It began the day after Halloween. On my morning walk I noticed a few wreaths on front doors and garland adorning mailboxes and entryways. At home my social media feed began showing people posing with Christmas trees recently decorated. All of this before the jack-o-lanterns were gone from the front stoop. We usually afford Thanksgiving … Continue reading Desperate for Christmas
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A Thanksgiving to Remember
I spent Thanksgiving of 1992 in a sports bar, in an unfamiliar city far from home. My baby lay in cardiac ICU recovering from open heart surgery. The only restaurant open that day was a sports bar next to a girlie club, so there my husband and I perched on stools, eating burgers and nursing … Continue reading A Thanksgiving to Remember
Blessing
I leaned forward on the hard pew that first time in church, skinny legs swinging as I watched the fatherly pastor place his hands on the heads of the people before him. "The Lord bless you, and keep you," he intoned. "The Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you. The … Continue reading Blessing
It’s Always Morning Somewhere
One of the best things about living on a lake is being able to see the sunrise. Every morning I watch as the darkness fades and the golden light slips between the trees, across the water and into my living room. Some mornings remain dull and gray. Others come with an explosion of color. But … Continue reading It’s Always Morning Somewhere
The View from the Precipice
Election week is upon us in the U.S.A and it feels like we are perilously close to the edge of a division that we may not be able to back away from. Having the election decided may give the illusion of winners and losers, but the fact is that we have all lost this election. … Continue reading The View from the Precipice
Listening for Ice Cream
My son Ben has significant intellectual disabilities. As a result, he has a very small vocabulary consisting of only nouns and verbs. If I say, "Do you want ice cream?" He'll respond with enthusiasm. And if I say, "Do you never want ice cream again?" I'll get the same response. He hears "ice cream", and … Continue reading Listening for Ice Cream
A Different Summer
Do you remember writing about summer vacation for the first assignment of the school year? What would you write this year? I am tallying up a number of gains and losses. The hardest loss was not being able to see my children who live far away. I also missed attending a family wedding in California. … Continue reading A Different Summer
Worship School
I shared this article on the Perennial Gen website this week. Enjoy! https://theperennialgen.com/worship-school/
A Good Man
I watch you nod off on the couch this evening, gray head drooping and reading glasses sliding down your nose and I realize we've done it. We have succeeded in growing older together. I don't know what I thought it would be like when we spoke our vows 37 years ago, but it wasn't this. … Continue reading A Good Man
Flight
A Great Blue Heron has been perching at the end of our dock lately, so I decided to try to get close enough for a picture. He kept a wary eye on me as I crept closer, finally taking off with his long wings as Ben came clumping down to join me in his dad's big … Continue reading Flight
