Don’t cry because it is over. Smile because it happened. Dr. Suess Pushing Tyson through the crowd at the zoo, trying to keep up with Chuck and the girls, a lady came zooming around the corner, pushing her own stroller. She ran over my foot, hit my side, and knocked me out of her way with a snarky “Sorry” and kept moving. I was in utter disbelief as to what just happened. “Chuck. She ran me over!” He stood there […]
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The quality of the word you devour will determine the quality of life that you live. Sarah Pearsons There are people the masses will never know and will never receive accolades. Even if you are called to the masses, your success depends on those called to the trenches with you. Some people silently watch in the background, helping and teaching you as you cultivate a life worth living. We all have mentors like this who go unnamed yet are giants […]
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An old farmer saw the Indian Rain Dance and asked, “How did you know God would show up?” The old Indian Chief looked at him and said, “That’s easy. We dance until it rains. Visiting with my mother, I commented, “I would love to get back into riding regularly, but there are not many opportunities. This is not a Western world; it is predominantly English or Dressage.” Mom never took a breath. “What you need is a Ms. Mary in […]
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Eyes were watching me while I juggled three kids through the checkout line. Charlotte kept bringing me candy as fast as I tried to put it back. Eva had already started scanning my buggy items, leaving me unsure where she had started. Tyson sat in his carrier with his foot propped up on the side, sucking his pacifier. Life is good to him. While I corralled my groceries and Charlotte from the snack shelf, the bouncy balls lost their hold […]
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A cup of tea, a prayer or two, blessed moments to share with you. Ellen Cuomo We never knew our last ride would be our last for a long, long time. If I had, I think I would have paid closer attention to how much she loved the ride; I would have listened to her advice and let her teach me more about the ride. I would have noticed the easy way she handled every situation horseback, and most of […]
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Nanny: Fifteen puppies! Nanny: Fourteen. Just fourteen. We lost one. Rodger: And yet. And yet I wonder. Rodger: Fifteen! We still have fifteen!” 101 Dalmatians First, there were two. Then five. Before the day was over, we had seven little German Shepherd puppies. Lola was doing perfectly. All was quiet as she took good care of her first litter. As the sixth puppy arrived earlier that day, I noticed it was not breathing. Chuck and I looked down, and without […]
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Looking at an old picture with my father, he stated, “You see that lightbulb above the door there? That was installed over fifty years ago.” Staring at a picture of the door frame at the Big Sandy Church of God of Prophecy, where my father grew up, he continued, “I preached there this past Sunday, standing behind the pulpit your grandfather built over thirty years ago. What an honor to fill the same pulpit I sat under while growing up. […]
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Lord, not just any front yard will do. It must be large, with big trees for a swing and seesaw. It must have lots of room for the kids to run and the dogs to play. The backyard must have room for porch sitting and grilling; A place where my kids can play without interruption and I can hear the birds. -Amen “Kris, watch the kids for just a minute,” my sister asked, heading to the back room. “Okay, that’s […]
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“Mom! I just sat on my yogurt.” With a slight exhale, I stated, “Was it open?” “Yes, mam,” she peeped. Closing my eyes and uttering, “I will clean it up when we get there.” We were loaded down to the max, and only forty-five minutes before we arrived at my sister’s, the dam broke. Tyson exploded, Eva couldn’t hold it, Charlotte ran out of goldfish, and yogurt was now seeping through the cracks of the backseat. The year was 1990, […]
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When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty. Thomas Jefferson Growing up, I considered the Fourth of July the main event. Each year, we would don our finest patriotic attire. Complete only with boots and spurs. We would all mount up as Dad unloaded the horses at the Sale Barn. Some years, Mom rode; other years, she watched with delight next to our dear family friend, Mr. Harvey. We enjoyed […]
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