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, …
2 years
Dear Clayton and Amanda – It is only 2 years in but it is already hard for me to remember the life before you were married! The work that you have put in and the relationship you continue to forge is a sweet thing to observe. I would remind you that the marriage is best…
Tenacity
I wish I could add pictures to the definitions of some words in the dictionary. If I could I one to tenacity it would be a picture of Emily in her cap and gown. When Emily graduated from high school and started at Biola in 2011, Jim had not been dead very long. Not only…
Pops Concert 2025
In the fall of 1977, when I started as a freshman at Biola, my dad told Mr. Lutke that I played clarinet. Mr. Lutke persistently called me until I would give him an audition and a promise to give the band a try. If I had not joined, I would never have met Jim nor…
The Next Steps
3 Weeks ago, my mom fell getting out of her recliner as her feet got tangled up. She fractured her pelvis and spent the next weeks in the hospital and rehab. She is now at home, and we have ordered a pendant with fall detection as well as other safety items for a senior. The…
10 years Ago!
April 11, 2015 is the day that my daughter married. Since that day they have had ups and downs and, in my opinion, more downs than are reasonable. They have persevered in all that bad “weather”. They love each other more now than they did when they began. I made Connor promise to never give…
Linda Lee 4/2/25
On May 17th we gathered as a family to honor Linda so I amended what I already wrote for the time with our family. It is my job and my honor to offer us comfort, instill hope and remind us that God is still good. We gather and our hearts are broken wide open. I…
Happy Birthday Mom! #90
Today my mom is 90 years old. 32,850 days. 788,400 hours. 47,304,000 +/- minutes. 1 faithful husband. 4 amazing children + 4 spouses. 10 brilliant grandchildren+ 5 grand-spouses. countless friends. lots of travel. a plethora of pies. many meals. several million stitches sewn. Today is a truly remarkable milestone – Mom’s 90th birthday! It is…
Answered prayers of a Contented mom
It is so curious that I did not want to be a parent but it became the single most value of my whole life. It is, by far, the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life apart from letting go of my mate. I was so afraid of it and I did…