Warm, barefoot summers in Kansas I avoided them at all cost. Those feisty red ants had hills stationed throughout the farmstead. If a kid wasn’t looking where she was going, she got a painful reminder that she was infringing on their territory. Still, I spent hours observing those little guys at … [Read more...] about To Manage a Mountain
gratitude
Tweaking Tradition, Part 2
Christmas is thundering closer. But something just doesn’t feel right. We just spent five days traveling to the Cleveland Clinic for my heart failure evaluation. Not a journey I wanted to make the week before Christmas. But this is where God has us now, and it’s been a mixed bag with lots of … [Read more...] about Tweaking Tradition, Part 2
Tweaking Tradition, Part 1
Tradition is not a neutral word. Like college football, or Jesus, or anything political, it evokes a strong emotion, reflecting how traditions have played out in our lives. I, too, have had a love-hate relationship with traditions over the past few years. The following article was first … [Read more...] about Tweaking Tradition, Part 1
What to Remember When Gratitude Is Elusive
Like love, gratitude is not something you feel, it's something you choose to practice. While we would all love to feel thankful on a regular basis, it is the times we struggle to feel it that we realize gratitude is a way of life. I have begun to understand this more and more. It is a fundamental … [Read more...] about What to Remember When Gratitude Is Elusive
Of Scales and Chandeliers
I had a feeling in my gut that we shouldn’t have been playing with a ball in that room. Grandma Steinbacher’s fancy living room was not a place for rough-housing with its uncomfortable furniture and crystal chandelier. I was sure, although the rest of their farmhouse looked a lot like mine, this … [Read more...] about Of Scales and Chandeliers
A Different Kind of Loss in Kansas City
I lost my wedding ring while visiting my daughter and son-in-law in Kansas City. I detest losing things. After three solid hours of combing through their small house (for four of us, twelve man-hours), I came to the realization that I may be leaving Kansas City without it. Another mother my age … [Read more...] about A Different Kind of Loss in Kansas City