
A Fitting Reply
Ultimate Freedom
โYour daddy preached a good sermon this morning,โ my mom confided, concern heavy in her voice. โBut all afternoon heโs been resting in his recliner and heโs 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 myโฆ
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, Iโฆ
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 didnโt but there are so many blanks in my memory of my early years of parenting.โฆ
The Lie That Keeps Deceiving
โThatโs what you want. Are you sure?โ I asked before ordering Ameliaโs ice cream. โBecause Iโm having this one with chocolate, peanut butter, banana, and almonds,โ I added, pointing to the picture on the menu. โEzra is sharing with me. You could share with us,โ I offered one last time. โI donโt like chocolate,โ sheโฆ
Remember Your Roots
โThe 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. โDo you have it on your phone, Lolly?โ asked Thomas, joining the conversation. We sat down together on the sofa as I opened my Googleโฆ
Working Together
Fridayโs 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 itโs simply a ploy to go outside again but Poppy invites their help. He balanced them on one arm inโฆ
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 stormโs devastation, is gradually becoming a perfectly situated oasis. Construction is expected to begin in the next few weeks on ourโฆ
Work In Progress
โI need Mom,โ two year old Timothy whined as I hefted him onto the countertop in the bathroom to help him brush his teeth. โI know baby. Youโre so sleepy. Lollyโs here,โ I replied in my most soothing voice. โI need Mom,โ he restated, oblivious to my efforts at consoling him. โMomโs here, buddy, butโฆ
Perishable
I grew up eating trash can omelets, my daddyโs 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 โClean Out-the-Fridgeโ Veggie Strata โโฆ
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 goodโฆ
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