Sometimes while reading the Bible, I laugh, thinking about what mothers may have done in certain situations. The crossing of the Red Sea, for instance, I mean we read the story and move past the circus that was before these families. God is working a mighty miracle in front of their eyes, and you know the mothers were gathering their broods under them. Can’t you see the mom, “Now, son, I told you not to touch that. There is no […]
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Taking a quick phone call, Charlotte scooted her stool beside where I was working while starting supper. She climbed up and opened the silverware drawer. I lost the conversation between “uh-uhs” stirring green beans and repositioning the silverware. I turned around, and Eva jumped off the counter after grabbing some tape from my office cabinet. When she jumped, she took my planner and all the papers filed inside it with her. I stood there closing my eyes and mouth while […]
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“I tell you what, girls, I bet if you both carry a purse to church this morning, next week all the young girls will be carrying a purse,” my mother said confidently as we readied for church Sunday morning. We didn’t believe her. Nor did we want to carry a purse. That was not fashionable at the time. I write at my mother’s old desk. As I have told you before, it sits upstairs in our family room. The same […]
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Chuck! Come on. The weather station just said there is a tornado, and it is headed our way! From his slumber, he grumbled, “I already heard and checked. It is not headed our way. It is several miles away from us.” He grunted and went back to sleep. “Well, I don’t care. I am getting the girls together and getting them in the hall closet anyways,” I stated hurriedly. I quickly shook Eva and told her to come with me. […]
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The wind blew slightly on a cool brisk March morning, but the sun shone brightly. Everyone was set for a quick trip to the co-op for some needed supplies. Before we headed out, Chuck needed to unload the back of the truck, so we all rode over to the burn pile with him to unload. Driving down the ditch felt slick and mushy from all the rain, but the unloading didn’t take long. In a matter of minutes, Chuck and […]
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In the Doctor’s office, I made the girls a balloon out of a latex glove which made for a rousing game of tossing the balloon when the Doctor walked in. Charlotte wasn’t even six months old yet, but she was squealing with delight at the sight of a balloon. Taking notes, the Doctor asked, “How is Eva at night? Does she snore? “No, not at all,” I inputted. Eva interjected, “My daddy snores.” I immediately lowered my head and flatlined […]
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“Mommy! I had another bad dream. I wish they would go away!” This had to stop. What was I to do? I couldn’t crawl into Eva’s dreams and battle them away for her. She had to do it. I began to pray, “Lord, show me the way. I need to teach my girls that bad dreams can’t stay. I need to teach them the power we possess as Christians. Help me find a way, Lord. – Amen.” Later that day, […]
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We have added a new member to the Howard family. Peanut, or Mr. P as we call him. Weighing in at twenty-five pounds for eleven weeks. The vet stated, “Ma’am, Peanut is a hoss!” Penny had her first litter of puppies; when I say puppies, I mean puppy. It was love at first sight for the girls. “Daddy, let’s call him Peanut,” Eva resounded!“ Charlotte was pacing back and forth, holding out her hands, saying, “Awe, cute.” “We are NOT […]
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Positioning is pivotal in acquiring knowledge or developing talent. Put yourself around people who are more informed and skilled in the sport. In my earlier years of Bible study, I would have a list of questions for my parents. I needed their help to seek out the answers. I have yet to arrive at some expert level of scholarly Biblical wisdom, but my lists are a tad shorter now. However, the questions I bring have gotten more complex. My mother […]
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“Chuck, head upstairs and get the movie ready! You know how I dislike eating cold cheese chips,” I hollered from the kitchen. “Eva, come get the drinks and take them upstairs. Charlotte, follow daddy upstairs – go on, follow daddy.” Off she will go, pattering down the hallway and crawling up the stairs saying, “Daey, Daey” all the way. Eva will typically take the drinks upstairs and return to watch me prepare the cheese chips. It is quite an art […]
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