Her rich, deep voice is directed towards us. Her eyes sparkling. I answer her question. She exudes joy with a touch of mischief. We exchange pleasantries. As in all conversations there comes a defining moment. She shares that she lost 3 of her siblings in a matter of months. My heart lurches with the known pain of losing so many in a matter of months. I hug her. And a friendship is born. Decades apart in age. Unity in the Spirit. In the morning session she comes running down to greet us. As I should have ... View Post
And. . . He’s Off
He's heading off to college this morning. Elijah's friend. Ditching Marines for the Army. On an ROTC scholarship. So stinking proud of him. There is a dance of fine emotion in my being. A reminder of how much I miss my son. Yet, a glimpse into the goodness of God. I will pray for this young man and wait with great expectation to see where God will lead him. I will miss his "stop ins." Though they have become less frequent. I will continue to pray for the young people heading back to school. They have been ... View Post
His Chains Are Gone. . .. He’s Been Set Free
His chains are gone. He's been set free. All he knows is peace and more peace. It is we, who are left behind that need the prayers. We walk the hard road. We have walked the year to a different beat. Longing for a familiar cadence. Not to be. Walking the road of grief; blindsided by cancer. Uplifted by grace of a community. Reminders continually of the strength we need to persevere. The unthinkable has happened. It has been a year of firsts. A year with out my mom a year with out my ... View Post
How Do You Make The Glorious Summer Days Last?
How do you make the glorious summer days last? Seeking to embrace the quiet. Loving the cool breeze and sunshine. Yet the urgent supersedes. Never ending. Constant motion. Be still. I want to slow the pace. I want to breathe it all in; not miss anything. It is hot. We sit in the river; my sister in law and I. The first time all summer. I close my eyes; I feel the warmth of the sun. I want to hold on to this time. Remember the warmth when the winter cold settles. I feel the cool water flowing beneath me. Aren't all the days fleeting? Psalm ... View Post
We Can Only Change the Future
She posts this picture. It's her Anniversary. The tears just flow. I can't recall ever seeing this picture. This dear friend left for adventures and excitement out of New England soon after her wedding. Oh how life was back then. 24 years ago. It wasn't perfect. But there is an ache. For the way things used to be. For my son. For my mom and dad. For my friend; the miles that separate us. I was so honored to be her maid of honor. How I adored her. She was beautiful; her spirit soft and gentle. Kind. She wasn't rough around the ... View Post
Pushing Regret Out The Door
It was Prom. Such a beautiful evening. Sunshine. Excitement. Anticipation. Beauty. Each moment a gift to be treasured. Because you never know when they may be gone. I ask for one thing. A family picture; from Prom. I have none from the boy. A regret. A request I make. And this is what I get. I love it. Always room for a giggle. Somehow there is always a space though. I don't know how it works. In the center. A hole. A hole in my heart that ... View Post