Gratitude List 2024
Every November I list things for which I am thankful. It is only 30 things and there are more that could be listed. It is not exhaustive, of course. A list of anything can never be fully quantified or complete. It is a practice that Jim and I started when we were first married. We…
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…
What’s so magical about 65?
What is old age? When does it start? 90 years ago FDR decided it was to be 65. The thing is that I think old age is just ahead of whatever age you are. I also think that it is somewhat an attitude or an outlook. I know some people in their 90’s and they…
A new Perspective on Old Age
In last week’s news it was discovered that people do not age gradually. There is a big jump at 44 and another at age 60. So I guess that in anticipation of this “big” event on Thursday, the next number is over rated and I have been on the downhill slide for 5 years! Who…
32 Years of my favorite Girl
32 years ago, I met a girl. As I got to know her, I realized this was not going to be an ordinary relationship. She needed me and I needed her but for very different reasons. She needed me to feed her, clothe her, keep her safe and show her the beauty of the world…
Family Friday #12: Holy Friday
Every Good Friday I am reminded of 2 sermons – one by Dr. Bob Brouwer on Judas and one by Dr. Tony Campolo on the Eternal Now. I cannot begin to summarize the totality of these sermons in one post but I will say that they were significant enough in my growing faith that their…
Happy #28 Clayton
Clayton, I remember the day you were born so well. A lot of time has passed since that day and there have been many adventures and hardships inbetween, but today I celebrate the man that is you. I remember many of your birthday celebrations. Many of them included snow and even blizzard conditions (Funny how…
Happy #34 Connor
Dear Connor, How is it possible that you are in your thirties? How is it possible that you have been my son-in-love for 9 years already? Time sure has gone by fast. In fact, time is like a roll of toilet paper that unrolls faster and faster the closer it gets to the end of…
Family Friday #7 – Our First Christmas
Our first Christmas together was 1979 when Jim stayed with us and asked my dad if he could marry me. That is another story documented somewhere else in this blog. But, Christmas 1980 was our first as husband and wife. There are many things I remember about that specific Christmas but also about our intentionality…
Happy 25 Amanda
Dear Amanda, I know you’re my only daughter-in-law, but you’re still my favorite! Though you weren’t born into our family, you were born to be part of it and I feel like I got a great gift when Clayton chose you as his life partner. One quarter of a century. One fourth of “my kids”.…