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A Fitting Reply

The Right Words at the Right Time

Ultimate Freedom

โ€œYour daddy preached a good sermon this morning,โ€ my mom confided, concern heavy in her voice. โ€œBut all afternoon heโ€™s been resting in his recliner and heโ€™s gone to bed early. I think he must have the flu.โ€ We had planned to take the four grandchildren to see their great grandparents on Monday and myโ€ฆ

Upheld

We waffled over making the two hour drive for the church league softball game. It was so hot when we left and there was a good chance that the team would forfeit without enough players at game time. Sitting behind our grandsons as we watched their dad tag a runner out at first base, Iโ€ฆ

I Hope I Never Forget

When I see my sons and daughters with my grandchildren, I get glimpses of their childhoods. When their children struggle with discipline or sleep patterns, I wish I could remember more of what I tried that worked or that didnโ€™t but there are so many blanks in my memory of my early years of parenting.โ€ฆ

The Lie That Keeps Deceiving

โ€œThatโ€™s what you want. Are you sure?โ€ I asked before ordering Ameliaโ€™s ice cream. โ€œBecause Iโ€™m having this one with chocolate, peanut butter, banana, and almonds,โ€ I added, pointing to the picture on the menu. โ€œEzra is sharing with me. You could share with us,โ€ I offered one last time. โ€œI donโ€™t like chocolate,โ€ sheโ€ฆ

Remember Your Roots

โ€œThe boys have loved watching the seven and a half minute video you made of us bringing Timothy home from the hospital,โ€ my daughter told me during a recent visit. โ€œDo you have it on your phone, Lolly?โ€ asked Thomas, joining the conversation. We sat down together on the sofa as I opened my Googleโ€ฆ

Working Together 

Fridayโ€™s early morning scheduled garbage pick up means our trash must be gathered on Thursday evenings and placed at the roadside. No matter who carries out the bags, the grandkids always want to help. Maybe itโ€™s simply a ploy to go outside again but Poppy invites their help. He balanced them on one arm inโ€ฆ

For the Beauty of the Earth

A sea of green waves triumphantly where for more than two years red clay painted the torn landscape in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. What was washed and rutted, a daily reminder of the stormโ€™s devastation, is gradually becoming a perfectly situated oasis. Construction is expected to begin in the next few weeks on ourโ€ฆ

Work In Progress

โ€œI need Mom,โ€ two year old Timothy whined as I hefted him onto the countertop in the bathroom to help him brush his teeth. โ€œI know baby. Youโ€™re so sleepy. Lollyโ€™s here,โ€ I replied in my most soothing voice. โ€œI need Mom,โ€ he restated, oblivious to my efforts at consoling him. โ€œMomโ€™s here, buddy, butโ€ฆ

Perishable

I grew up eating trash can omelets, my daddyโ€™s way of cleaning out the refrigerator. We just called them omelets. During college, our late night study group frequented a local diner where I discovered the name on a menu. Somewhat less original, Tupperware included a recipe on their website for โ€œClean Out-the-Fridgeโ€ Veggie Strata โ€“โ€ฆ

Fully Present

Amelia perched on the edge of the raised bed in my parentsโ€™ yard emptying tiny black specks from the pods of a collard my dad let go to seed. She is usually more likely to tear through like a tornado, scattering everything in her path but after a morning with her cousins and a goodโ€ฆ


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