We started building our house in the spring of twenty-nineteen, as soon as the ground was dry enough to set the foundation. Our builder was good to his word and he finished in under a year. No one knew what early twenty-twenty held. I flew with my son on January twenty-first round trip to Houston …
Remember Mercy
In just a few short months, my grandson, Thomas, will be two. In the last week alone, he’s learned six new words. He’s finally realizing that not every baby picture is his cousin, Amelia. Many of them are him and he points to himself when he sees them. Today, he brought his mom a water …
Labor Pains
I delivered our first baby, a son, before cell phones, instant messaging, text and email. My husband was enjoying a required educational seminar over dinner with his chief in surgery and fellow residents and interns when my water broke. He was all the way across town from our new home where we’d moved only six …
Hard Headed
You need to call Dad now, she chided, unable to hide the uneasiness in her voice. I’ll be fine once you get me home, I replied, not entirely convinced myself but determined to tough it out. My right knee has given me problems most of my life, catching, for lack of a better word, usually …
Called By Name
I remember being called Mrs. Ross as a newlywed and thinking Mrs. Ross is my mother in law. I readily identified as Paul’s wife but Mrs. Ross was a title that took some growing into. In fact, I commonly asked to be called Mrs. LeAnn because it seemed less formal and made it easier for …
He Causes Us To Remember
There’s nothing worse than a sick baby except a sick momma with a sick baby. The stomach bug caught up with us somewhere on Sunday and by Monday evening, we knew we were all in for a long night. Babies try so hard to be happy even when they’re feeling awful. They want to play. …
Wake Up!
My husband and I discussed having driven the same routes for so long that we’re prone to drift into autopilot when we leave the house. When our granddaughter was born and I drove over several times a week to offer her parents some rest, I found myself heading their direction no matter where I intended …
Anxious Thoughts
Reach with your hands. Now move your feet up. I stood, feet planted wide, at the bottom of the slide, ready to play catcher, while my daughter coached her toddler up the ladder on the other side of the platform. At eighteen months, he’s reached that phase where he’s comfortable enough on his feet to …
I’m Here!
“Lolly’s here, baby,” I whispered. “Mama, Dada,” he repeated, sleepily. “Mama’s sleeping. Daddy’s sleeping. Lolly’s here,” I gently intoned. He stirred, not quite awake but restless. I leaned close to his ear and hummed Jesus Loves Me as I ran my fingers through his hair. He sighed and began to breathe more slowly and steadily. …
Good Grief!
Grief is often expressed with tears, but not always. Silence. Depression. Anger. Resolve. Inaction. All are very real responses in our grieving, but are we ever grieved as followers of Christ by disregard for God and His Word? Do we mourn the fate of the lost? Do I remember being separated from God by my …
A Fitting Reply 