The Most Important Party I Ever Threw
The lights were out as we waited for them to come in the door. Everyone held their breath. This was so much fun. My heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest. My sister…
The lights were out as we waited for them to come in the door. Everyone held their breath. This was so much fun. My heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest. My sister…
Sometimes it’s not good to wait too long. Then you end up rushing without thinking clearly. Today is one of those days. I’m sitting at a table while my husband does his rehab. I’m half-listening to a few…
It only would have taken a moment. One small moment and I would have subtracted one of my biggest regrets in life. I had just laid down on the couch and my brother came and stood over me.…
“You look tired,” I said to the young woman scanning my groceries.
I’m not one to just spit out the question, “How are you?” Maybe because I know people just say what they think you want to hear.
“Oh, I AM tired,” she responded a little surprised. “I haven’t slept in days.”
“Why not?” I asked.
“We’ve had 3 break-ins in the past couple of weeks. I’m afraid to sleep.”
“Why do you do that?” he asked me…”Why is it every time she calls you, no matter what time it is, you run out the door?” For some reason, I heard him this time. I paused long enough…
I have a Master’s Degree in grief. Not a real one, but believe me, I should have an honorary one. And one thing I know for sure. Grieving stinks. All of a sudden you’re invited to a…
Father's Day is almost here. Sons and daughters will stand in line with cards and gifts in their hands. Cards that tell their dads how much they mean to them. Others will barely make it through the day,…
Ten days ago, two teachers in South Carolina were dismissed for giving a student an award for being “Most Likely to Not Pay Attention.” The student has ADHD. The two teachers were dismissed once school officials were…
I remember waking up after the effects of the anesthesia to hear the glorious words, “You have a daughter, she is fine.” But while other mothers were joined by cute little facsimiles around the clock, I was not.…
Today is Grandma day. A day I look forward to all week. A day when I start smiling and don’t stop till I drop the kids off back home. And I don’t mean the kind of smile I…
I used to be hardly here. Let me explain. Since I've lost so many loved ones, I made a decision. Okay, I’ll be here, but I won’t enjoy myself. God wants us to live, not merely exist. Enmeshment…
Hooking up with Lisa Jo Baker for Five Minute Friday. Prompt: ordinary I’ve seen you before. I’ve looked into your eyes when you’ve looked away. I see your hurt. But I want to tell you something. You matter. You…
Oops, I did it again. I can tell by your flinch that I’ve poked you. It wasn’t my intent. My closet must be full. The one I stuff my emotions in. When I don’t deal with my emotions,…
We were almost there. It had been a while since we saw the whole family. With my writing assignments and my husband’s job, busyness kept us from the get-togethers. But it all fell into place this year. We…
(Five minute Friday ) We were on our way home. We had just finished a retreat with Willow Creek, where I was able to do a poetry workshop. Then I sold pieces of my poetry. We made $1250.00 for…
(Five minute Friday) Sitting in desperation I gave in to dark thoughts of what her last moments would have been. The images were tormenting me. I knew their source. Still, in the midst of it I couldn’t seem…
(Five minute Friday) Time for Five minute Friday, linking with Lisa Jo Baker. Write for five minutes. Post without editing. Prompt: beautiful “Isn’t she Beautiful?” he asked me. Honestly, I wondered if we were looking at the same baby?…
Your loved one has died. The shock wears off and there are arrangements to be made, people to call. And in between, you ask yourself if it’s real. Grief comes and makes himself comfortable in your life. And…
“Mom’s calling you,” my 18-year old brother said. “No she’s not,” I answered. What did he know? I had just spoken to my mom two minutes ago. Gus and I often played that game. But I was disgusted…
“Your husband is having a heart attack,” the ER nurse says. I watch Mike’s breaths get shorter and shorter. “He is not!” I want to scream back. But instead, I sit here watching. After all, he was in…
Anyone who calls suicide a decision clearly doesn’t understand all that it entails. We are complex human beings. More goes on below the surface than we can even comprehend. More and more, we hear about people taking their…
Not long ago we celebrated Olivia Jane's life. White balloons were released. Before I released mine, I kissed it. Livie Although you were so little, you taught us many things, like living in the present so…
No one likes pain. But it is a necessary part of life. And loss is one of the most excruciating pains. But we can have this confidence which helps us when we experience pain. When our hearts are…
I am a published author. I couldn't always say that. Although I had published 25 articles with Christianity Today and Today’s Christian Women, and I had 42 published Bible studies as well, I couldn’t say the words: “I…
I remember when I was a people pleaser. Okay, I am still a people pleaser to a degree, but I remember when I was worse. Much, much worse. When you come from a dysfunctional family you adopt ways…