What for many years was an unpleasant task, last year I determined would be an opportunity for reflection and observations and so I did that again this time. The dismantling of the Christmas décor would take on a new meaning. I threw away the brittle branches of the Costco wreath and made a note of where I stored the S hook used to hang it so that I wouldn’t be on a hunt for it this coming [...]
Recently I received a text message from a dear friend of mine who has been fighting a very difficult cancer battle. This particular day would bring her to the beginning of a three-day series of chemotherapy and she knew going in, it would be a tough run. I assured her I would and stopped immediately to pray knowing full well she would be in my heart for the duration of this session. To date, I have never [...]
Several years ago, I purchased a pot of beautiful, lush, succulent plants. Over time, and most likely due to poor choice of placement and my frequent bouts of neglect, they began to wither and die. But I read somewhere that even though they appeared to be trash-worthy, I’d better think again! There was plenty of life left if tended to in the proper way. So, I followed the restoration instructions by doing a little pruning and relocating [...]
The Great Exchange After several decades of calling San Diego home, my friend prayerfully concluded it was time to move. Already established in her new Georgia zip code, she had returned to clean out the remaining belongings in her recently sold house. With furniture in every room, paintings on every wall, cupboards, and closets neatly filled with typical inventory, and stuff stored from under sinks, to bins suspended in the garage rafters, any help was greatly appreciated. [...]
The Brave Path You’ll get no arguments from me. I’m not an adventurous person. I was not raised in a home that traveled to obscure campsites, seaside, mountainsides, or any other sides. The biggest adventure I can remember that came from my childhood was when we as a young family packed ourselves into a 1961 Chevrolet and headed west to San Diego, California from Waukegan, Illinois. Ah, that’s not altogether true. But close. When we traveled, we [...]
For well over two years now I have been privileged to prepare my one and only grandson for his day at preschool. The early morning snuggles, delightful conversations during breakfast preparations, and kitchen clean-ups have been weekly deposits into some of the greatest memories of my life. I was on my knees in gratitude when I learned at the onset that this little boy, my only grandchild, would be attending a Christian preschool. Knowing that my son [...]
I knew it was coming but I had no idea that the arrow of this accomplishment would hit so deeply in my heart: Dad’s last day. The picture came on a Facebook post and there they were, my parents, standing behind a purchased grocery store cake in the kitchen of a country church. How typical. Such a humble scene and yet so glorious. For eleven years he faithfully showed up every Wednesday to pour into the souls [...]
Behold, A New Thing! For thirty-five years my husband and I have enjoyed what I have come to call, canyon-view living. Our home is located on the south side of the great Mission Valley in San Diego, California. While it’s true I had always enjoyed the western, northern, and eastern views, they did not provide for me their full potential of appreciation until I re-dedicated my life to Jesus Christ. It was then the balcony became a [...]
The Treasure Box When I look back at my life as a mother I see a plethora of reasons to exclude me altogether from the title of “Mother,” let alone, “Grandmother,” Yet, God, in His mercy and grace has gifted me with relationships with not only both sons but their beautiful wives as well, plus one grandchild. A boy. His name is Cole. And let me just say from here, we are very close. This is a [...]
With years of experience in plant and operations management positions in industry-leading print, pre-press, and publishing companies, my awesome, big brother Donald specialized in process improvements. One of the biggest problems he tackled in those years was to create efficient and effective ways to eliminate financial loss due to the lack of communication within the movements of production. Nearly twenty years ago now, I’m still remembering the day when he and I shared breakfast at the famous [...]