Bearing Fruit in Keeping with Repentance

by Olivia Proctor Whenever people ask about my siblings—how many I have, how many brothers and how many sisters, what their ages are—it’s always a bit odd to these people when I tell them about the sixteen-year gap between my …

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Reunions

I’m a big fan of reunions. Like a child looking forward to Christmas morning.

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An Unexpected Wedding

by Michelle Bauman We had an unexpected wedding this week. Though it was supposed to happen at the end of May, last Tuesday the couple moved it to Sunday. Caterers were called and guests were contacted. The DJ, photographers, and …

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You Are Your Best Thing?

by Michelle Bauman You are Your Best Thing is the title of a book by Tarana Burke, founder of the “MeToo” movement, and Brene Brown—professor, author, and public speaker. The book is a “collection of essays on Black shame and …

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Life Work in 2020: Shaped 4 Good

by Michelle Bauman, Director of Y4Life As a child, I spent lots of time with my grandma. She taught me how to crochet, how to ease an earache, and how to level off a cup of flour. She introduced me …

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For Whom the Bell Toll

by Michelle Bauman, Director of Y4Life Perhaps you’ve heard of the fairly famous novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls, by Ernest Hemingway. As Hemingway novels go, it’s supposed to be one of his finest. I spent years reading novels and …

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A Need for Clarification

by Michelle Bauman, Director of Y4Life I  absolutely love to sing. It’s true. It doesn’t matter where I am or what I’m doing, I like having a tune in my head. And much to the embarrassment of my sons, I …

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Remembering Our Roots

by Michelle Bauman, Director of Y4Life I’ve been reflecting on roots lately … obsessing over them, if I’m honest. It all began last spring when I filled my herb tower with starter plants. Worried that the roots might not have …

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Guiding Youth Toward Justice

by Michelle Bauman, Director of Y4Life   I’ve been thinking a lot about justice lately. I’m guessing we all have. It’s a topic that resonates with people of all ages and races, all nationalities and cultures. In fact, the need …

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