For fourteen years our home in Florida allowed me to escape the bitter Midwest winters. But due to a health crisis, my husband and I are now back in the Midwest, bracing ourselves for some bitter temps. When I look out my kitchen window, I no longer see palm trees standing tall against a clear blue sky. I see a blanket of white on the ground and pine needles laced with snow crystals. I no longer see lizards scurrying across the backyard patio. Instead, I see squirrels gathering nuts for the long months ahead. My environment has changed dramatically,…
Tag: Crystal Bowman
This is our archive pageGrateful for Life
On Mother’s Day morning we witnessed the baptism of our baby granddaughter in a wonderful service filled with praise and worship. Though I believe every new life is a miracle, we waited a long time for this baby girl since my daughter-in-law was told she would not be able to have children. It was a very special morning for our family. Later that afternoon, I received a call from my sister telling me that my ninety-seven-year-old mother would soon be entering heaven. I was a few states away and quickly booked a flight to my hometown. My mom’s funeral…
A Chat with Author Crystal Bowman
Greetings from Sarah Sundin in California! Today I have the joy of interviewing Crystal Bowman, author of over 100 books for children! Today she’s sharing about a project that’s quite a bit different for her—and yet completely in line with her heart for families. Welcome, Crystal, please tell us about your book, Mothers In Waiting—Hope and Healing for Those with Empty Arms. This book is a collection of 30 stories from women who have experienced infertility, miscarriage, adoption, IVF procedures, and much more. With honest and heart-filled stories, the contributors desire to walk beside those who are on this long…
A Time for Singing
Winters in Michigan, where I grew up, were long, cold, and dreary. Gray skies, leafless trees, and a colorless landscape made the winter months feel endless. Occasionally, the sun would peek out in March with a patch of blue sky that gave hope to a frigid existence. Then came April. As daylight lingered a little longer and snow melted away, the sky became brighter and creation began to wake up. I love that we celebrate Easter in the spring because it’s a celebration of new life. Just as brown grass turns to green, flowers sprout from the earth, and tree…
Waiting with Hope
With Christmas wrapped up and neatly tucked away, we are almost to the end of January. But the hope that a new year brings is still fresh in our hearts and minds. Maybe this is the year you hope to find a new job, earn a degree, or travel abroad. Maybe this is the year you hope to meet that special someone or start a family. Hoping for a change, or for something new, is exciting. But when our hopes and dreams are put on hold, it’s hard to be patient. Proverbs 13:12 says “hope deferred makes the heart sick,…
Just Say Thank You
When one of my publishers asked me to add a Thanksgiving book to my holiday board book series, it took a while for me to decide what to write. The story of the Pilgrims on the Mayflower would be too long to squeeze into twenty-four lines! I considered what Thanksgiving means to young children and the answer was obvious. Young children celebrate Thanksgiving with family, and it’s a time to thank God for our blessings. The text became a simple prayer, thanking God for food, family, mountains, birds, bumblebees, and more. Thanksgiving is a day to thank God for…
We Are Blessed
In 1776 our country was founded by men who believed in God. Nearly two centuries later, “In God We Trust” was written on our currency, and The Pledge of Allegiance added the phrase “one nation under God.” Though these statements represent a variety of faiths, belief in God is the common denominator. As we all know, our nation is becoming more and more secular and many people are turning away from God. But there will always be a remnant who remain strong in their faith and in their commitment to God. We will always have a voice, although it may…
Glorious Colors
Almost everyone has a favorite color. Mine is yellow. I love the yellow sun, yellow buttercups, and yellow sweet corn. But I also like blue. I love going to the beach to see the vast blue sky and various shades of blue in the ocean. I’m not sure why those colors appeal to me—they just do. What amazes me is that God is the only One who could think of all the different colors. What is even more amazing is they have been in existence since the beginning of time. The sun is yellow, the grass is green, and…
After-Christmas Bargain
I love after-Christmas sales! Wrapping paper, ornaments, and Christmas cards are available at greatly-reduced prices. One year while buying groceries in a super-store, I steered my cart to the Christmas aisle—just out of curiosity. And there it was—a beautiful, hand-painted ceramic nativity set on display at seventy-five percent off! Several boxed sets were on a shelf, so I took one and placed it on the bottom rack of my cart. When I got home, I left the box intact and slid it in my Christmas closet. The winter months came and went, as did spring, summer, and fall. Soon it…
The Sky Speaks
The Sky Speaks By Crystal Bowman When I was growing up in West Michigan, summer was my favorite season of the year. I was never a fan of cold weather, and in Michigan we’d get a lot of that! I loved the warm summer days when I could play outdoors with my neighborhood friends, running through the sprinklers and eating popsicles.