Tested Hope
After Jim passed, I had a very difficult time in corporate worship. I could hear Jim’s voice echoing in my memory as we sang, prayed and heard the proclamation of God’s Word. Sixteen years later and it is hard to remember as the sound waves of his voice have diminished. Yet I still have hope…
Pebbles and sandcastles – An answer to Kellen
This week “my” team took me to lunch since I am stepping away from being their admin. Some might call it retirement. Not since the word widow first became one of my descriptors have I been so adverse to a term used to define my current status. But – That is another topic for another…
Aunt Patricia
We all have acquaintance with grief at some level. It is never over; it just continues to add layers to daily life. My Aunt Patricia made it safely home to heaven this week. While I will miss her all the rest of my life, I rejoice that she is whole again and in her forever…
My Friend Bill
What feels like a long time ago – and it was – we moved to Scottsdale and joined in ministry with a family of believers known as First Baptist Church of Scottsdale. We were privileged to know, befriend and love many new people, some for a season and others for a lifetime. Some we led…
Fifteen yrs ago – the Last Time –
They say that a person is not really gone until no one remembers them any longer; when someone leaves earth some part of them remains and their memory is left behind for their loved ones to hold on to. (Think Pixar’s Coco). I have worked hard to remember Jim and keep his memory alive so…
When you wrote your name of my heart!
So I did a thing. Not a big deal and I am even unsure if I will keep this post up telling about it. There are so many opinions about this topic and I do not want to be part of the conversation about whether or not it is “okay” or not. Backing up, I…
Remembered and Celebrated
I am not one who typically dwells on the past nostalgically. I have never gone to one of my high school reunions and I do not make scrapbooks. While I love sharing memories and looking at pictures, I choose not to live life looking in the rearview mirror often. I am not saying that nostalgia…
Chicago 2025
When Jim died we made the decision to honor his life and not his death. It seems a moot point since he died 3 days before his birthday but that is not my point. The only death we want to commemorate in an ongoing way is that of Jesus. We decided 5 years ago, however, …
Imagining a Life
I love the Pixar movie Coco and the focus on remembering. Telling stories, sharing memories and passing on traditions is what creates the power of family. It connects us to each other and keeps the bond with those who have died alive. I recently heard a statistic that says we usually remember only and up…
There is a time for everything!
Today on my calendar is the birthday of my friend Lorraine who I have not seen in a “long” time. I imagine that if we got together, we would pick back up in the middle of a conversation like no time had passed and we would not stop talking until we fell asleep mid-sentence. I…