What do ornery coworkers, angry children and irritable spouses have in common? You as the target. Well, at least it seems that way, especially when you feel like you could be part porcupine because of all the virtual arrows bristling from your back. However, in most cases, you really are not the target. What you just […]
A parable of finite love
October 1, 2012 By 24 Comments
There once was a widow who believed each person had a finite amount of love to share. She had a son who adored her, who had moved in with her so she wouldn’t be alone. One day, when this caring man had passed his fortieth birthday, he met a woman who swept his heart away. […]
Curiosity did not kill the cat;
it gave her room to breathe
August 27, 2012 By 30 Comments
You’ve probably had one of those days recently. If you haven’t, you figure you’re due. The tension in your body takes its toll, as does the constant slight holding of your breath, because you just know that other shoe is going to drop. It always does. And it’s going to hurt. “Mom! I told you I […]
Let go and allow them to grow
August 6, 2012 By 23 Comments
Your eyes glisten with tears as you grab for yet another tissue. You promised yourself and your family you wouldn’t cry, that you’d maintain your composure. After all, this is that moment when the baby you have cared for with such tenderness spreads their wings and begin to move forward into the wild, blue […]
“I saw the lake first!”
and other treasured family traditions
July 2, 2012 By 17 Comments
“I see the lake, I see the lake!” Every year, my six siblings and I would crowd and elbow one another as we jockeyed for the coveted spot in the Volkswagon bus so we would be the first to see Shadow Lake as we drove the final stretch of narrow, winding road to my grandparent’s summer […]
When little is big
June 11, 2012 By 22 Comments
It’s a conundrum, really. How can something little actually be bigger than it initially appears? Well, consider this: Have you ever helped a friend with something simple, perhaps picking up something at the grocery store, and they gushed with appreciation? Have you ever given a small gift that the recipient treasured more than it’s actual […]
5 Tips to Help Your Friend (even if she says she doesn’t need help)
May 21, 2012 By 18 Comments
“Hello! How are you?” you ask your friend, and again, she insists on brightly answering “Ok!” while you can see the worn out and tired of worry in her eyes. You know she is not being honest, but in lieu putting her in a headlock until she cries Uncle!, you just don’t know what else […]
If I’m not ok, will you offer me your loaves and fish?
May 14, 2012 By 18 Comments
Polite society demands that when we run into a friend, we ask how they are doing. Polite society then requires our friend to respond with a short and sweet, and often untrue, answer. What good does that do any of us? If we are not willing to open up and admit our infallibility to say […]
The Secret to choosing a Mother’s Day gift that hits the heart
May 7, 2012 By 7 Comments
Tell me if you’ve been here before. You spend a great deal of time, energy, thought, and money to pick out the absolute perfect gift for your mother. Just a note here for husbands: this could equally apply to how you choose the gift for your wife. To keep this simple, however, we will […]
Five Minute Friday-Together
April 20, 2012 By 10 Comments
“Let’s have a monthly family dinner night gathering!” Ideas. I have so many. And typically they involve quite a few people. And a scope and size that doesn’t scale most of the time. But this one did. I think naming it as a goal and giving it a deadline certainly helped. So we made plans, […]
