September 23, 2023
End of an Era
Era: A long and distinct period of history with a particular feature or characteristic.
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The blog
Faith, family, gardens, grandchildren, and the everyday moments where Joyce keeps finding God’s glory — written as Joyce Long and, for a few early posts, under the J.E. Laine byline.
2023
September 23, 2023
2022
March 29, 2022
Confessions of a Rookie Novelist #2
Meet my pink piggybank!
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March 24, 2022
Confessions of a Rookie Novelist
Every decade or so, I fish through the file cabinet for the original manuscript of my first novel—The Scott Twins in the Jewelry Mystery. Sound…
Read the post →2020
April 30, 2020
Six Weeks and Counting. . .
Al and I had to make a somewhat risky decision six weeks ago. With the pandemic looming, we had to decide whether or not to attend a wedding of our…
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March 31, 2020
Make It Personal, Make It Real
Like many of you, I’ve been praying for our world, our nation, our state, those in the trenches who are at risk for COVID-19 and my family. But…
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March 20, 2020
Sunny-side Up
Okay, I confess! I haven’t always been an optimist. Since becoming a Christian and growing in the Holy Spirit, the Lord has trained me to think…
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February 26, 2020
When I Teach, I Learn. . .
On Valentine’s Day I wrapped up a promised Christmas gift, one that my goddaughter requested. Since I had been a middle school teacher and because…
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January 1, 2020
In the Rearview Mirror
I blink! Another year passes. And another. In my seventh decade, time has shifted into warp speed. When I realized 2019 closed out a decade, I…
Read the post →2019
October 22, 2019
Tower of Babel
Last week when I was praying for our country, the story of the Tower of Babel came to mind. The Holy Spirit-inspired Genesis 11 account described a…
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September 23, 2019
A “Beautiful” Day in the Neighborhood
When we moved to Hunter’s Pointe in June 1987, I was thrilled. At that time Center Grove was just beginning to grow, and it felt like we had shifted…
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September 5, 2019
Shattered
When Al was upstairs in the shower Sunday morning, a crash directly overhead interrupted my morning routine. Chest tightening while running, I feared…
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May 19, 2019
Learning at 65
When Frankie Valle and the Four Seasons first belted out “Oh, What a Night!”, they had no idea the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra would be hosting…
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April 1, 2019
Time Travel
Since “official” retirement in 2013, what has surprised me is how much I read again. It’s a throwback to growing up in Greene County in the 1960’s…
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March 6, 2019
Winter Weary?
My writing place, a roll top maple desk inherited from my father, sits by the window in our front room. There I sit on a bright blue 55cm…
Read the post →2018
November 1, 2018
I’m There!
Last week one of my favorite writers, who doubles as my dentist, shared his experiences from El Salvador. Not your typical tourist, Doug Harty or…
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September 15, 2018
In the Air Again
I enjoy traveling. But I do tire of packing. Not that I’m complaining, because this is the only way I can see my precious kids and their families.…
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August 20, 2018
To Listen and Love
Guilty as charged, I am a word junkie. I enjoy looking up words and checking out their nuances and meanings. Today’s word is conviction. Maybe it’s…
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July 24, 2018
In His Arms
Last night Al and I were watching Anderson Cooper on CNN’s 360 interview with Tia Coleman, the wife and mother of the family who drowned in the Duck…
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July 15, 2018
Oh No! Another Evil Oxalis!
I would call it a love-hate relationship, but mostly love. I’m talking about a spring and summer, time-consuming passion in my life—gardening. With…
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June 18, 2018
Alms for Alexa
“Dear Lord, thank you for this glorious morning, for the rain and sunshine, for all the love You give us. . .”
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May 21, 2018
Ten Things I Love about Our Two-Year-Old Granddaughter
Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. Proverbs 17:6
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April 30, 2018
Fresh and Flourishing
Lately legacy has been on my mind. Literally the word’s primary definition is “a gift by will of money and property” (Merriam Webster Dictionary).…
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April 16, 2018
Impatiently Yours
Dear God,
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April 9, 2018
An Eyewitness
In this era of fake news, history told by an eyewitness—someone who lived during a treacherous time—stimulates our minds and tugs at our hearts. Last…
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March 30, 2018
By the Blood
When my memory scrolls back to 1966, it isn’t just the Beach Boys’ mega-hit, “Good Vibrations” I hear. Growing up in an acapella church with…
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March 23, 2018
Turning Right onto Main Street
If you know me well, you know that eggs are one of my food favorites. They also bring back great memories of backyard Easter egg hunts where our…
Read the post →2017
August 21, 2017
Responding to God’s Glory
At approximately 2:24 this afternoon in central Indiana, the moon will block about 90% of the sun. Experts caution us to not look up without the…
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August 14, 2017
Anticipating the “Eye of God”
Saturday morning while my husband Al and I ate our BLT breakfast, we enjoyed reading about next Monday’s (August 21, 2017) solar eclipse. This is a…
Read the post →2016
2015
April 29, 2015
Hot or Cold?
Don’t you simply detest tepid? Lukewarm coffee doesn’t satisfy. It’s either hot or iced. Although God doesn’t need caffeine to get through his day,…
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April 8, 2015
Digging in Dirt
Time for true confession: I like playing in the dirt. This time of year the ground is especially intriguing because I’m searching for signs of…
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March 11, 2015
The Red Heifer
How does a red heifer relate to Jesus Christ? Glad you asked! Let’s start with water. It cleanses us, both inside and out. Doctors advocate drinking…
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February 18, 2015
A Man for the Ages: part 2
You can learn much about people’s character by the way they live. Yet you can also learn a lot about them by how they approach dying. When Jacob was…
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January 25, 2015
A Man for the Ages – part 1
I really didn’t respect or understand him much at all. The third Patriarch of the Bible, the last twin boy to be born of Isaac and Rebekah, seemed to…
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January 11, 2015
Unity Backfire
Normally I would be a cheerleader for unity and communication. When meditating on Genesis 11, I realized there’s danger in good things, especially if…
Read the post →2013
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