Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!
— 1 Chronicles 16:11

This is the page of the site where I introduce myself and my blog to my readers.

To be honest, this introduction is challenging for me to write.

It is not that I dislike talking about myself. I would like to think if you read a post or two you would see that I try to use this space, my space, on the web to be transparent with my reader, to share what God is teaching me and to be encourage others who can relate to my “Present Tense.”

I usually introduce myself to people based upon what I feel we may already have in common. . .

If it is a pastor my husband used to work with, a friend of his from high school, or someone he has failed to introduce me to - I am Wally’s wife.

If it is teacher at one of my daughters’ schools, one of their friend’s parents, or even one of their peers - I am Riley’s, Piper’s and Eliza’s mom.

If it is an old friend from college, an adult who sat in through my Sunday school class as a teenager, or a new family visiting our church - I am a middle school English teacher, a Bible studier, a reader of historical fiction and a collector of vintage dishes.

Like most women, I wear a large variety of hats- some of those hats seem to look and fit better on me than others. But no matter the hat and its implied stereotype, I am first and foremost a work-in-progress. I am developing and becoming in all of those areas, all of those relationships.

My “Present Tense” is the place where I process and write about my relationship with Him. That relationship was made possible through the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross. By His death and resurrection, I am saved from my sin and its consequences. I am saved to this relationship with Him, so to serve His people and to grow in godliness.

By the way, this is now an old picture. It sure doesn’t describe my “Present Tense” anymore. I left here because I love it. Those “little girls” are not so “little” anymore. Riley is now a graduate student. Piper is learning to drive. Eliza is the very definition of pre-teen.