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
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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
Embracing the Seasons
“This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made…” My oldest child’s beautiful voice pierced the strained silence on her first day of Kindergarten. Adult tears flooded the front seat of that minivan as an innocent, trusting faith poured out in the back. With a … [Read more...] about Embracing the Seasons
A Saturday Kind of Relationship
I am head over heels for my husband. He has been my rock and my partner and I am grateful every day that we chose each other all those years ago. When we married, that decision was a tipping point in my life. It set events into motion that have made my days on this earth so much brighter, and my … [Read more...] about A Saturday Kind of Relationship
The Hard Work of Waiting
Recently, while I was visiting my daddy in the small hospital in my hometown, I noticed the names of the longer-term patients posted outside their hospital room doors. These patients were more than a room number; they had names. I thought about how caring that was, to make patients feel more at … [Read more...] about The Hard Work of Waiting
Longing for Home
We have (over)loaded the car: suitcases, dog crate, snacks, laptop. We have filled the gas tank for the 600-mile roundtrip. We have adjusted the thermostat and locked the doors. We are headed home. Even as middle-aged empty nesters, my husband and I still say we are going “home” when we mean we … [Read more...] about Longing for Home