Tag Archives: family

The Kindness of Strangers

Posted on May 1, 2026 by mitchteemley

All photos by Mitch Teemley, except Tulip the bulldog (by Elliot Teemley) She Was Completely Dependent Upon… The kindness of strangers. A few weeks ago, our firstborn Elliot was walking near their apartment, when they* spotted a rotund little bulldog … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 61 Comments

On the Death of a Dear Friend

Posted on February 19, 2026 by mitchteemley

Image by Tim Mossholder On the Death of a Dear Friend Five Years Ago… My dear friend and business partner Dennis died amid COVID-19’s widening path of destruction. He was one of the kindest, most ethical people I have ever … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 77 Comments

How a Fake Christmas Tree Became Real

Posted on January 29, 2026 by mitchteemley

How a Fake Christmas Tree Became Real Our Old Tree… Came in a box. It was made in China from plastic and steel by people who may or may not have known what Christmas was about. It was shiny and … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 47 Comments

How We Had a Merry COVID Christmas

Posted on December 22, 2025 by mitchteemley

Five years ago, my wife and I were depressed when we first started talking about Christmas. It seemed Grinch-19 had stolen it right out from under us! Here’s how we had a merry COVID Christmas anyway: Thought for the Week … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 63 Comments

GrrAttitude! When We Forget to Be Grateful.

Posted on November 13, 2025 by mitchteemley

A Funny and Surprisingly Touching Thanksgiving Message! Dear pastors, teachers, and church drama groups: My wife and I were not happy when our washing machine and dryer both gave up the ghost within a week of each other! But then, … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

The Time to Understand is Now

Posted on July 21, 2025 by mitchteemley

Thought for the Week My father died on this date. And one week from today, I’m scheduled for a major heart procedure. One that could  spare me the fate that killed my dad at age 45. Which, ironically, happened just … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, For Pastors and Teachers, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 136 Comments

Ask and You Shall Receive!

Posted on July 16, 2025 by mitchteemley

Two Hilarious Sermon Illustrations Pastors, teachers, and drama groups: These two family-friendly comedy scenes are based on actual incidents involving my wife Trudy and me. In them, the fictional versions of us, Rick and Toodie, grumble, love, and laugh their … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

The “Doing Church at Home” Era

Posted on July 12, 2025 by mitchteemley

We had no choice. Back in the ‘90s, our then-toddler daughter kept catching colds at church. This was no surprise. After all, kids are viral airports, where infections land and take off with great regularity. In fact, quite a few … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Memoir, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

Sharing the Redeeming Power of Love

Posted on July 9, 2025 by mitchteemley

Two Delightful Summer Stories! Preachers, teachers and drama groups: Are you looking for fun, family-oriented illustrations to set up talks on the redeeming power of love? If so, these may be just the thing! To learn more, or to order the … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Movies, Videos | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Wishing You a Tasty Cinco de Mayo!

Posted on May 5, 2025 by mitchteemley

Thought for the Week I confess, I’m a gringo. But I grew up in Southern California, near enough to take daytrips into México. Plus, I always had enough friends with big Mexican families to get a taste of—and for—south-of-the-border culture. … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 35 Comments