My blessed mother-in-law started talking about her funeral somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 years ago so we "kids" became accustomed to nodding and smiling and "mmhmming" when that inevitable topic came up. Now we're all sitting around on couches holding cups of cold coffee staring blankly at each other wondering what to do because … Continue reading Beulah Land and Betty Lou
The Death of Roy
My friend Roy died of cancer when I was 14. He was 16. There was a funeral at the United Methodist Church and all of us teens who were in the youth group with him sat together and cried in varying degrees, dealing with wretched emotions as our young years both allowed and forced us … Continue reading The Death of Roy
We Shout Out Hooray
In the quest for the shortest blog post ever, this one will most likely qualify. First, let me show you a photo of the first page of my planning notebook where I copied these verses about six months ago. It was a dark time, friends. Not a time without hope. But pretty cloudy. Today I … Continue reading We Shout Out Hooray
A Thousand Little Dots
Her name was Betty Ruth Flynt but I called her Barf. You can't buy good friends like that--ones who will lovingly call you, "Barf." I figured since I was not allowed to utter the middle name "Ruth," that "Barf" was the next best choice as her initials were just asking for it. Junior High. What … Continue reading A Thousand Little Dots
The Year (Day) to the Left of Sixty
Twenty-something years ago I started writing a series of short essays/devotionals which were to be compiled into a book titled, "The Year to the Left of Forty." They're still in my desk file drawer with a couple of additions and a scratched-in retitle -- yes, you guessed it -- "The Year to the Left of … Continue reading The Year (Day) to the Left of Sixty
83651
I love it here. The June sun is so bright on our western-facing house that in the late afternoon it's nearly impossible to see the face of the person standing on our front porch when I answer the doorbell. There is often a breeze floating through and when it turns to wind it powers across … Continue reading 83651
Small
A while back there was a meeting called. It required one free day without rain, a semi organized plan, and the motivation to not chicken out. Location: Where the Pacific Meets the Shore Participants: Sovereign Creator God and Me Agenda: I. Sitting Still II. A Little Nostalgia III. Scenery IV. Perspective If you are familiar … Continue reading Small
All the Apple Pies
Even a brand new S.O.S. pad can have trouble scrubbing off certain greebage (a wonderful word coined by my beloved) from oven racks. The baked-on crud doesn't want to give up. I am woman though. Hear me roar. In classic early morning style, as I bent over the kitchen sink at 4:45 a.m. doing chores … Continue reading All the Apple Pies
Trees of Life
To plant a tree is to begin a memory. I'm a big believer in the power of growing plants along with growing the family. A measure of a kid or two or three or four can be marked right along with the rings of a tree I've left here and there across our pathway. And … Continue reading Trees of Life
Turbulence, T-Shirt Tags, and Trains
International air travel. An acquired taste. The few places I've ventured to out of my home country can be counted on one hand -- at least I think they can. Let's see. England, Scotland, France, Monaco, Italy, Ukraine, and Ecuador. Oh, wait. Mexico and Canada. And I did not fly to those two. And clearly … Continue reading Turbulence, T-Shirt Tags, and Trains
Beyond Lashley Lane 