Driving home from church, I saw them.
A group of people were standing in a circle underneath a tree.
Their heads were bowed.
The mood was somber.

The writer in me connected the dots as I looked at the scene.
Since one man was holding what appeared to be a Bible, I concluded that it was a funeral.
Since children were part of the group, I concluded that it was probably a family pet.
The clouds were gray and no sun was shining, which seemed appropriate.

Read More...

I woke up to the sound of singing.
Each day, it was the call of the morning.
Some might have been frustrated that their sleep was disturbed.
I seemed to count on it.

I was only fifteen years old at the time.
Spring was ready to burst forth.
Crocuses that my mother planted around the lamppost were ready to bloom.
Soon the colors of spring would be everywhere.

Read More...

A friend of mine is getting ready to go on a cruise.
I saw her Facebook post.
I wished her well.
I know she will have a wonderful time.

As for me, I’m not so sure.
I have never been on a cruise ship but I have no desire to go on one.
I remember one experience that happened about twenty-three years ago.
I think of it from time to time and can still remember it vividly.

Read More...

She was walking with her father holding his hand.
She was skipping like little girls do.
It was a bitterly cold day and she was wearing her winter boots.
I heard the sound of the boots against the ground.

I was bringing my husband’s suit to the cleaners.
I was holding the suit tightly as the wind whipped around me.
I left the cleaners with my receipt in my hand.
I should have put the paper in my wallet since the wind was doing its best to steal it.

Read More...

If you came into our garage, you would see CD’s hanging from the ceiling.
The CD’s hang from the metal arm of the garage door openers.
No one hits their head on the CD’s.
They are up too high for that.

The CD’s are hanging from a piece of fish wire.
The CD’s twist and turn in the breeze.
They are definitely a conversation piece.
No one knows why they are there.

Read More...

They were married for 62 years.
They knew each other from the time they were 11 years old.
His 83 years and her 81 years were beginning to take their toll.
They each suffered from various health issues yet remained faithful and steadfast in their love.

He has spent the last three months in and out of hospitals.
Having diabetes, he has had four major surgeries because of poor circulation.
All the surgeries were an attempt to save his feet.
Within the past week, he had his middle toe amputated because of the disease.

Read More...

I remember the year she asked to go.
She wanted to go away for two weeks to a Christian camp with some of her church friends.
The camp was nearby but it would have been her first time away for an extended time.
She was young and was the first of our children to ask permission for such a thing.

I knew the camp and I knew the people with whom she would be going.
My husband was not agreeable to this whole idea.
She’s too young! he said, reminding me that she had just finished sixth grade.
Maybe another year.

Read More...

When my children were little, we vacationed at an Adirondack Ranch Resort.
The children enjoyed it so much, we vacationed there twice.
There were chalet cabins to stay in and even a lake house for large families.
The lake had pontoon boats rides, pedal boats, row boats, and kayaks.

There were activities for families all through the day.
There were horseback riding lessons and guided trail riding.
There was a fun rodeo, hayrides, wagon rides, and horse-drawn sleigh rides in the winter.
Experienced wranglers even taught the children roping skills.

Read More...

My husband takes a trip each year to volunteer to build houses.
He has traveled both nationally and internationally.
In each place the style of home is quite different.
In each place someone will have a home that they never had before.

My husband has built houses in India, El Salvador, Haiti, and soon the Philippines.
He goes to be a blessing but he is the one who has been blessed.
In each place he has left a bit of his heart with the people and the children he has met there.
He usually brings two bags with him when he travels.

Read More...