Happy Halloween! The march through another holiday season has begun with costumes and trick-or-treating! It is so good to be alive. To enjoy pumpkins and children. Costumes and candy and friends. My son Sullivan loves animals and is very imaginative. This year he wanted to be a hummingbird. I did...
“My cup runneth over.” — Romona played by Gena Rowlands, Hope Floats Greetings, Friends! Autumn has arrived in Oklahoma! This is my favorite time of the year and part of me wishes it could last forever. Pumpkins on porches, colorful fall leaves ironed between pieces of wax paper,...
My deeds, my hands, this mess in guilt we silence our questions I say my prayers nevertheless did I do it right, don’t you leave me yet… —Tanya Davis, Please Bless I am painfully aware of the sentimentality in my writing. I can’t turpentine my way free of it. You’d...
We stole away to Southeast Oklahoma a few weeks ago to celebrate the end of school and the start of summer. All our dreams packed into both Jeeps because one isn’t big enough to carry all these hopes. Hopes for a perfect weekend. a perfect cabin, a perfect campfire. Next summer, Juliette...
Another school year has come to an end, and another summer is off to a roaring start — with slug races! Oh, the sweet memories I’ve made in the driveway of this old house. From snow sledding to chalk drawings, all three of my kids have grown up — up and down this little paved...
What we have here are boy troubles. Yep. Serious boy problems. This tangled Slinky will never walk down the stairs again. An entirely separate problem would be if you bought this thing and your house didn’t have stairs. Bwahhh! By the way, this is the prize you get at Chuck E. Cheese after...
The tween and teen years can be filled with trials and tribulations. Often, when I tuck my kids in bed at night and help them say their prayers, I tell them to keep Jesus in their hearts forever. I remind them that I will not always be there to chase away the dark clouds, but, Lord God will always...
Here is Sullivan in the morning sun. He’s still a boy, but for how much longer? He’s growing up so fast, my sweetest son. God-willing we’ll have many more years together, and one day, we’ll walk down this street and we’ll be more than Mother and Son. We’ll be...
This past year, 2014, has been harder than most. My father died in February and things came undone. But, if it’s possible, 2013 was even worse. What I’ve been through is probably exactly what you’ve been through in your life. The most personal stories are also the most...
Unhinged In 1999, or maybe it was 2000, I flew to Seattle for a conference. But, I was sad and could not focus and ditched most of it. I rode the bus around the city and bought hot coffee in little shops in the coldest rains. I was carved up by the disappointments in my life. The coffee shops were...
Early last fall, my son Sullivan had a friend over for a play date and they each made a pizza quilt. Little sister Bridgy joined in with an original pizza happy face. Big sister Juliette joined me in eating it all. Ha! There was something for everyone to do. This was such an easy little adventure...
We had a beautiful Christmas this year. I am so grateful to God for the gift of motherhood. I’m so glad I get to spend my life taking care of Sullivan, Bridgette and Juliette. They have made me so incredibly happy. It pains me sometimes to look back on pictures of all of them when they were...
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Hello, Jill! It's so nice to receive a message from a majorette. No doubt, it was a grand experience for…
I was the majorette at my Catholic high school (William V. Fisher Catholic) in Central Ohio. Fall 1993-97! Loving these…
Thank you so much. This post was one of the hardest I ever wrote because the trip was difficult. I…