I turned my face away as the wind gusted dust from the unusually dry red clay upward. The little rain we’ve had this fall has been quickly dried by sun and wind. Ground that was saturated in spring and early summer is now parched. We have been waiting for October to plant grass across the …
Temporary Shelters
A blanket fort still stands in my bonus room turned playroom. I am amazed it has lasted this long with four very active under fives coming and going but the weather has been quite nice lately so we have spent much of our time together outdoors. It only took a few throw pillows, a quilt, …
Reason To Celebrate
“Amelia learned to spell her name,” Valentina confided, proudly, as I hoisted Ezra onto my hip and took Amelia by the hand and headed to the Lolly bus. “We’ve been practicing in the car,” she continued. “I only spelled it two times for her before she could say it by herself. Tell Lolly.” We’ve learned …
Mutually Encouraged
My daughter and I know better. When she visits and her boys are in bed, we should not be far behind them. She needs more sleep than she tends to get and so do I. I am able to buy her a little time in the mornings, but her boys will be up with first …
Immediately
Thomas hurriedly ate his dinner and began what my daddy calls “chomping at the bit” before my husband had filled his plate or tasted his first bite. He’d been waiting all afternoon for Poppy to get home to take him fishing. Now he half paced, half bounded around the kitchen table, before announcing, “All right, …
Hand and Feet Washing
My kids are quick studies. They know when bringing their kids to the grandparents, never dress them in good clothes. Play clothes, mismatched odds and ends or soon to be outgrown and already stained, are preferable. Of course I try to be conscientious. I’ll run a load of laundry once the grandkids are in bed …
I Look Like Jesus
Golf ran into dinner time which collided with bedtime. If you have toddlers in your life, you know those acid hours can turn ugly in a skinny minute. No amount of consoling or cajoling can interrupt the meltdown once it starts and forget sleep coming easily afterwards. My son messaged his wife saying he had …
Judge Yourselves
Amelia asked me to write about her and Thomas today. It’s easy to do. At three and four, they supply a rich treasure trove of material from Lolly’s perspective. I delight in seeing them grow and learn and I am grateful for the teachable moments afforded by their visits. I see Amelia watching intently as …
Faithful Keeping
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 …
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 …
A Fitting Reply 