Between a Rock and a Hard Place
We are studying Genesis at church and when I get to the place where Jacob is fleeing for his life after stealing Esau’s birthright and blessing, I am always reminded of the worst night of my life – 11/5/10 when Jim left earth for heaven and I had my own dark night of the soul.…
Joy is not afraid of the Truth
The brief and frequent glimpses of happiness and joy I have tell me that I am loved. That there is something to why I am. This life is short and the next one is not. This life is hard and messy but it is also good and filled with hope. The harsh reality is that…
Using the W word
I am thinking about the day we celebrated Jim in a memorial service on this date in 2010. We had music, balloons, laffy taffy, people from every part of his life and more. It was a “good” day. He was worth celebrating and remembering. I hate the term widow. I don’t know why, but I…
Jim’s Birthday
Not a day goes by that I don’t think about Jim; he is tattooed onto my soul with indelible ink. I remember things about him that I admired, his wisdom and thoughtfulness, his quick wit, the soft kiss at the start and end of each day. He never left the house without a magic trick…
Loss
Eleven years ago today, my husband of 30 years, my best friend, the father of my children and a very creative minister left this life for a better one. Over the years he has continued to impact lives for the better by the memories shared of him and I continue to count it a privilege…
Eighty-Eight
I remember a book written in 1988 titled “88 Reasons why the Rapture will happen in 1988”. The sequel came out the following year! There are 88 keys on a piano. It means hugs and kisses in morse code. King Rehoboam had 88 kids. There are other not so nice meanings attached to this number…
My grown up Wish list
So with my birthday coming I am often asked what I “want”. In a season where I am purging and parting with many “treasures” it is hard to come up with something new! I have more than my fair share. And with the pandemic I really don’t want to go anywhere too people-y. My kids…
Emily at 29
Every year I scramble to think of something “new” to write to you on your birthday, but in reality I just reword the same thing every time – I love you and I want the best for you. So, here I go again… Every day since you were given by the Lord to me and…
Forty One
Dear Jim, Today marks the day we said, “I do”. Forty-One. It was a long time ago, …but not really. I have remembered that day for 11 years without you,… but not really. You continue to find me in my dreams. You continue to show up in my daily speech. You smile at me from…
Moments for a lifetime
Dear Kelsey, I didn’t think I would be writing this farewell again so soon, but life happens differently than we expect and God has called you away from Fullerton Free Staff. In one sense, I could say the same things as I did 4 years ago all over again and it would still apply (see…