31 Flavors of MLEEEE
I am so fortunate that I get to call this girl mine. She is the most creative, thoughtful and silly girl I know. People often ask what my favorite flavor of ice cream is – I have several. Like ice cream, my girl is full of sweetness and no matter what memory I have, I…
6.4.23 Wedding Day Toast of Gratitude
Clayton and Amanda, here we are on your wedding day celebrating! Let me start with a few words of gratitude: Jennifer, thank you for such a godly young woman. You’ve raised her well as a woman of honor and one of many passions and one love. Yes, I prayed for her and for you for…
A Marriage Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, We are grateful for the way your Spirit moves in our lives and directs our every step. Thank you for the ways you have created Clayton and Amanda and brought them together. Thank you for the homes they came from, the love they experienced there, the principles they were taught there, their…
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…