fresh produce. ...

Happy birthday America and to my mother! Only a mere 243 years ago our nation was born. As an American history teacher, it is our job to educate our students of all the milestones of America. We are such a young country. July 4th 1776 is a huge deal for us as Americans. ...

Losing our Religion Happy summer students! Even though it's summer I am still reading and studying. Each day I read about what's going on in the world today and my devotionals. Yesterday I came across that article that talked about the Post-Christian Era specifically in the United States. ...

Life has been pretty relaxed at the Alley Casa. We Catholic Christians officially finished up Easter two Sundays ago. Our last day of Easter is called Pentecost Sunday. Living in the deep South when you hear the word Pentecost you think of the Penecostal denomination. ...

Happy week six of Easter. This week I hit a milestone. I turned 50. Crazy! I made it to half a century. Today I read about Paul leaving some of his converts. They knew they would never see him again. He told them to hold on to the faith, to build up each other, and to keep a relationship with their heavenly Father. ...

Happy 6th week of Easter! Today's reading was about the visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth. Luke 1 39:56 And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? The baby that Elizabeth carried leaped when Mary spoke to her. ...