Hearing the frustration in the young woman's voice as she tried to comfort and reassure her confused, dying father, reminded me of days so many years ago, though the years seem at times like only weeks. She was doing some sort of work on her laptop while her father was lying in bed, confused, trying to get out every few minutes, and interrupting her often. I couldn't help but remember back when Dad became confused. I wanted to hug her. I wanted to reassure her. I wanted to tell her that everything is going to be okay. But that would be a lie. He is going to die. She knows it, and so do I. So, how do I comfort her? Finally, I just felt the nudge to walk over, stoop over, and whisper to her that I had just 10 years ago lived through this with my Dad. Once I acknowledged her ... View Post
Doing The Right Thing
I've thought of my Dad in the past two to three days more often than usual, and even last night as I went to bed, was just missing him so much. This morning when I opened the cupboard for my favorite coffee cup, this one - though always in the same spot each morning, caught my eye, and again I was reminded of Dad. I had to grin, and have a little giggle. My sons had gotten it at a second-hand store for their Papa, who would always ask for "just a half cup of coffee." They were little then, and couldn't wait to surprise him with it and make him laugh EVERY time he came over. And, each time, Papa would pretend to be surprised, and laugh all over again, just for them. Dad had the best laugh, the best grin, the silliest sense of humor, and charmed anyone within 100 feet of him. ... View Post
About My Inheritance
"Robin Williams' Daughter Speaks Out as Estate Fight Heads for Mediation" Those were the headlines I first read this morning after a long, much-needed 10-hour sleep. I sat back on the couch as I read, and it just made me sad...... All of that fighting - over a bunch of "stuff." I once cared for a woman whose daughters could not get to the hospital in time for her death, and she was too uncomfortable to fight long enough to wait. I'll never forget it. She spoke one word at a time to myself and another gal, in between fighting just to breathe. She was able to write down on a napkin a message she wanted us to give her daughters, indicating which of them would inherit her ruby necklace and which would receive her diamond earrings. When the daughters arrived, they ran to their ... View Post
The Wisdom Box
Turning the page to Proverbs 22, "The Solid Joy of Friendship," article by Dr. Charles Stanley fell out. This happens often - that is, papers falling out of my Bible. You see, it was while visiting his church in Atlanta, Georgia, where Charles Stanley shared something he had done for years. I still have my notes from that sermon. He said to "tuck away" meaningful treasures - Encouraging notes from friends, notes from our children & family, favorite family recipes, and he said not to be afraid to write of cherished memories in the borders. Some day, our Bibles would become treasures for the generations following. I loved that idea, and couldn't wait to begin tucking away my memories in between the pages of my Bible. This morning, as I was looking forward to meeting my ... View Post
Jonathan – The “Hands & Wheels” of Jesus
Throwing the change from my pockets in the Salvation Army bucket on the way out of Kroger's usually makes me feel..... Well pretty good (about mySELF). Writing checks to good causes makes me feel even BETTER about mySELF. And the photos of mySELF surrounded by special needs children (especially those of a different race/color than my own), on a mission trip I attended, will SOME day make it into a scrap book, so that my grandchildren will someday know what a great "servant" their Grandma was. I didn't realize how PROUD of myself I was until a couple of months ago. That's when I "served" (oh, there I go again!) on a Prayer Team at the Passion Conference in Atlanta, with a young man named Jonathan. We were often on different shifts, and so most of our prayers together were said as we ... View Post
Fiddle Music & the Lump in My Throat
It's March 15, two days before St. Patrick's Day - A day with hundreds of memories attached to it for me. I promised Irish bread to my co-workers in the morning. I don't feel like making it. It's a LOT of work this late at night. Oh, how my Dad loved Irish bread - Really called, "Bonach," which I am likely spelling wrong, but it's the Gaelic word for the bread that my grandmother made back in Antigonish, Nova Scotia - A staple in the house around this time of year. Today was also the St. Patrick's Day parade down in Corktown. I have many years of memories as a child, and again as an adult, walking AND dancing in the parade, and performing at the Gaelic League in Detroit. And years and years of traveling from event to event on March 17 to perform. Oh, how I LOVED to ... View Post
I Just Wanna Play “Duck, Duck, Goose!”
Getting to Ashcroft Elementary School early to play a game of "Duck, Duck, Goose!" before my kindergarten class meant that my brother also had to get to school early. Knowing how much this meant to me, my mother made it happen. My brother Larry remarked one day as I was getting out of the car, "Did you know - You walk like a penguin?" I've laughed about that for years, as I oh-so-carefully navigate my footsteps across the often icy sidewalk to my car. I am extra careful, and yes, I do waddle a bit like a penguin. But I really don't care - I just don't want to fall. But this always brings back the memory of that day, and of my brother tolerating my social need of a good game of "Duck! Duck! Goose!" before class. Summer evenings we would return to Ashcroft, where my brother would ... View Post
Old MacDonald Meatloaf
Ingredients: 2 pounds ground sirloin 1 cup stovetop stuffing uncooked 1 egg finely chopped, 1 small vidalia onion 1 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper 5 T ketchup 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream Sauce 4 T apple cider vinegar 4 T brown sugar 1/2 cup ketchup Combine all meatloaf ingredients, and pack it in a Bundt pan. Bake about an hour, or until done, at 350 degrees, uncovered. Reverse it onto a pretty dish, leaving room around the sides. Drizzle the sauce over the top. I made mine with mashed red skin potatoes, which I scooped into the middle of the meathloaf! Then I put roasted brussel sprouts around it. It was very pretty and was honestly the best meatloaf I have EVER eaten!!!! ... View Post