Last evening around 9p I went for a walk. It had been a routine hot summer day in Kansas but my legs told me, “get up, woman, and take a walk”. It’s just so easy to fall into a habit of sitting with cellphone in hand, scrolling through news clips and social media, fogging the old brain with far less than uplifting content.
Continue reading “Stroll or scroll?”Tag God
Both Eyes Open
Have you ever tried to look through a frosted window to see what’s on the other side when no one answers the door? I’m guessing the answer is “yes”
Continue reading “Both Eyes Open”Need to Know Basis
The new year, 2022, came right on in the door and sat down. Looking suspiciously similar to the past two years. I feel certain that I’m not the only person on the planet who is done with the pandemic. Every news clip on COVID, vaccines, deaths, hospitalizations? I just can’t anymore. Not that I don’t care. That’s not it at all. I do care. The numbers, the news, the pictures, the personal stories really break my heart.
This morning when I woke up my mind was filled with an intensely awful memory from when I was around 5 years old. Involving a life altering event to my parents and sisters and myself. You won’t get details, but the effects of that event were permanent and sad. Anyway, as this flash of memory hit my brain waves I sensed God asking me “Can you be thankful even though….?” What a difficult thing to ponder. Especially at 5 in the morning. I couldn’t answer right away.
Continue reading “Need to Know Basis”Walls, foundations and bucket lists
We like to travel. Actually, we love to travel. I was born with the “let’s go” gene. And I believe the hubby was, too. So, we have done a lot of traveling when possible. Life has put a bit of a cramp in that plan, but still, we travel.
Continue reading “Walls, foundations and bucket lists”While you wait on the Doorkeeper
Do you like to wait? When we go to restaurants and see more than 10 people in line generally we turn right back around and leave. That’s how much we like to wait. Once in south Wichita I was stuck in my car waiting on a train, and it turned into a 45 minute wait. Then I learned this was the norm for that particular area! I just can’t think of anything I really enjoy waiting for. Not food, not trains, not telephone calls on hold. I could go on and on.
Right there
June 8, 1993 is a date long past. Twenty-eight years ago. It’s a day I will never forget. Not because of some national historic event or holiday or family birthday.
Continue reading “Right there”Embracing embraces. And the number 28.
Are you a hugger? I wasn’t as a child. It wasn’t our family’s “thing”. That’s okay, I suppose. Pretty sure all you non-huggers are tolerating the COVID-19 restriction policies better than us huggers. Though I’ve grown into being a hugger (with a few limits), during these pandemic days I truly treasure all the human interaction I can get. Smiles (that you can actually see on an unmasked face), hugs, elbow bumps, conversation. Anything, I tell ya. Growl at me even.
Continue reading “Embracing embraces. And the number 28.”Every Last Dollar
Wedding bells in 1935. For my parents. Well, not really any bells. Or white dress, or flowers, or wedding party, or church. Two people who loved each other, in front of a judge.
Uncommon sanctuaries
Some children grow up spending most of their leisure time with siblings or cousins or next door neighbor kids.
I did not. No siblings even close to my age made me a bit of an only child. Ditto cousins. I had a couple very good friends, but play time wasn’t all that frequent.
My dad was my fishing buddy and my favorite person to spend leisure time with. But of course time with him was limited because he had that pesky 40+ hour/week job thing going on.
My mom also had that pesky full time employment scene happening from the time I was eight years old.
Do you know? Have you heard?
One of my favorite rooms in our home is an unfinished room in our basement that contains the furnace and hot water heater. Ductwork is visible through the unfinished walls and ceiling. A single lightbulb is affixed to a ceiling joist. It’s also our “office” of sorts. A real cozy place with random pieces of carpet on the cement floor and our grandkids’ artwork taped up here and there. My husband’s desk and our printer are down there as well as file cabinets full of all manner of stuff that probably has very little significance. And there are several shelves of books, MANY MANY BOOKS, that we’ve collected over the years. Continue reading “Do you know? Have you heard?”
What if?
Historically, I have been what you might call the Queen of What If. This condition started early on in childhood but escalated quickly the very first time I held my first baby in my arms.
What if….I break her? What if….she breaks me?? Continue reading “What if?”
Mommy
Recently I was touched by a story a dear friend shared with me. She is the mother of 5, three girls and two boys. One of her sons passed away a few years ago unexpectedly when he was in his early twenties, following a seizure. The younger son has really struggled since the death of his brother. He’s suffered a lot of personal tragedy as a result. My friend knows deep sadness. Brokenness that has brought her face down at the feet of her Savior Jesus. Her faith has grown from brokenness.
Small things
Starting at about age 30 or perhaps a year or two sooner, I began to dream about retirement. You may relate. Just looking forward to the day when the alarm clocks stop loudly interfering with our blissful sleep. Forcing us to put on happy faces and head off to work. Day after day after day. Cruel behavior, those pesky alarm clocks. Continue reading “Small things”
Simply B 