It seemed like a good idea at the time. My husband and I have been in our current home for four years, along with five teenagers, their 1,321 friends, and three dogs. When we moved to this house, the carpet was near white-ish with little, colorful flecks dotted about. Note: the carpet had been white-ish […]
Category: Grief/Encouragement
What If . . .
I used my pinky fingers to drive home from a two-day conference because the temperature of the sunbaked steering wheel was blistering hot. The conference theme was based on a treatment model for those with neurological and/or autism spectrum disorders. While trying not to melt, I mentally reviewed the information I had learned at the […]
Every Second Counts
My son Jon was 9 years old at the time, and we were returning from a doctor’s appointment I will never forget. In the previous three weeks, Jon had regressed so significantly that he could not go to school. All the tests came back unexplainably abnormal. The appointment lasted two grim hours. We left with […]
The Class You Can’t Miss
It was a full house. Parents, students, teachers, and tutors had prepared a day to celebrate students in the summer art class. The students attended classes once a week for six weeks and learned about famous artists such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Claude Monet. Then the students sat at […]
Those In-Between Days
While reading some Old Testament stories the other day, I began to wonder about the days, months, seasons, and years that passed which were not included in the Scriptures. The stories of Abraham, Noah, Joseph, Elijah, and David contain incredible accounts of God’s provision, protection, and providence. Though we can read these narratives in one […]
Desoto
I recognized my daughter Ashley’s phone number on caller ID and answered right away. “Hi, Sweetie!” No sound . . . “Hello? Honey, is that you?” No response . . . “Ash, can you hear me . . . where are you?” I looked to see if the phone was connected, and it was. In […]
Treasures
What first comes to mind when you hear the word treasure? Don’t think too hard . . . in fact . . . I say treasure; you say ___________. Honestly, my first thought was Treasure Planet, a movie my son Jon chose for us to watch recently. Next, I thought of the Disneyland ride “Pirates […]
No Shortcuts
I have something to confess. I HATE traffic! Not just slightly dislike or patiently endure . . . I simply hate traffic! I’ve tried listening to books on tape, MP3s, podcasts, and radio . . . but driving still seems like a waste of time. No surprise! Many life lessons are learned in circumstances we […]
Something to Remember
What first comes to mind when you hear the word season? I first think of the seasons of the year . . . summertime and swimming pools, fall leaves and football games, winter as a wonderland, and April showers bringing spring flowers. Each season holds memories we cherish. Each season carries with it moments of […]
Family Rules
If you ever feel stressed, a bit cranky, or as though you’ve been hit by a bus, this blog post is for you. It was the last day of school, and my son Jon cheered with delight on our drive home. Outwardly, I applauded him for his learning and growth; inwardly, I felt . . […]
Landscape Lessons
Oh, my yard! I love it when things thrive and live and hate it when things wither and die. It all sounds quite simple. However, in the past few years, I’ve found a correlation between beautiful landscapes and beautiful souls. Lovely landscapes don’t just happen. Preparing a beautiful landscape begins long before the flowers arrive. […]
Deserts
When I say desert, what comes to your mind? Perhaps the brilliant stars, the bursting colors, or the brisk, cool evening air that brings relief from the day’s heat. Such thoughts refer to physical deserts, but I’m thinking of the periods in our lives that leave us feeling desperate, disillusioned, and dry. Desert seasons lack […]