Thomas turns three today but he doesn’t live in town so we celebrated his birthday early at the zoo. We saw some animals, rode the carousel, and hiked a mile uphill to hit the splash pad before lunch. It was hot, mighty hot, so we lingered over lunch and walked through the aquarium before heading …
More Than Curious
I’ve enjoyed a small herb garden on my kitchen table several times over the past few years, but in my current season when staying over with new grand babies takes precedence, the herbs, with the exception of a lone basil plant, have gone by the wayside. I had hoped that placing them out front where …
Look Below The Surface
https://videopress.com/v/QP0x0zwF?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true The fifty pound bag of fish food boasted “promotes aggressive feeding patterns.” It’s not wrong. The bluegill and turtle population meet us at the sea wall each evening as we trek the half acre to the lake edge. My husband took up feeding the fish in our first lakeside home when our children were …
Unrealistic Expectations
“But I don’t want to tell myself no,” stated Thomas flatly. We’ve been memorizing the fruit of God’s Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23 with a little song and he knows that self-control means sometimes telling yourself no, even if you really want to do something. Of course, it can also mean pushing yourself to do something …
Same Team
Thomas and Amelia are ten months and ten days apart in age. They’re often confused for siblings but they are cousins. Either set of parents could be theirs and one mom or the other is often asked when we’re together, “Are they both yours?” If either answered yes, no one would question it because they …
Family Resemblance
Don’t I know you from somewhere? You look so familiar. We chat through locations we frequent, groups we belong to, and places we’ve lived. Nothing surfaces, but still I’m certain that this is not the first time we’ve crossed paths. Have you had this experience recently? I’d love to have a catalog of every introduction …
Moves and Countermoves
Two has arrived in full force for my daughter and her husband. Their son has discovered his voice and along with it, his autonomy. My husband looked across the table in the restaurant, saying, “Please don’t stand up in your chair. I don’t want you to fall.” His reply? In his sternest voice, “Poppy, don’t …
Stones Into Bread
Yummy! Soup! My granddaughter, Amelia, loves to be outside. It doesn’t matter what we do, she just enjoys the outdoors. Recently when I was with her at her house, we decided to pick up rocks from the backyard in an area where the grass simply won’t grow. Little wonder as we unearthed chunks of asphalt …
Clinging To Rags
My granddaughter and I play a game called find the paci. I’ve learned not to wait until bedtime or naptime to make the search. Each time she wakes, before I even lift her out of the crib, I make a big deal of searching for her pacifier. She has usually tossed it aside during her …
It’s Still Me
Walking into our corporate worship each Sunday is a joy and privilege but especially now as I am greeted with the biggest smile of recognition by my granddaughter, Amelia. She’s sitting with her parents and sometimes she’s already found her Poppy, but when I catch her eye, I know it! There’s no mistaking the joy …
A Fitting Reply 