Nearly every summer, my family traveled from Columbus, Ohio, all the way south to one of Florida’s beautiful beaches. In a pre-interstate freeway world with no air conditioning in our car, it was one long haul through sticky, hot weather, winding roads, and bumper-to-bumper traffic in every little hole-in-the-wall town in (what felt like never-ending) Georgia. But we made …
Happy Birthday, Robb!
Awakened at 4 a.m. after hearing a “pop!” and then…an instant flood! Craig’s asking, “Are you sure your water broke?” Calling the doctor….to hear “Yes, you do need to go to the hospital” Hours and hours of nothing until the “pit” was begun Contractions that felt like they never truly ended because the baby was face up instead of face …
It’s about Surrender
Familiar with the book The Horse Whisperer? Written by Nicholas Evans, it’s the story of teenaged Grace and her beloved horse Pilgrim. She’s riding one snowy morning when an 18-wheeler truck slides on ice and crashes into them. It’s a horrific accident: Grace loses a leg, and Pilgrim is so terrorized that he won’t allow anyone near him—not even …
Hope*
(Hope with an Asterisk!) I was scheduled to speak for Multnomah University’s chapel last week. Needless to say, that was cancelled, just like every other event this unprecedented spring and summer of 2020. Who would’ve thought or imagined? And now…now we’re in the midst of Holy Week, culminating in Easter Sunday. How do we focus on the power of the …
Family Feeling Insecure and/or Fearful? Here’s Help: Family Time Based on Joshua 4:1-9
How is your family faring during this incredibly stressful time? Are you seeing the signs that your children are afraid, but they either don’t know how to express that…or you haven’t given them an open forum to do so? We all desperately need a “safe place” to voice our fears and anxiety and insecurities. And I have a step-by-step plan …
Don’t Make that Noise…and for Goodness’ Sake, Don’t Tell the Kids
For this sixty-something woman, there are two “don’ts” that currently dominate my life. The first is “Don’t make that noise.” See, here’s my theory: When you first start emitting those little grunts, groans, and sighs when you get out of a car or move from one position to another or stand up from a chair—don’t get smart, twenty-somethings; someday you’ll …
The Logic of Grace
Anyone else watch Les Miserables on Masterpiece? Even though I sometimes missed the music (from my favorite musical), it was a glorious production – and made me cry several times. One of the times that tears ran down my cheeks was Javert’s anguish and resulting suicide because of his inability to accept forgiveness, love, mercy. Grace. I saw reflected in …
For the Little Things
I’m reading through Philippians for my devotions, and I just studied the passage in chapter two that says, “Do everything without complaining or arguing” (verse 14). Grinning to myself, I scribbled in my journal, “What would be the fun of THAT?” Because, you know…well actually, I can be a pretty accomplished whiner. I’ve got skills. A few minutes later I …
Madelaine Takes the Town by Storm
That was her full registered name, and she’d earned it. Born in Craig, Colorado (why didn’t I realize that was an omen for how ornery she’d be?), we drove through a snowstorm out I-70 to go pick her up, spent the night, and drove back home through another snowstorm. Next challenge: Ever tried to train a puppy in two feet …
December 1
Today is the first day of December. The holiday month, the jingle bells and mistletoe and carols and manger scene month. It’s also…that month. In the weeks after Robb died, I would go to the living room and lie down on the couch. Where I’d sob and cry out, “I want my son. I want my son!” Almost 7 years …