Articles

DON'T TELL CHRISTINE DRIESSEN TO SLOW DOWN. Not with all that's on her plate these days.

"VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL. " It's a common phrase among community churches, especially in the summertime, when parents are looking for positive experiences for their children.

Heather Martin thought she was going to have a vacation from all things writing related when she took a trip to Boston last summer. What the doctoral student at Baylor University in Texas didn't know was that setting foot in our offices was as good as saying, "Sign me up for an article!" Sure, it took a few months to make it all happen, but we think you'll get a lot out of the final product.

MISS EBERT WAS WHAT SOME MIGHT HAVE CALLED an "old-maid school teacher. " She probably would have taken the moniker as a compliment, saying it was true because she had gray hair and had never married, but knowing all the while that such a title was conferred with respect on that special kind of teacher who had raised more children than any mother.

JESSICA IS THE NICEST person ever. She and I have been friends for four years.

I GUESS YOU COULD SAY the job started out being about me. I was a counselor-in-training at a summer camp for Christian Scientists—really psyched to be there.

MY HUSBAND, RYAN, AND I had always thought we might have a family some day, but I just didn't see how a child would fit into our lives. We'd been married for ten years and both of us had busy, productive careers.

MY FIRST THOUGHT upon waking that morning was: "It's almost Christmas!" But it wasn't a thought that made me happy. Instead, I felt overwhelmed by all the holiday preparations I still needed to finish before my grandsons arrived.

AT THE AGE OF 14, I fell in love with the Bible. So much so that I even carried a small pocket version around with me every day.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD JUST BE an ordinary ride home. But when my friend, who had kindly offered me a lift, asked me if I wouldn't mind stopping off for a meeting on the way, I agreed.