June 3rd , 2023 Thoughts for my Son on the eve of His Wedding
Clayton, soon after your dad died, I started a blog to keep saying all the unspoken things, not leaving my thoughts and feelings stranded in my heart. Our lives are stories, letters and words to others and sometimes by sharing them we grow our love. What would I want to say on such a day…
Vanessa & Drew April 28th
Is life a fairy tale? I am not so sure how to answer this or if there is an answer as it seems complicated, but I do think fairy tales are best when they are true. This one I am about to share is one that is mostly true. Once upon a time there was…
Amanda’s Shower Advice
Dear (Clayton &) Amanda – “What marriage advice would you share?” I always think this is a weird question because it reduces the most important relationship down to a quick response… I don’t like to give such a thin answer to such a weighty subject. Marriage is our most layered and complex of relationships and…
Easter 2023
Today is Friday. Fridays have become a good day because I switched my role as minister to worker bee and now have a weekend to rest, play and get chores done. This Friday is extra special because it is God’s Friday around the world as we remember the work of Christ on the cross. Can…
A Pie for every state
Today is Pi Day (3.14) and we did have pie to celebrate. It is the perfect food group. Think about it. Everything from savory to sweet, from pizza to quiche to hand held and frozen. It can be created with many crusts and fillings and eaten at every meal! When my dad was a chemist…
Mom at 88
Today my mom has a birthday. If you know my mom you know it will be a day filled with friends, eating out and strawberries in some fashion. This is her first birthday without my dad. She will busy and well loved but there will be an ache; I know I have been there. Moms…
Clayton Happy Birthday #27
I know that every parent feels this way, but what happened to time?! I remember the day you were born and it was about now that I finally held you. It seems not so long ago that you were my little boy and I was taking care of you every day. Now those days are…
Connor Happy Birthday #33
Today is your birthday! I hope it is good but that it is followed by an amazing year of God’s favor and a few good breaks. The past few years – actually most of the years I have known you – you have been pushed to the margins and not been treated well by any…
MLV 60
I don’t want this blog to become a big birthday card but the milestones and family need to be recognized. My sister joins the next decade today. No one has endured my nonsense longer with such intimacy and angst as this one person. Yes I do have relatives and friends I have known longer than…
I remember you!
Today is a dear friend’s birthday though she may have trouble remembering it. She has dementia. This intelligent, eloquent and gifted person who loved to learn and study can no longer even speak in a way that makes sense. All diseases are bad but the loss of memory is the death of relationship and the…