My lone son in law, like my husband, is pursuing a career in medicine. He is beginning his ninth year of postgraduate work with one additional year to go. The training experiences and constant testing are overwhelming at times. I know the load I’ve seen my husband bear in order to attain the degrees and …
Living Lessons
Ezra is walking at least as much as he’s crawling now, but he can climb seemingly impossible things. He reminds me at once of his sister and his daddy when they were his age. Parenting a child learning to walk is more damage control than coaching but as they begin to comprehend more of our …
Swinging Together
“I want to do what I want to do,” announced Thomas, insistently, raising his voice above Amelia’s whines of protest. At four and three, the cousins, close as siblings, are at that age marked by power struggles. Both firstborn of two, they lead naturally. You might call them bossy and you wouldn’t be wrong. They …
Perfect Spot For A Garden
Earlier this year when my husband and I pruned back our fig trees, we agonized over every cut. We had researched, read, and watched videos from several sources, determined to “measure twice, cut once,” as my daddy always says. One tree was just a few twigs and leaves, a new variety in its first growing …
Floundering
There’s no mahi in the freezer, I realized as I made my way though the kitchen, searching the staples for what I’d make for dinner. There are a few things I try not to let run out completely because I can offer a meal that nearly anyone will enjoy on short notice. Mahi is my …
No Other Source
It’s raining today. That’s right. We’ve prayed through this oppressive heat that the Lord would send rain and as I write, the skies are clearing. The dark clouds are making their way toward my parents home. Our weather systems typically move in from the west or southwest, first passing my daughter, then my son on …
What Sort of People?
“I need to open the window, Lolly. Mr. Leo and Mr. Noel are cutting grass. What kind of snack can we take them?” The rush of Thomas’s words matched his sprinting pace as he rounded the corner to the kitchen. He’d heard the mowers cranking and lost no time in getting into place for the …
Pockets Filled With Holes
“Do you have a pocket? No. Would you like for me to hold that for you until you’ve finished building?” I accompanied my daughters and grandkids to a local hardware store’s monthly kids building event. The toddlers were chomping at the bit to begin pounding away with their pint sized hammers while their moms unfolded …
What Does Repentance Look Like?
“I need to ask you a question.” When the girls and I are together and turn our attention from the children to chat, this is Thomas and Amelia’s favorite interrupter. It’s their attempt at polite manners. “What do you need?” “Timothy was trying to knock over my tower or Ezra jerked that from me.” “That’s …
Time To Be Tested
My morning was planned around two scheduled grocery pick ups. Many of the retailers who transitioned to pick up during pandemic half a decade ago have continued to offer this option. I first used it during my cancer treatments but have continued because of the convenience. Also I am an inefficient shopper. I go too …
A Fitting Reply 