Salt is a funny thing. It preserves in large quantities but only a small bit seasons an entire meal. A mouth full of seawater is much worse than lake water, yet warm salt water makes the perfect rinse for a sore throat. Consuming too much salt can quickly create a health crisis but so can …
Comfortably Drifting
In my younger days, from childhood through parenthood, I could stay awake into the wee hours engrossed in a good book. Once I read until dawn, finishing a new installment in a series. As I watched the sun peeking over the horizon, I wondered where the time had gone. Now I tend to fall asleep …
Before He Finished Speaking
I think it’s a largely female trait, with a few notable exceptions, to talk at the same time and often over the ends of each other’s sentences. In our family, when we have not seen each other for some time or when celebrating a milestone- just all the time really- the volume and speed of …
Repurposing Rejection
One of my favorite local restaurants is closing soon so I gave myself permission to enjoy it more than once this week. I shared a meal with my daughter and granddaughter on Wednesday while the news media was on site gathering the community’s response to the closing announcement. I invited them to join me again …
Shake Off The Dust
My least favorite job of the week falls on bath day for the Great Danes. No, I’m not responsible for the actual bathing. They outgrew me long ago. My husband has managed that task since our son married. My job is to wash their bedding. I hold my breath as I stand on the edge …
No Family History
Three photos exist capturing five generations of my family. The first was taken when I was an infant and includes my mother, her mother, grandmother and great grandmother. The second was taken only two years ago when my grandmother met my first grandson, and the third last year when she met my first granddaughter. My …
Do What Must Be Done
“”Where have you been?” Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant. “We were looking for the donkeys,” Saul replied, “but we couldn’t find them. So we went to Samuel to ask him where they were.” “Oh? And what did he say?” his uncle asked. “He told us that the donkeys had already been found,” Saul …
Uncomfortable Silence
Days between the grandchildren’s visits last longer than other days, I’m sure of it. The hours pass slowly and the silence is much more distracting than their chatter. I remember the early days of parenting when my husband would come home from work and make his way around to asking how I stood the constant …
Different By God’s Design
As a first time momma living in temporary housing with my husband and young son, I experienced one of the scariest feelings ever. What started overnight with a meal that disagreed with me ended with being taken by my husband to the emergency room with severe dehydration and food poisoning. The scary part was that …
Holding Onto Hope
My granddaughter is a year old and so full of life! Her parents call it energy. She’s a busy bee. She’s rarely ever still. She climbs everything and talks constantly. She and the Great Danes have an understanding. She’s the boss. She keeps up with her two year old cousin. She is so much like …
