My Brothers #25
I have 2 brothers and they both have birthdays in June. My brother Jonathan turned 60 this week and David turned 58. Growing up they shared a room and they had some of the same comparison and squabbles, jealousies and issues that my sister and I did. I am sometimes startled at how much my…
My Sister #24
What can I say about my sister that I have not already shared?! Today is her anniversary – married to Chris for longer than I was married to Jim. Since the Friday posts are about my family memories, I will share a few about my sweet sister. First of all she is creative, beautiful and…
Father Friday #23
With Father’s day coming on Sunday, I cannot help but think about dads. My dad. Jim’s dad. Jim. I think I will share a memory of each, Jim’s dad was a #7 out of 9 children. He was smart and resourceful. Raised in southern California, Lionel was an eagle scout, served in the Navy during…
Books #22
I grew up in a home that valued learning. One of the ways was this was evidenced was by the vast number of bookshelves filled with books, often double deep and sagging middles due to the weight of all the volumes. Books and magazines were often overwhelming coffee tables, sofa cushions and more. You might…
Happy One year Anniversary C & A!
June 4, 2023. One year! Dear Clayton and Amanda – The farther I get from being married the less I feel I can give advice. It feels irrelevant and yet I remember so much that I learned by being married to your dad. You have one year down and many more to go! Perhaps you…
Church Families #20
My parents are not from California and so when we migrated west we were far away from people who shared our DNA. We did maintain relationships with our southern roots and our family on the east coast as we made regular treks to visit them (the added bonus was learning about the country by traveling…
Family Fridays #19 Aunts
Does anyone else out there have one of “those” aunts?! There are all kinds of aunts, of course, but I am referring to the kind of aunt that pinches your cheeks, squeezes you tight or give little tickles. The kind that buys you books and teaches you things such as how to bake or create…
Mother’s Day 2024
Today I was asked an interesting question by my daughter in love. “What do you like about being a mom?” Of course what I love is not being “A” mom but who I get to mother! I love being Clayton and Emily’s mom! They are the 2 amazing people God gave Jim and I to…
Family Friday #18 Bloom where you are planted
I am “home” but I don’t feel home really. I am sure it has to do with the perpetual state of couch surfing without a space to call my own. I don’t have access to my stuff and no privacy really. This is not a complaint – just an observation. And yet I continue to…
Family Fridays #16 & 17
I was in Europe for April 26 & May 3 This is what I wrote in my journal April 26 – I see people traveling as couples and families, people of all ages and nationalities. I hear a variety of languages and many types of bags, jackets and modes of transportation. I wonder what drew…