Food, Family, Friends and Fellowship

My brother called last Thursday morning to wish me a happy Thanksgiving and inquire if I had plans. More on the plans in a few paragraphs, but we somehow got on the subject of foods eaten during our childhood. The not-good-for-us foods. My brother didn’t remember the Velveeta macaroni and cheese mom and dad made from scratch during lent and his better half bellowed a big “Ewww” when I recounted how dad made fried-in-butter bologna sandwiches on Wonder cardboard whiteRead more

#WATWB: Friends and Friendship

Normally, for a We are the World Blogfest post, bloggers share a link to a positive story about people, places, or community. I’m going to do something a little different for August and share a few words about friendships and how our friends make our lives better. What could be more positive than that? Friendships make the world go around and I have a ton of gratitude for the friendships, both male and female, that I’ve made over the years.Read more

#SoCS: The Days, Weeks, Month, Year of Unbelievable.

I distinctly remember the day that I packed up a laptop, numerous files, office supplies, and anything else I could think of in a rush of adrenaline. It was March 24, 2020, and I had been told I would be working from home until further notice. The offices were closing to the public and minimal staffing across our department had to be scheduled and organized. Covid-19 was on the move across America. For at least three weeks prior, we hadRead more

What Lingers Forever

When in grade and high school, I earned “nicknames” from a certain few. Twiggy, Jolly Green Giant, and variations of my last name. At the time, I was thin and tall for my age (5’9″ by 9th grade) and my last name was not a simple “Smith” that everyone knew. I also was picked on for wearing glasses and an overbite, neither of which helped with personal esteem or confidence in self. I was never self-assured in school, never partRead more

Walking in Their Shoes

I haven’t written much about my mother since she died from the effects of age and dementia almost two years ago. I think of her often, but once in awhile I come across something that reminds me of her terrible disease and what we went through together as her mind and health failed. Actor Zach Ward, whom I follow on Twitter, recently posted the following: “Today with Dad broke my heart. I am so sad & angry I want toRead more

A New Chapter: Life as Me

“There’s a grace when the heart is under fire Another way when the walls are closing in And when I look at the space between Where I used to be and this reckoning I know I will never be alone” ~From Another in the Fire by Hillsong~ Ten years ago, I wanted it to be over with. The divorce. I had two months to go for it to be final, and a number of years before I truly felt peace.Read more

Requesting Answers

wack·a·doo·dle /ˈwakəˌdo͞odl/ noun: wackadoodle 1. an eccentric or fanatical person. I was chatting back and forth with a peer last week, someone with an even crazier sense of humor than yours truly. We have had several silly “interesting” conversations over the years. Extremely interesting. (And not inappropriate, I might add.) Simply weird and crazy senses of humor coming together in an email string or over the phone. On this occasion, I was called a wackadoodle, the crazy eccentric person thatRead more

Sober Silence

“Facebook and Twitter badgering isn’t going to serve us well today. Too much cheerleading on one side or the other and not enough sober silence.” ~Anonymous~ The quote is a telltale sign of our current social media climate. Of human relationships that are not purposefully silent or kind. It feels the norm of late, rather than the exception. Anger. Badgering. Disrespect. Name-calling. On media outlets that started as places for people to “connect,” make friends, share photos and laughs. And,Read more

With Open Wings

As I sit on a cloudy afternoon, listening to a feline snore, I think of the past few days and the people I truly adore. I feel the love of family and friends and the season of His birth. The hugs, the smiles and hopeful wishes for peace on this great, colorful earth. Surrounded by a gentle spirit and the gift of open wings, the knowing glance of an expectant child while the church emphatically sings. Never mind the giftsRead more

Faithfully Home

  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7 Mom found her way home last Friday, February 15, 2019. Home to her family of 15, home to her husband Evan, and home to her Savior, Jesus Christ. It was time for the dementia to take a hike and for Pauline to feel freedom from her physical restraints. Mom went peacefully in her sleep, a blessing that most of us desire whenRead more

A Cherished Memory of Sue

I always struggle with choosing a personal item for the annual Cherished Blogfest. I tend to feel that “items” are never more important than the people in my life, never holding a value high enough to call it cherished. Except this year is different. A good friend of mine passed away in September from cancer. She battled this horrible disease for a year with unstoppable courage, daily prayer and a beautiful smile on her face. And she left the legacy ofRead more

A Letter to Humanity

Dear Humanity, This is not what our Gods, our spiritual being, our conscience have taught us. We were not born this way. To hate. To espouse bigotry. To injure and maim. To kill and start wars. To pound our fists on the table. We have done this to ourselves and to others. We have not learned to truly love our sisters and brothers, our mothers and fathers, our friends and relatives. And those we see as different. We don’t acceptRead more