Dear "Younger-than-Me" or "Soon-to-be" Moms, Tonight, I sat back here at my home, listening to my son Rory tell stories about his childhood, and some of the mischievous adventures he and his friends kept secret, until tonight. He called his brother, Ian, his very best friend. I heard my soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Holly, tell intimate details of why she loves and chose each of her bridesmaids. Everyone had something to share - A story, a memory, or what they meant to each other. At the end of the evening, we made a short video to send to Rory's 2nd and 3rd grade teacher - with 2 of the groomsmen, and Rory. Time literally FLIES by. It does. And as my evening comes to an end, and all have left the house - I'm left to sit and reminisce of an evening that, quite possibly, may have ... View Post
From the “Mother of the Groom”
I woke this morning to the sound of thunder. No, not the Bob Seger song. Noise - In the kitchen. Rory. He's a noisy kid. Oh, and he's messy too. There is "stuff" scattered, everywhere. All the time. But I loved that we sat and chatted for a while before he took off. I love those chats. I'll miss those chats. A lot. After he left, I sat in my room and prayed, because today begins the festivities. Rehearsal at 6 p.m., dinner following at our house. It's going to get crazy. He's out enjoying the day with his bride. And THAT is just where he SHOULD be. But while I was praying, there was the startling sound of glass SHATTERING. My heart raced, and I ran downstairs to see what had happened. My favorite coffee cup - broken in a gazillion pieces all over my kitchen ... View Post
What’s Rolling Off Your Tongue?
Glancing into my rear view mirror, it seems as though every car is too close now. The rear-end collision I was in just 72 hours ago, has done a number on my nerves while tolling around town. All too often, and most times unnecessarily, my heart rate goes up, and my stomach is in knots, as I seem to catch glances of cars that are about to hit me - Except, in reality - they are not anywhere CLOSE to hitting me. I was thinking about that today - How amazing it is that my brain remembers that little rear-end collision. But it does. My brain DOES remember! My brain remembers physical trauma, so well that, the "threat threshold" has been lowered and I feel as if I am in danger, when in fact, I am not......In case of mental trauma or drug addiction we can visit experts from ... View Post
Who Matters To You?
I was rear-ended today on my way to a funeral. And my back is killing me as a result of that rear-end collision, so I will keep this short and to the point so that I can go lay down! The details of the accident, I'll get to. The most amazing things about the entire day, were the conversations that took place. Once we got on the freeway, a popular subject came up - My son's upcoming wedding, only 7 days away now. Soon after that, we were discussing the funeral we were on our way to. Then, we just laughed about how happy and joyous events bring out the worst in us sometimes, and tend to bring out all of the family dysfunctions - And the most sad times in our lives bring out the best in us, and seem to unite family. Seems backwards if you ask me. Then, somehow we landed and ... View Post
New Babies & Rock Collections
Ever feel like God doesn't care about your desires? You know, the things you dream about, those things that mean the very most to you? Maybe a healed relationship, or a career change, a new home, or a mate? Perhaps even a family, or a baby? I have. There was a broken-hearted time in my life when I just needed an answer to the question "Why, God?" He waited 12 years to answer me. But He answered! I would not want to re-live that broken heart again, but I sure do love how His plans worked out! Another time, when my son was applying to colleges, every door he attempted to walk through slammed shut. But the Lord directed his steps to His much greater plan, which he is currently walking in. We haven't seen all that God is up to in that, but we are certainly enjoying watching ... View Post
Resting in The Storm
Just a few days ago, I dropped my youngest son, Ian, off at college in Chicago. It was an emotional goodbye following a prayer service that found all of us parents choked up and in tears. Ian walked swiftly down the street waving and yelling goodbye as I snapped photos of him from the car (and yes, holding the steering wheel at the same time). Someone behind me blew his horn. I was apparently going too slow. But I really didn't care. I wanted one more glimpse of my smiling college student son...... And then I began navigating my way alone through the city of Chicago, trying to follow the directions he had given me to find the correct interstate. There were too many one-way streets, but I only made one wrong turn, eventually finding my way in the right direction AND on the right ... View Post
By Their Love
"And they'll know we are Christians, by our love, by our love. Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love!" That was one of my favorite hymms when I was growing up. I was always disappointed when the choir director, always in a hurry to finish, would stop after just one verse, and not sing the next few. Even at a young age, I found the words powerful, though I didn't quite understand why until years later - Years later when I met the person that song was written about. Or at least - I'd like to think so. A few years ago, I sat in the same row every week at church - Week after week after week. And so did the lady with the Vera Bradley bag. Our friendship began with a mutual, what we like to call a "borderline obsession" with purses - specifically, Vera Bradley purses! We ... View Post
Now What?
Only a mile away from home this morning, on my way into work, I remembered a time years ago when I was very, very angry at my son Rory for accidentally throwing out a $250 pair of Irish dance shoes that I had flown to Chicago to have custom fitted just for MY feet. It was just a pair of shoes. I was way, way over angry. Tears started welling up, and almost uncontrollably I began crying, and called my son to apologize for how angry I was that evening. He must have thought I was nuts. "It must be my hormones," I thought - Or maybe it was because yesterday I thought often throughout the day about my friend Cheryl losing her 17-year-old son in a car accident. But on my way HOME from work, I received a text from my younger son, Ian, that he and his brother were at the show seeing a ... View Post