It was the perfect day to be heading off to the beauty shop. The sun was shining, and the breeze carried anticipated enjoyment on every breath. I had Charlotte loaded in her car seat, and Eva strapped in as well. I climbed into the “Big Rig,” as Eva likes to call it, and off we went; classic country music sailing out the windows. Once we arrived, Eva and I each took our turn getting pampered like royalty. A deep wash, […]
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“We judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their behavior.” Stephen M.R. Covey Before I left the hospital with Charlotte, the Doctor came in and asked me if I wanted to stay another night? She told me the real world was waiting for me beyond these doors and that I should soak up all the special care I could. I responded with a courteous “No, Thank You.” I wanted nothing more than to busy myself with caring for my […]
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“Family and friendships are two of the greatest facilitators of happiness.” John Maxwell Sunday Morning Service Steven: (leans over and whispers to Chuck) What are you grillin’ today? Chuck: (leans over and whispers to Steven) Man, I got these new seasonings I’m trying out on some chicken. Steven: (leans over and whispers to his wife, Allison) We are going to the Howard’s for Sunday lunch. Allison: Have we been invited? Steven: Well, not really, but Chuck’s grilling, so we’re going […]
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“You go and read any book on child-rearing, and every one of them is in favor of bud nipping. You got to nip it, Andy. NIP IT IN THE BUD.” Barney Fife Sitting under a shade tree down by the creek, watching Eva play with Samson (Maximus sat stationed by Charlotte’s stroller in case he was called upon to serve), I listened to my neighbor tell me how discipline seemed to be a thing of the past. She is seventy-eight […]
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I disapproved of the movie shown to my three-year-old. It was innocent, but even with a plot of good triumphing over evil, I knew it would scare Eva; a dark villain or a wicked queen would start the waterworks. Instilling that kind of fear into her was not something I wanted to do, but I kept walking. Once I reached my car, I opened the door and sat down. Do I drive off and act oblivious to what I know […]
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“The impersonal hand of government can never replace the helping hand of a neighbor.” Herbert Humphreys The year was 1993. My folks were drilling an artisan well on their property where our new house was to be built. It was about 1,200 feet deep. It tapped into the Dakota flow aquifer, which made for an endless supply of water. Our neighbor came and asked my dad if he could fill his pond up with our well water? My dad […]
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“Sis, did you tie a red ribbon on it?” It seems like yesterday I was hearing these words… When I was growing up no matter how small the project was, we were required to do it well. My sister and I were not allowed to just make our beds; it had to be done correctly. Granted this came with age, but nonetheless, we still had to attempt. At first, when we were small, our beds looked more like a jumbled […]
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“Success in life comes from the ability to handle all the things that you don’t want to do.” Tim Brooks Some days I wake up not sure if I should put both feet on the floor or not? There is an underlying fear that everyone will hear me stirring and the sound of quiet will be whisked away with many needs and wants. Immediately the day will become a race to the finish. No one begins each morning excited to […]
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There was a little boy who told his parents he did not want to go to kindergarten. They told him if he didn’t go they would be put in jail. The boy stopped and thought for a minute. Then he said, “Reckon how long ya’ll would be gone?” The hallway seemed to engulf us with its busy traffic of students scurrying to their destination. It seemed to go on for miles and still the walk was over in an instant. […]
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No one else will ever know the strength of my love for you…after all, you’re the only one who knows what my heart sounds like from the inside… Author Unknown Maternity clothes wear a bit differently on a mother-to-be than that of the perfectly proportioned model that advertises the clothing. The waddle, the swollen limbs, and the aching back of a nine-month pregnant mother dares someone to say the wrong thing! And yet, all seems forgotten when the long-awaited […]
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