Like everyone else, my life has been a series of seasons. I'm not talking about spring, summer, winter, and fall, either. I'm talking about childhood, young adult, single, married, and then divorced. Even those are pretty vague descriptions of the seasons I've lived through, but a more accurate list would be pretty lengthy, and I don't want to bore you to death. I was asked this morning in a group of women of all different ages and stages of life, how I would answer Jesus if He asked me what I wanted. I laughed. In the past several seasons of my life, I would definitely have answered that question differently than I might right now - in this season, that is. Ask me again in six months because the truth is, it might change again. And that's okay. I'm sitting here tonight on the ... View Post
More Than Birds
Growing up, I remember my Dad taking every overtime opportunity he could get to make a little extra money. When he became sick, my Mom took a job to carry the insurance, and the two of them modeled a work ethic which is hardly seen today, but I'd like to believe it was inherited by my brother, sister, and I. My parents made sure we never went without. Years later when I became a single mom, Rory was two and I was pregnant with Ian, and I worried how in the world I was going to make it. I waitressed a couple of days a week until I could finish school, and then I worked from home doing medical transcription for many years before becoming an RN. I typed every extra report I could listen to. I'd get up at 4 a.m. and transcribe until the kids went to school, and when the reports ran out, I'd ... View Post
Communion & Cigarettes
It seems as if I have two speeds - the first being still, quiet, & alone, and the second go-go-go. And my go-to friend for when I want to go-go-go is Joyce. It doesn't matter what adventure I dream up - dirt roads in the middle of nowhere, whiskey distillery visits, sneaking in churches to use the bathroom, hiding in a confessional (for the record - Joyce did that, not me!), visiting new restaurants, or attending Mexican-Irish parties, Joyce is always ready and willing to jump in the car and just take off to anywhere. "I've got the smokes & the communion!" is her line. Candy cigarettes that is, and Necco candy for pretend communion. I'm certain everyone thinks we're nuts (and soooo immature) when we post our photos. But the history behind our cigarettes & communion began ... View Post
In This Storm
I have a couple of really sweet girlfriends who both live in different states than me. Every few months, Sarah in Atlanta arranges a "Go To" meeting so the three of us can see each other's faces, and not just hear one another's voices. We make a point of it to attend The Gospel Coalition for Women Conference together in Indianapolis every other year, and we have an incredible time of fellowship. But I missed the last one because a few days prior, I was hospitalized for my very first episode of atrial fibrillation, or more commonly known as "A-fib." So it's now been way too long since I've seen Ruth, who lives in Indianapolis. Sarah and I were able to connect a couple of times this summer when she and her hubby Mike came to Michigan. Both times we ate ... View Post
Table after Table, After Table
I'm sitting here cuddled up on the couch tonight all by myself, enjoying the quiet, and looking at the kitchen table I love so much. Life has always happened around it. Life just looks a lot different these days. Seasons - they change. The table cloth is hanging way too low on one side - the side where I last sat this morning. And there are a few crumbs left there too. (I love a good English muffin with jam). My planner is spread out at one of the other settings, where this evening I made some tentative plans to attend a hockey game soon and plans to meet up with two new special friends, penciled in a pizza night with my grandkids and some friends, and a musical with Dave & Jean. I really should shake out that table cloth and throw it in the washer. My Dad's cap hangs on ... View Post
My Baby Boomer Pledge & 2 Spaces After a Period
The week that my Dad died, I remember sitting down on the bottom step of the stairs at my home, and calling an old friend, one who knew my Dad during our childhood. She was someone I kept in touch with for decades, and we knew each others families growing up. I believed that she would want to know my Dad died. I still think she would have wanted to know. But from the time she answered the phone, until the time that she ended our call because she had to get back to what she was doing when I phoned her, I listened. I listened to her tell me all about what was going on in her life, how the kids were, how her career was progressing, her marriage, and everything in between. Then she very kindly thanked me for calling, and we hung up. I never got to tell her that my Dad died. And I ... View Post
Bartlesville, Buffalo, & Jesus
Once upon a time... I'm always tempted when I start telling old stories to begin by saying that, and this time, I'm doing it. Maybe I'll do it from now on. Yeah, I think I will. Where was I? Ah yes. Once upon a time. I believe it was January 2018. I was sitting on my couch, my neighbor was over visiting, and I was trying to figure out something to do on my week of vacation days I had taken off that upcoming February, just one month away. I had plenty of out-of-state friends I could visit. My son lived in Chicago at the time. I could have gone there. There were several options, but I wanted to do something I hadn't done, or go some place I hadn't gone. And then it came to me. Voice of the Martyrs. Seriously, it just came to me. Voice of the Martyrs. I wondered if ... View Post
Boogers, Bad Hair, & Dispicable Behavior
An old friend once told me that while taking a client out to lunch, his client asked if it would be okay if he prayed before they ate. Mark was fine with it, and before you know it, his client was thanking God for Mark. It puzzled him a bit, because Mark was used to the same old memorized prayer he'd prayed for years, and so it also made a huge impact on him - big enough that he thought about it a lot, and remembered it for a long time. Years later, it would become part of his testimony as the catalyst in his journey to becoming a Christian. Mark sharing this made an impact on me, too. So now, I like to pray for whoever I'm meeting or eating with. It's that ripple effect, ya know? My son once told me that he had lunch with a professor from his college days. Once they sat down ... View Post