Our Stories Unleashed

Results filtered by “Kathy Raines”

'It's Ugly but It's Yours'

We practiced on each other. Most of us had neither skill nor experience. We had volunteered to staff the face-painting booth at the children’s festival the next day and we had a lot to learn. Gretchen went first because we all thought she would be the best. Confident and relaxed, she made breezy conversation with me while she worked. I knew the butterfly she was painting on my cheek would be beautiful. When she finished, she handed me a mirror and said sweetly, “It’s...

Continue Reading

Posted by Kathy Raines

One Part of the Whole

The pastor looked at me funny, as if to say, “Is there more?” I gave him the look that said, “Nope. That’s it.” I had just finished offering my first (and still only) children’s message during the worship service. The missionary pastor had asked me, the college student summer missionary, to lead the time with children. We had discussed the theme for the service and his sermon. I knew the scripture. I had a story to tell to go with it. I...

Continue Reading

Posted by Kathy Raines with 4 Comments

Rejoice in Life's Surprises

main image
This is the day the Lord has made.We will rejoice and be glad in it.Psalm 118:24 We canoed a lot as a family. Almost every summer involved road trips with canoes strapped on top of our van to take them to lakes and rivers where we could play. We paddled and splashed and swam. We prided ourselves in our abilities and we still found ways to test those abilities. I hadn’t yet established my “don’t do dumb” life rule (see my previous blog...

Continue Reading

Posted by Kathy Raines

12345678910 ... 1314