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…
Clay at 25
Some things don’t seem possible. Today is one of them! Why? Because it is hard to believe you are already a quarter of a century! Your dad would have been so proud of the man you have become. When Emily turned 25 I gave her a 25 pun salute! Here is the Clay version for…
31 Flavors of Connor
How is it possible that you have hit your thirties and have been my son-in-love for 6 years?! I am blessed to have you in our family and I want to wish you a happy birthday! This has been a rough year. I am so sorry for all the pain and struggle you have had,…
Seeing in the Dark
I will admit that I used to be afraid of the dark. I wasn’t afraid in my room under the covers with the lights out but I was often spooked in a dark hall or walking home from a babysitting job late; it was really a combination of the eerie quiet, reading too many Nancy…
My Beautiful Daughter
Dear Em, This has been a weird season but the best part for me has been the few months we have been under the same roof again. I am sorry, not sorry, for the turn of events that left you jobless and homeless. I am sorry you both have gone through so much trauma and…
24 is Pure Gold!
Today, Clay, you are 24 years old. Kobe’s number! How is this possible?! You are the same age your dad was when I married him. He seemed older than you feel to me. Perspective is interesting isn’t it?! I wonder at what I can say to you today that would be even be close to…
30 is the Next decade!
XXX is a turkey in bowling. It is the number of days in most months. It is the age that Jesus started his public ministry. Abraham Lincoln said that a man should not make any serious decisions until he is 30. Well, Connor, it is too late for that philosophy, since you have already chosen…
Letter to my future self
So I finally found a copy of a letter I wrote to myself quite a long time ago. Now I am 60 so it is interesting to compare how life IS versus what I imagined and hoped it would be. Dear 60 year old Miriam (2019), If you are reading this, you have managed to…
Impossible
Emily! How is it possible that you are 27 years old?! You are a game-changer, mother-maker, jazz singer. worship leader. big sister, art lover. shoe painter. talented, Disney lover, Christ follower, daddy’s girl, kind friend, and my only daughter. There are not enough words to express who you are and how much I love you.…