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There’s ayellow linein the centerof the roadcalled Life. Those whowalk it are –…Normal. We put one footin front of the other,and like a kidon a balance beamwith arms out stretched,we spendevery minuteof every daywalking the line. We act the partPractice our scripts,Choreograph each step.Analyze every performance,Longing to fit in,Pretending to belong. After-all,we just wantto be…NormalNeurotypicalA…
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Life’s a banquetAnd most pour soulsAre starving to death. It’s a lineFrom the productionOf Auntie Mame. The real line is:Life’s a banquetAnd most SOB’sAre starving to death. But since it’s soClose to the holidaysI thought I should beMore reserved. I have my own versionOf this line:Life’s a borgassmord – Yes, you read me right.Borgassmord is…
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I had a scorpionunder my pillow.Sounds like a greatMetaphor for life,Except for the fact that –I had a scorpionUnder my pillow. He seemed to arriveduring the night.I saw him but in thedarkness before dawnI didn’t know what he was. The imageStuck with me,And later that dayI checked to seeif he was there. He was andHe…
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This is for all the women who are still too afraid to speak up… There are more of themThen we’d like.They are everywhere. The momentThey begin to speak,You wish you hadGotten that prescriptionfor Xanax filledin addition tothe Valium chaser. Typically maleThey hide behindTheir titles They suck the airout of a room.Always the experts,They talkoverunder andaround…
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About seven weeks ago,Sadie and Charlie led us to believethat there were crittersunder the hood of our lovely car. Critters there were –A family of miceBuilt a hotelInvited friends and family.Then opened a Restaurantthat served the delicacyOf what was our dream car. They never left.Where we wentThey went.Perhaps going on outingsWherever we were.New towns, new…
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Bubbling with joyand laughterSomeone said,“I think you’ve hadtoo much wine.” Oh honey,I thought,It’s not too much wineIt’s too many filtersAnd tonight I took them off! Stay in controlDon’t offendDon’t speakDon’t overpower It’s wearisome. Filters make us:ShrinkStupefyPretendTake the back seat. After a whileone forgets howto talk at all.Words stumble out,but evaporate intonothingness. Stay in controlDon’t offendDon’t…
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A life time agoWe got all dressed upAnd signed a document. Some call it a licenseBut in realityIts just insurance. Insurance for when thedouble Ds come calling. George Burn said,“50% of marriage ends in divorce…The rest end in death.” Death and Divorce,Those are the double Ds. That piece of paper,That license that makesThis union legal…
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The fog hides my sunrise,It’s mist consuming my blanket.The weight on my chestMatches that on my shoulders. So many disruptionsSo much pain-and I forget to be grateful. TrafficStore clerksFinancesSicknessUncertainty-and I forget to be grateful. His healthHer depressionTheir sadnessThe weight unbearable-and I forget to be grateful. Where is happiness?When did joy make an exit?Pain runs through…
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My heart is heavyMy heart is joyful.We’ve been here beforeLikely here again,And yet it isn’tAny easier. This one has beenWriting her own storySince the day sheWas born. She came too soon –25 weeks is not enough.“She’s a fighter,”Is what we heard.And a fighterShe is. She’s my Warrior Princess,Queen of the Pokemon.She has deep knowledgeOf the…
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Happy Nude Year!New Year?No.Nude Year! The year weexpose ourtrue selves,wartsbelly fatand all. The yearwe removepretenseshameblame. Fully embracingthe uswe werebornto be. The ones whoDanceSingLoveLaugh. In this Nude Yearwe leaveFearAnxietyMelancholyat the door. We don’tHide,Retreat,Disappearany more. Oh no –we areSeenHeardInvited We entera roomand it getsbrighter. We share ourJoyand othersListen In thisNude Yearwe wearour skincomfortably And oursoulsbegin tosee theworlddifferently.…
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Tonight I standOn holy ground. There isn’t a MosesOr a burning bush. There isn’t thunder rollingNor lightning strikes,The earth isn’t quacking. Sitting in front of meAre a handful of musiciansTalking about musicImagining new tunesAnd unsung lyrics Dreaming of creating somethingThat moves us all It’s holyBIG holyIt’s the holiest of holy The honesty blankets the roomThey…
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Witches come in twosThe good one andThe bad. Wonderland had aWhite Queen andThe Red one. Narnia also had two,But they were both bad. The most famous duoLived in The Land of OzWhere the Wicked WitchOf the West gets smashedBy the Good Witch of the North Two witchesA goodA badSo why is there onlyOne type of…
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You say brokenLike it’s a bad thing.All my favorite peopleAre broken. BrokennessAllows newnessIt’s when we areFree to make somethingDifferent of our lives. It’s where we findOur uniquenessAnd differentiateOurselves from the herd.To change directionAnd moveCloser to freedom. A seed breaksthrough the groundBut the groundDoesn’t cry“I’m broken!”Rather it offersSpace andNourishment for theBeauty that is to come. You…
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Wouldn’t that be wonderfulIf the New Year bought a new YOUYour friends and family would love it! A you who shows upA you who is engagedA you that cares more aboutWhat is going on in other peoples livesThan what is happening in your own. A you who arrives on timeAnd sometimes, leaves early.A you who…
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As the Christmas Carol says, …and the soul felt its worth.
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It’s too late, I heard her say And I felt my world Crumble a little It can’t be There’s time There has to be More time I’ve been waiting… I’ve been waiting… I heard myself say Waiting for what? Waiting on who? And how long has this been going on? All my life! My heart…
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I am ready An arsenal of words Organized for impact I am right! You are wrong! I’m will show you the errors of your way. Then… The sun rose over the hills The dainty green leaves Of the Pepper Tree Danced in its warmth. Birds flew over Delighting in all the Night’s rain had uncovered.…
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It’s 5 AM and 75 degrees The stars sparkle across the sky Shining just enough light To make the palm trees look scary. There’s a gentle breeze, but it does not cool. In the distance, windows begin to illuminate as wake over-takes sleep There’s a sound of nature In the distance, the four-legged type, and…
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The voices of disapproval Echo in my head. Your voice is there Telling me I’m not good enough That’s it’s my fault That I’m the one to blame. The sound plays in a loop Like a broken record But there’s no one To remove the needle. The voices of shame Smother me Preventing me from…
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Jealousy, Hatred, Envy, and Insecurity These evil fellows I’ve come to know. They slither and scheme Watching and waiting, Sensing the second My guard is down. Their attack is sharp And so deep It stings and bites Exposing my scars. They blindside And de-rail At moments Most vulnerable. They’re disguises Are cleaver Some days looking…
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The ground below me has liquified, And the path no longer exists. The voices of caution behind me, warn of danger outsides of this. Through the mist and wind I sense him Standing just out of reach But the ground below me has liquified And a clear path does not exist. He could have calmed…
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Our rhythm of life has been a syncopated mess Stealing beats and melodies That didn’t belong to us. Keeping up with time changes, Incidentals, and accidentals. Trying our best at improve But the riffs and jams were always just a little off. Our rhythm belong to no one but us. So let’s stop playing composed…
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The world wasn’t ready, but that didn’t stop you! Fifteen weeks early YOU made your entrance. Less than two pounds of humanity, you burst forth with ease, effortlessly entering the world. It didn’t take long for the ease to turn too complicated. But we heard them say, “She’s a fighter!” and that you are. Needles,…
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I stand in the doorway and listen. It’s a sound that is both familiar and foreign. We’ve been anticipating it’s arrival, but not with great expectation. In our world these events come with little guarantee. ~ The family of four around the corner, celebrate with great delight! Inviting the rest of us to join in…
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And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Genesis 3:11 In the beginning was a God, a man, and a woman. The two humans were secluded, protected, and cared for by their God. They had only to enjoy their lives. These three were in-sync. Best of all, Adam and Eve knew God’s voice,…
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Tonight I find myself the lowly farmer on the hill. I have the title because my youngest offspring loves to fill every crack and crevice of her life with things she can take care of. Couple this with her desire to travel and it is why – tonight, I find myself the lowly farmer on…
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For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 God has plans Somewhere along this journey called life, we learn to anticipate the bad. The phone rings un-expectantly and we answer, Everything OK? And…
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Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap. Galatians 6:7 Science refers to it as Cause and Effect; for every action there is a reaction. The entire universe operates on the Law of Sowing and Reaping. Agriculture is the best example. Even the financial world…
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A Simple Faith in a Complicated World “Faith is hard,” my friend said – and my heart broke. I don’t believe God intended for it to be difficult. I do believe we have made it so. Can faith really be simplified? Yes. The world is complicated and we’ve allowed our lives to be overly complicated,…
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A Simple Faith in a Complicated World “Faith is hard,” my friend said – and my heart broke. I don’t believe God intended for it to be difficult. I do believe we have made it so. Can faith really be simplified? Yes. Our world is complicated. We’ve allowed our lives to be overly complicated but…
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I turned 60 last month. I find this funny because my birthday was in February. I love birthdays, not for the gifts and celebrations, but for the milestones they represent. Afterall, I’ve worked my whole life to be this old…I’m going to enjoy it!! That has been my mantra – that is until I turned 60.…
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What’s the secret to a long marriage? Answer: There isn’t one. Marriage is an adventure. It has ups and downs. Good times and dark times. Ruth Graham, the wife of most holy Billy Graham, said she never considered divorce – murder on many occasions – but never divorce. Jeff and I have made it through…
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Here’s a glimpse into moments of real life when you’re generationally living… It’s Friday evening and Jeff is at church for the Good Friday service. I have just returned from the grocery store with food for Sunday’s dinner. I’m watching the clock because I’ve determined that I will sit down and watch the service live.…
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Living with a two-year-old is something you take for granted in your twenties and thirties. Having a two-year-old around in your late fifties brings new joys. Amelia was six months old when we moved on the hill. It was no surprise when one of her first words was, “Hi!” With six adults living here, there…
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“Those dirty democrats.” That’s what my mom used to say. She grew up in Chicago in the 30 and 40’s so she came to this conclusion honestly. When Jimmy Carter won, and mom found out that my dad had voted for him, she was out of commission for 3 days. Turns out, Jimmy Carter is…
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I had no idea that being a Carnivore was a thing unless you were a dinosaur or lion. But less than 4 months ago after being on a very balanced (protein, veggie, carb) meal plan I stepped off the scale and said, “I’ve got to get this under control or go see a doctor because…
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Even though I may roll my eyes when asked what growing up as a preachers kids was like, I am grateful for many aspects of it. Especially for the Bible stories I learned in Sunday school. One that keeps coming to mind recently is a story between an arrogant king and a rugged old man…
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If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. This verse is being tossed all over the place recently. So I thought it would be…
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We memorized this as kids, along with the Books of the Bible, and dozens of other verses. The 23rd Psalm is a multi-use scripture. It’s comforting in difficult times, encouraging in good times, and calming in fearful times. Recently I learned some facts about sheep that has brought new light to this old standard: Sheep facts…
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As a teen, my friends and I tubed down the Crystal River. It was a summertime favorite. We’d make the forty-five minute drive, park our cars in the gravel parking lot, pay our fee, get on a big green bus and be taken up the river. We excitedly exited the bus and made our way…
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I’ve had a ton of self-discovery these past few weeks. Thanks to a book titled Dream Big, I no longer feel like there’s something wrong with me cause I love being involved in a bunch of things at one time. Thanks to a small book study with five old friends, I feel more connected than…
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Forty years – how did we make it through 40 years? When I look at the number ten – looks like a very nice number, twenty looks a bit fanciful, thirty is whimsical, but forty looks solid. I googled the meaning of the number 40 – the number 40 generally symbolizes a period of testing,…
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Definition of Connectedness People with the StrengthsFinder theme of Connectedness believe that everything happens for a reason. They have the unique ability to ‘connect the dots’ between what is happening in the here and now with deep personal meaning. If you share the StrengthsFinder characters of Connectedness with me, you know how it can screw…
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I grew up in a world that was primarily black and white. It consisted of many lists of absolutes. There were wrong and rights, goods and bads, dos and don’ts. We lived by the absolutes and we judged other’s accordingly. As a young adult, the lines between what was once black and white began to…
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This past weekend I heard someone speak the mundane moments in life. In fact, Ben said that it is just possible that those mundane moments are holy moments. It was a thought that resinated with me. They were words that made the wells of my eyes fill… She stuck her head in the doorway and…
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Last week Jeff and I set up our home office. We’re still getting used to the fact that we work for the same company. Now we’re sitting next to each other at a white folding table which houses three monitors, and two computers. This luxurious office has a great view – from our bedroom window.…
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Today I was searching for information about the book Girl, Wash Your Face by a young woman named Rachel Hollis. This is a best-selling book which I’ve seen but know very little about. I found what I was looking for and read about this best-seller. In my search, I also found a blog that was warning against…
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Ahhh, it’s that time of year again. The time to look back over the last 12 months to figure out what went well, what changed, what blew-up, what blind sided me, and what I promised never, ever do again. 2020 – who’d have thought. As a high-schooler, the year 2020 was so far in the…
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Somehow our littlest one has turned one. She’s a socialite and her first word was “HI”. It’s no wonder, because every room she enters has someone new greeting her saying, “Hi, Amelia!” Since we moved into this multi-generational crazy world, I’ve found myself frequently saying, “Aye Yai Yai Yai Yai.” It’s fun to say and…
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We currently have thirteen pets on the hill: three dogs, four cats, two hermit crabs, and four chickens. We had five chickens until one of the hens let us know she was a rooster and is now living at a new house. Sadie, our textbook ADD & ADHD puppy has visited the hen house on…
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Our adventures with a 17 year-old has come to an end as abruptly as it began. A week that started with the old escape through the window ended with uncovering text messages from mom which provided the address of the AirB&B she had arranged, delivery of food and plans to drive to California to take…
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“How do they find me? How do they always find me?” This is one of my favorite lines from the movie The Producers. I’ve been known to say similar statements; Why does this always happen to me? Why am I stuck here again? I can’t deal with those people! There was a time I thought…
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School has started and there’s a new normal at the hacienda. This time of year is crazy in any household with school age kids, combine three families, 5 kids attending three different schools and crazy can turn to chaos quickly. This is the typical schedule through out the week: 4:30am Megan heads to work two…
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It was one year ago today that I walked out of a Colorado Courthouse hand in hand with my new sidekick. We had prayed for that day and on that afternoon she was coming home with me for safe keeping. It had been 16 years since we had a 16 year-old in our home. But…
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The car pulled up and as the doors begin to open letting its passengers out, I heard her say, “I love our family.” I watched as this newly formed family exited the car. A new mom, a dad, and three blonde beauties ranging from ten month-old to seventeen year-old with smiles that light up the…
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Today we wait patiently and anxiously for a document to be completed. It’s a document that has been four months in the making and contains a life time of history. Decisions will be made on its content. Decisions that will alter the future and past of those it includes. At times, our particular situation is…
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You know those times that it feels as if a dark heavy cloud has fallen around you and nothing makes sense? Goodseems to be losing ground and all the crazies are finding ways to infiltrate every open crevasse? It’s like a thick fog has fallen and clouded everyone’s vision.
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“And now I know you’ve lost your mind!” my friend replied to my text. But I had been looking for my Sadie dog for some time. Even the grandkids knew that Sadie was coming to our house. “Neenee, go get Sadie!” Liam would say. “I’m looking for her,” I’d reply. “She’s coming, she’s just not…
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I spent time imagining what this new living arrangement would be like, being in the same house that our youngest grand daughter would learn to walk in, she’ll go to her first day of kindergarten from this house and some day move out. I’ve tried to picture how having a space like this is going…
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Today I repurposed a Jade plant. It’s most likely the largest succulent plant I have every seen.
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A few too many thing come together when three house holds move to the same space.
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Our hacienda is one long ranch style house. At some point the owner turned a two car garage into more living space which makes it feel extra long. We do a lot of walking in here because if you want to talk to someone on the other end of the house, you either call them…
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I’ve heard it said that waiting for something to happen is sometimes more about how long we feel is necessary rather how long it really takes. I was pondering this idea one morning as I walked through our neighborhood. What if we don’t have to wait two years for our hacienda? What if it could…
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I’ve been saying it for years, Someday, we’re going to have a hacienda…lots of rooms and California style outside living spaces where we can live, dream and create. My great excitement was usually met with blank stares, wrinkled noses and a few rolled eyes. You see, my loving family are more of the dream busters type than the…
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I hate this idea, it’s never going to work. This is only going to give the annoyed the right to be more annoying…
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Do you remember that morning when we were unloading a truck at 6:00 in the morning because there was a thunder storm the night before and after we finished with the truck Brian checked on the trampoline and found it had blown over during the night because of the crazy winds
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A friend of mine commented that our family hacienda adventure should be wonderful since our personalities are very similar. I nodded a blank nod and later as I recalled the conversation I had to chuckle.
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Generational living? That’s an interesting term, I thought. Then it hit me. We are doing the generational living thing…and that makes Jeff and I … the old people!!
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Maybe wrong numbers are really right numbers and miss-information is exactly the information needed.
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I’ve been saying it for years, Someday, we’re going to have a hacienda…lots of rooms and California style outside living spaces where we can live, dream and create.
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I’ve been doing a lot of cherishing this past week. Our little family has had a big dream of creating our very own California Hacienda. A place where each family can live independently on a piece of property that brings us all together. Last week one such property popped up on my computer and we…
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My sisters and I are in complete agreement that when God was handing out the Gift of Mercy, he missed our family completely, at least our generation. If you’re not familiar with the concept of the Gift of Mercy, don’t stress over it. We’re preachers kids and learned all that bible stuff before we…
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I love Malibu. I’ll never forget the first time Jeff and I drove PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) from Pismo to LAX. Entering Malibu from the north end was breath taking. The Pacific on the right and green rolling hills on the left. The hills were dotted with sprawling estates surrounded by majestic palm tree and…
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What grounds you? she asked the small group that had gathered for an evening of reflection. I had to chuckle to myself. The word grounded had surfaced frequently over the past week. Our new grand-parenting life has changed our vocabulary a bit. Questions like, Do you have homework? What time will you be home? Who’s…
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A few months ago Jeff and I were given a gift we never expected. Truth be told, if we had been asked three months ago if we wanted such a gift, we would most likely have laughed.
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I’ve alway wondered about the name A Perfect Storm. We don’t describe anything else in this manner. We don’t say the Perfect Illness or Perfect Plane-crash, but somehow a storm that is likely to cause great devastation is classified as perfect. I saw the movie Perfect Storm and I can still see the giant wall…
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Walking on water are those times in life when we find ourselves being called out into the unknown and we’re pulled between our desire, our fears, and our reality.
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I never had a problem rattling off a list of things I enjoyed doing, projects I loved getting involved with, and topics I loved teaching. Then one day I decided to learn to meditate and everything changed. The first meditation talked all about finding our deepest desire. Deepest Desire? What’s that? I wondered and moments…
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My husband refers to them as those who make a lot of chatter. You know the type. They are those special people in your life who have perfected the fine art of looking busy but never accomplishing much. These so called chatters start out as wonderful people. They are fun. They interact well (cause…they like…
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I love watching kids play. It’s like watching mini adults without all their protective shields. This weekend our three youngest grandchildren were at our house. They may only be one year a part in age but in personalities – they aren’t on the same sphere. Liam, our lego engineer had designed a lego RC (remote…
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My dad used to say this when a soloist was preforming a song for longer than he thought was necessary. With a curious grin and a painful expression, he’d quietly say, “Turn the page, you fat-head.” I’m not sure where this statement originated. Many of his quirky sayings came from the early radio days. “My…
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I’m intrigued with the idea that our emotions can be measured as energy. Laughter, joy, love, are positive energy, while anger, hatred, anxiety are negative. There seems to be an abundance of negative energy these days. We seem to ooze anger, hatred, anxiety, resentment and fear. I recently listened to a series of books written…
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Is it really possible that we can bring things into existence by speaking it? Can we move mountains or walk on water? There are many who say we can’t – Jesus said we can. I believe that we are creative people. In fact, I think that it may just be our creativity that God made…
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We had a kitchen faucet that leaked. It was a slow drip. The only way to stop it was to move the handle slightly to the left when turning it off. We lived with this special faucet for approximately seven years – which was 6 years, 11 months, 3 weeks and 6 days too long,…
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I’ve spent more time on elementary school grounds recently than I have in the past twenty years. It’s one of the benefits of having grandkids living close by. My daughter held tightly to Liam’s hand as they made their way to his room. The door was decorated with Owls, not easy to miss. Emery and…
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Last week I listened to a meditation. Now that sentence doesn’t even make much sense. How can you listen to a meditation? Well, for people like me who find it hard to think about nothing, we must be instructed how to meditate. Apparently organizing the day, planning the menu, and practicing conversations are not what…
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She gives food to her household and an allotted share to her maidens. Proverbs 31:15 I managed a women clothing store for two years. It was an interesting experience to say the least. There was a lot of butt checking, arm wiggling, and tummy tucking. There was a great deal of comments like, “I’d never…
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You know what it’s like when someone tells you not to think about something and all you can do is think about the thing you’re not supposed to be thinking about? Taking my blood pressure is like that for me. For the second time in my life it’s been recommended that I take and record…
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My mom and I share a common trait. It is refer to as white coat syndrome. This is when you go to the doctor and the people in white coats, which really doesn’t exist anymore, takes your blood pressure and everyone get concerned because you are a few seconds away from a stroke or perhaps…
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My mom and I share a common trait. It is refer to as white coat syndrome. This is when you go to the doctor and the people in white coats, which really doesn’t exist anymore, takes your blood pressure and everyone get concerned because you are a few seconds away from a stroke or perhaps…
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I’ve been thinking (and talking) a lot about inner tubes in the past few months. It’s an image that we use in the book Living Unstuck and it’s an image that has etched itself into my brain. The idea of living life as if we are resting on an inner tube and gently floating through…
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I’ve been thinking (and talking) a lot about inner tubes in the past few months. It’s an image that we use in the book Living Unstuck and it’s an image that has etched itself into my brain. The idea of living life as if we are resting on an inner tube and gently floating through…
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There is a large glass vase that sits on my fireplace. It has the words Lest You Forget etched into it. It’s meant to be a marker, a way of remembering. We need markers in our life to help us remember. As young parents we forget what it was like to be a kid. As…
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I heard him say, “I just can’t forgive myself. I feel so guilty…” I’ve heard others say this very thing but on that day his words hit me in an odd way. What would cause someone to not accept forgiveness? Why would anyone want to hold on to the past that badly? “I feel guilty…” I played…
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As 2016 came to an end, I contemplated what adventures were awaiting the arrival of 2017. I like making resolutions, but last year I simplified it to three words: Books, Trips, Easy. As I’ve begun thinking about my words for 2018, I decided to look back and evaluate my 2017 results. Books. YES! it was…
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Every been tubing? It was a favorite summer activity as a teen. We’d drive to the middle of nowhere, pay our fee and climb on an old school bus painted hunter green. With a strong enough imagination, you could pretend you were traveling with the Partridge Family. The bus would transport us up a winding…
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In early August, Jeff and I booked reservations to travel to Chicago on December 6th. It would be the second of our newly established annual Christmas on Michigan Ave get-a-way. On November 9th I caught a bug which was diagnosed a week later as pneumonia. A week on antibiotics and I still had no energy…
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In the past few weeks it’s been made very apparent to me that I’ve created a bit of a nightmare. It started by cracking the door open just a tad and suddenly I realized it was taking all my strength to keep this monster contained. The monster is made up of all the extra responsibilities…
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I just recently realized what the saying, Six to one, half-a-dozen to another means. All my life I thought it referred to a mathematical equation – like a ratio. 6 is to 1 like 1/2 of 12 is to another; another equalling X, thus 6:1 = 6:X. The equation made sense but what was mind…
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She claims she doesn’t remember saying it. But she did. I remember the moment. We were sitting in her unfurnished new home and every word we spoke echoed through the open space bouncing off the walls back to us. It was like sitting inside a really bad stereo. She was making something to drink and…
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Have you ever looked closely at the story of Cinderella? It’s a terrible story. Mother dies, father marries a bitch, two evil step sisters arrive, father dies, and Cinderella’s only hope of escape is a fairy god mother or a prince. What are those chances? Children grow up is situations that are less than perfect…
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Ever feel like all you do is shovel other people’s shit? Before I explain, I need to make a little adjustment. You see I grew up in a house where we ate chicken chests and we wore top underwear. There were some words such as breast or bra that were just not appropriate. So the…
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It’s been almost nine years since we moved to California. A move that was never part of the greater plan, but a plan that we’re so grateful happened. Shortly after we arrived we bought our first citrus tree, a Key Lime Tree. So excited we put it in a big pot, set it in the…
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The term marginal has been used a lot lately. Typically it’s used to describe those who are different, or have specific needs, who are not the norm. There is a very distinct group of people that come to mind when I think of those who are marginal. If I step back and look at all the…
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My mother grew up in Chicago and in our childhood instilled the love for the Chicago she knew. There is, and always has been, one magical place that we too share her love for. That is the city block building with green majestic clocks on each corner that was once known as Marshall Fields on…
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I got on a paddle board for the first time just about a year ago. It was thrilling. Something I’ve wanted to do since the first time I saw it. With my daughter and husband along side we headed out, kneeling in the middle of our boards, paddles in hand. I watched as my daughter…
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It’s a simple equation; negative energy fuels negative energy. Doesn’t matter if it’s on opposite ends of an argument or coming from opposing opinions; negative energy fuels negative energy. Remember your parents saying, “You can’t fight fire with fire!” This time they were actually correct. Fighting fire with fire – usually creates a bigger fire.…
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Perhaps this election is much more than who won. Perhaps it’s a wake-up call to show us the true state of our nation and that there is still a lot to be done to ensure all who call it home are free. Maybe it’s to teach us that we really don’t believe the words written…
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He swooped into our lives and stole the heart of our daughter. It wasn’t until recently that we learned he comes from a long line of pirates, French pirates who fled to Scotland. ‘French, Scottish Pirates’, sounds like something from Dr. Who. Unknowingly, we had been prayer for his arrival for several years. “God, send…
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“There’s nothing more tiresome as listening to wealthy people complain about all they have to do to care for their wealth.” It should be a line from a movie, but it’s not. It doesn’t even come up as a quote on Google. I know, I checked. I figure if you are smart enough to acquire…
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My husband always says you can tell a lot about a man when you meet his wife. I’ve alway thought this was an interesting observation. It’s one that has never disappointed. Some encounters can be scripted and without interruption, go according to script, word for word. Others are surprising, shining a new light on a…
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I’ve been working on Moxy for some time now. Moxy is my name for the woman described in Proverbs 31. A proverb that I’ve been studying since I was in Jr. High. This is a proverb that has been used by some to set an unrealistic expectation for women to become the perfect wife,…
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The text message read: Morning. I received a private message from my friend in Colorado. Her body is shutting down and is calling hospice today. She asked if I would be able to come photograph them as a family during these last days. I want to make that happen if it’s possible. Call me. A…
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Each year I find myself revisiting Proverbs 31. It’s been a proverb that I have loved and read since a teen. Back then, this Proverb was all about being the perfect wife – HA!- the perfect wife only exists when there is a perfect husband – HA!HA! In my 30’s it spoke to me on…
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There’s a clock on the wall in my bathroom that isn’t audible until 2:00 in the morning when it echoes in my ears. From my bed I can hear every second that passes in the early morning hours. Time is such an interesting thing to me. On one hand it seems to be completely man…
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My recent surgery to remove a large barnacle and two malfunctioning organs (details in the link below) gave me cause to seek out some advise, and there was a lot of it. I asked those who had this procedure what I should expect. There was advise on medication, recovery, and the highly debatable – estrogen.…
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I called to check on my soon to be 88 year old mother who has been dealing with a cold this past week… Hello. Well you sound better. I feel better. (cough, cough) Good, You taking your medicine? Yes. But not the prescription. It had big letters on the bottle that says it will make…
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I’ve wanted to write a little ditty on sex but thought it may be too provocative for some (or my mother) so I’m going to refer to sex as crocheting. I personally fall into the category of only ever having one crocheting partner. I’m not sure if this is rare as I don’t think my…
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“You don’t want to be in love, you want to be in love in a movie.” It’s a great line from the movie Sleepless in Seattle. Two woman, sitting in their living room, sobbing as they watch a scene from the classic An Affair to Remember. The one says, “I want to be in love.”…
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In a few days I’m going in to have an ugly skin tag removed. It been with me for a while and I really could live with it, but the doc says it can come off, so why not? At the same time, he is going to remove my uterus and ovaries. Now, one would…
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Three weeks ago I found myself down for the count. In fact, I was so down that I was gathering my things to go to the hospital. I called a nurse hot line and was assured that I wasn’t in any danger but I should call my doctor. I did and they made me an…
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Thursday is Liam and Emery’s sleep over night and since Jeff is out of town, I’m flying solo. I promised dinner at Panda Express which won out over the McDonalds with a play ground. As we made our short commute, we had the radio playing and a commercial for Hospice came on, I quickly turned the…
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She laid in bed looking up at the ceiling. Today would be different, it had to be. Another night of restless sleep, she couldn’t do it much longer. She rolled onto her side and pushed herself up off the matt. She walked across the floor of her one room dwelling to the basin to wash.…
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Your Wagon is a Saggin’ Written Jeannie Bruenning Illustrated by Austyn Ford Your Wagon is a Saggin’ records the journey of a young boy named Philip learn how to deal with three very difficult emotions: Sadness, Angry, and I Don’t Understand. These three emotions are represented as rocks that have been keeping young Philip’s wagon,…
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Mr. Hobbins Written by Jeannie Bruenning Illustrated by Carolyn S Kuether After realizing that possessions can never return love, Mr. Hobbins learns the important lesson that people are more valuable than eve the most beautiful things.
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The Captive Forgiveness seemed unattainable and fear dominated their existence. Incapable of making the journey to freedom alone, they needed a champion, someone to lock arm and arm and lead them to freedom. Life for the Humans and Fallen Souls change as Jael returns to the Kingdom, Konnory takes on Turayn, Magnor gets his battle,…
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It all begins with an idea. It can hit us in the shower, driving on the freeway, or observing strangers in a store. A few hours later we find ourselves still thinking about it and finally admit, “There is something there.” A day, or week, a month or years later we begin the journey of…
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Silver Thread Publishing allows me to make an authors dream come true by putting their work into print. How often can we actually hold our dream? Books do that for us, they start with an idea and eventually turn into thousands of words printed neatly on a page. Books allow us to hold those original…
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I love Beatrice Miller! First off, she’s a shop girl. She’s young, full of dreams and vision. She loves her family (even if they are a little off) and learns she is willing to do anything to protect them. She redefines letting go. The Memoirs of Beatrice Miller Beatrice was from a small town and…
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Finding Your Voice – Online Writing Group A lesson in speaking your mind and writing your thoughts. Fourteen topics, fourteen essays, short stories, or memoirs. Finding Your Voice is more than a writing exercise. It’s a way to format your beliefs, express your thoughts and join in conversations while improving your writing skills. Every two weeks a new…
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A good friend and I were talking about some difficult interactions we had encountered over the past week or so. The ones where it’s easy for the other person to suck the life out of you – fill your mind with frustrating conversation, and even push a few buttons. She shared that after one such…
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Mark 12: 28-31 One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered,“The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and…
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Down through history, this proverb has been minimized to describing the perfect wife. If that is what you are looking for, you will certainly find her tucked away in these verses. But Proverbs 31 is so much more than that. It is a detailed description of all that a woman can be. It is an…
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The text read, “I think you should come see Star Wars with us at some point, I think you’d like it now that you’ve accepted your sci-fi-ness.” Any mom is thrilled when their kids want them to tag along, no matter what their ages; and not just to pay! “I think I need a refresher,”…
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Those four little word can cause ones stomach to churn, jaw to tighten, and breathing to become erratic if you live with or work with an Idea Person. The mind of an Idea Person provides an endless supply of suggestions, instructions on how things should be done, and possible ways to make life better and…
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I’m alway a little reluctant to read the post that Facebook pops on my page titled…two years ago today, or four years ago, or whatever. There are some things I’d rather forget. This past month, images of our Emery have been popping up, taking me back to those early months when we didn’t know what…
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Warm, buttery, sweet pretzels made their way into the Oktoberfest menu a few years ago. They were fantastic! In fact, the entire event could have been beer and pretzels and no one would have complained. This is my favorite (and I vote the best) recipe for Pretzels. Buttery Soft Pretzels http://allrecipes.com/recipe/24272/buttery-soft-pretzels/?internalSource=recipe%20hub&referringId=2444&referringContentType=recipe%20hub Be prepared, one batch…
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I’m finding myself looking at FB less and less these days and as the election draws closer, may even become estranged from it’s pages. Most recently there’s been a lot of posts about sending illegal aliens back to where they came from. I hope that we don’t get rid of all aliens, because I don’t…
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I’ve spent more time on elementary school grounds in the past week than I have in the past twenty years. Our grandkids have both started school and we get to be a part of their “first week” experience. Today as Austyn held tightly to Liam’s hand, leading him to Room # 2 which was decorated…
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Every parent has memorable moments that get tucked away in our minds and heart. I have a file cabinet filled with Raun’s. Today, as he celebrates another year and I think back over his ‘a bit more than average‘ life – it’s the comments that echo through the past: Two-year-old Preschool Teacher: “We love having…
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The tires of the bike refused to make the transition between the dirt path and black top, causing the bike to tumble and Liam to slide face down across the riding trail. The rest of us squealed our brakes and I shouted out, “Oh, Jesus!” We retrieved him from the ground, wiped the tears and…
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There’s a story about a group of men who brought a woman to Jesus claiming that they caught her in the act of adultery. I love this story for many reasons. The first is that is based on a “sin” that we can all agree on. The second is that it’s a woman being blamed…
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Since there is nothing else going on in our daughter and son-in-law’s life this summer, Austyn decided it would be a great time to potty train Emery. There are a few developmental issue that we are all waiting for Emery to discover. One is knowing when there is too much food in her mouth, preferably…
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It started with a simple question, “What are the sirens on the side of the highway for? Tornados? We don’t have Tornados here? Hurricanes? We don’t have those either. Earthquakes? No, we’ve lived here for seven years and never felt one. Then what are they for? High Surf – it tells us when it isn’t…
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Having Emery around is always an adventure. During this current visit we are watching the barometric pressure closely to see what variances affect her the most. I have my wunderground weather map open of the computer at all times, allowing me to quickly access any drop or rise in pressure. This past Sunday we were…
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A recent conversation gave me cause to really think about this question. We currently have our two grandkids with us and at the age of fifty-four, both Jeff and I would agree, now is not the time to have little ones. This could be because there are toys on the living room floor, or juice…
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A few months ago, Emery’s neurologist (not many four year olds can boast of having one of those) confessed that even if it meant loosing Emery as a patient, she would do much better living at sea level. Mom and Dad took this to heart and began the process of bringing to an end the life they’ve…
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They steal our hearts as puppies and then become one of the family. Ellie was with us during transitions; moving into the city (Chicago), kids in college, grandchildren, and moving to the beach (Pismo). She had a great life and made ours feel a little more normal. From following Grandma around ’cause she knew she…
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I heard about Re-Birthing while listening to a Nerdist podcast. Jeff Bridges was being interviewed and somewhere in the middle of a story, he took a right turn and ended up in Re-birthing. The simplistic definition is this: we continually re-live our birth experience all through our life; especially when we are faced with conflict,…
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On my last trip to Denver, Emery informed me of this fact several times. “You can’t be bigger than me,” Liam would say, confirming his place in the world. “I’m the oldest.” On the same visit, Austyn slapped a stack of bills on the table, “Just under $10,000 left of Emery’s medical bills and we’ll…
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I have a little (well really big) issue with all this comparison of women being princesses. Who wants to be a princess all their life – I want to be Queen. The Kardashian’s are princess, Britney Spears is a princess, Oprah Winfry – she’s a Queen. See the difference? The dictionary defines Princess as: the…
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As I opened the patio door for Ellie, I grabbed my cup of tea and headed back to bed. I never sleep in, but once in a while the thought of getting back into bed and turning on a favorite episode of Dr. Who is very tempting. As I pulled the covers up and reached…
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I sat in a small sanctuary Sunday morning gazing up at three people huddled together on the platform. My good friend Ros stood on one side; Ros walked into my life – twice – and on the second time, I knew I had better hold on to her. On the other side was Jason, a…
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Upon arriving home for the store a few weeks ago, I found a bird in our entrance. I quietly backed out of the garage door and told Jeff he should open the outside door in hopes it would leave. Jeff opened the door ever so carefully and then walked to peer into the side window.…
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At the beginning of Proverbs 31, Queen Mum is giving instruction about what kind of woman her son should seek in a partner. She wasn’t saying “find this wife and take her from her current husband”. She was describing the qualities required to be a wife, mother, and partner. She was describing a woman first,…
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Audio Lesson: https://youtu.be/_fjIOQAZg4s Her children rise and call her fortunate; her husband praises her. This is where the saying, they will rise up and call her blessed comes from. Heard many children speaking to their parents recently? There’s not a lot of rising up and blessings going on. It’s rare. Just as rare as our…
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Audio Lesson: https://youtu.be/3qrBSbt8ZJg She supervises the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Supervising is not controlling. Supervisors assure that everything is working, they give direction when needed, they train, teach and enhance the lives of those they are responsible for. They aren’t the busy bees either. They do their…
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She opens her mouth with wisdom, and instruction of kindness is on her tongue. Forget the wisdom and kindness for a moment. She opens her mouth…. She controls it. She opens it, it doesn’t just flap uncontrollably. She doesn’t vomit words, allowing them to spill out on those around sending a retched stench through the…
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Audio Lesson: https://youtu.be/qKLyd7ntbL0 Strength and beauty are her raiment, and she laughs at the last day. We know she is strong, she has legs of vigor and strong arms. We know she is beautiful, she has created her own style and wears it well. Now we know that she laughs. I love laughter. Laughter is…
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Audio Lesson: https://youtu.be/2Fp_j8g1JhE She makes a cloak and sells it, and she gives a belt to the trafficker. She is making stuff again. She’s a handy-mandy. We don’t make stuff much anymore. It’s becoming a lost art. Back in the day, it was a school requirement. How else were you going to be able to…
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Audio Lesson on YouTube: https://youtu.be/3PVH5SnVBGo Her husband in known in the gates, when he sits with the elders of the land. Not everyone is invited to sit at the gates with elders. There is limited seating. The cartoon image I have is hubby hanging out with the boys, smoking cigars while wify is tending to the…
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Audio Lesson: https://youtu.be/ydnXjbsWc5M She makes beautiful bedspreads for herself; fine linen and purple wool are her raiment. If you are picturing a woman to has no time for herself, you are wrong. This isn’t the raggedy lady that has thrown on the same old blue jeans and T-shirt because she is so busy taking care of…
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Audio Lesson: https://youtu.be/mRpgq-MucJw She fears not for her household for the snow, for all her household are dressed in crimson. Can we just stop at she fears not! Fear is driving our current world. We are paralyzed by it, consumed by it, drugged up in hopes to ignore it, physically sick because of it; it controls…
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Audio Lesson: https://youtu.be/uu0nGhGiGFg 19 She stretches forth her hands onto the distaff, and her hands support the spindle. 20 She spreads out her hand to the poor man, and she stretches her hands out to the needy. You gotta get your hands a little dirty. She isn’t afraid to. The distaff is the part of a…
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Audio Lesson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3-mHlyy9CI She advises that her merchandise is good her lamp does not go out at night. She doesn’t just think it, she knows it. She knows that what she accomplishes is good and she is relentless, never turning off the light, never calling it quits. It’s not easy to be confident in your finished projects.…
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Audio Lesson: https://youtu.be/g7yLip3lVic She girds her loins with vigor and strengthens her arms. Sometime we read scriptures as some spiritual metaphor and sometimes we can just read it literally. I’m going with literal on this one and it’s called being physically fit. I’m not sure I’ve ever described someone to have vigorous legs. It’s an image…
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Audio Lesson: https://youtu.be/I4_os4Rg5TY She contemplates a field and purchases it; from the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She not only buys and sells land, she turns it into a vineyard! She is a wise business woman who can hold her own. Not everyone is destined to be CEOs, CFOs, or an entrepreneur. But…
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Audio Lesson: https://youtu.be/1kyVPYuurX8 She gives food to her household and an allotted share to her maidens. I managed a women clothing store for two years. It was an interesting experience. During my time there, my little store did fashion shows. We would take eight women and dress them up in three outfits and then allow them…
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Audio Lesson: https://youtu.be/8LBoy4Y6WeM She rises when it is still night; I am an early riser. Always have been, always will be. When my grandkids are visiting they know that I’ll get up with them no matter how early it is. I think it’s a waste of time laying in bed waiting to other people…
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Audio Lesson: https://youtu.be/eDHWYQ2D1OM She seeks wool and flax, and she works it with her hands. She is like the merchant ships, she brings food from afar. I’m guessing that McDonald’s Drive Thru does not qualify for being like a merchant ship bringing food from afar. Seeking wool and flax, working with her hands, bringing food…
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Audio Lesson: https://youtu.be/n1DcJ-moFL4 She requites him with good and not evil all the days of her life. I love watching old couples. There seems to be two types. The first are the two who walk hand in hand, slowly, peacefully – simply enjoying being with each other. The others walk apart, the front one…
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Audio Lesson: https://youtu.be/rSY4_GyksN4 Her husband relies on her, and he will lack no gain. It takes a lot to rely on someone. There are many we think we should be able to rely on, there are only a few that are truly reliable. It takes time to build the level of trust required to be…
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Audio Lesson: https://youtu.be/vh4ALPUQB1Y Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to the pleasure of kings. Son, before we look at who you should seek out, let’s look at a few things you need to remember. Queen Mum may be referring to those I call “Life Suckers”. They are those who enter a…
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Audio Lesson: https://youtu.be/7HSA0FKULJo 1 The Queen Mum 1 The words of Lemuel the king; a prophecy that his mother chastised him; Translation: the king is retelling what the Queen Mum taught him about being a woman. In this first stanza I am already flooded with questions: How did she teach this? Undoubtable it was not a one…
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Mourning is part of life. It’s an emotion we have been given. Sometimes, however, we get stuck there. Like the old LP records that skip or a DVD that is scratched, we relive a few words over and over. Even worse, we are frozen on one frame. I’ve realized that there are different types of…
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I’m a huge Dr. Who fan – HUGE. Thanks to my kids, I now wake up at 4:00AM on Sunday morning, pay my $1.99 to Amazon for the privilege of watching the latest BBC episode. The show is brilliant on many levels. Dr. Who always warns us about changing someone’s future. However, he typically he…
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My little store does fashion shows throughout the year. We take eight women and dress them up in three outfits and then allow them to parade through a crowd of other women who are all wishing they knew how to put together outfits like these. It’s quite fun and the women have a great time.…
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I arrived in Denver at 8:30 PM and by the time we got to Brian and Austyn’s home, the two little ones were asleep. I began rehydrating myself (I’ve been here before, the altitude sucks all moisture out of me) and tried to follow the instructions for the following day. Austyn wrote the them on…
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The first night of our road trip was quite eventful. About an hour after falling asleep I was awakened by Emery’s cough as she slept next to me. I said her name and Austyn bolted over to our bed. For the next few minutes I took the supporting role as Austyn instructed me what to…
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It started with a phone call, “Mom, want to take a road trip?” “Sure, where are we going?” “Chicago, then up to see grandmas.” “Who?” “Me and the kids.” “When?” “August…” Tomorrow I will board a plane that will take me from Cali to Colorado. It will be the first time on a plane since…
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My crazy aunt once told me she would frequent Goodwill to purchase satin wedding dresses which she made into pillowcases. I thought everything Aunt Meryle said was true, she was one of the coolest ladies I knew; that and the fact that my bullshit meter was not yet developed. Looking back, I doubt Auntie Meryle…
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Lessons Learned in Retail Management by Jeannie Bruenning Managers are the heart, the soul and the brains of any retail operation. Lessons Learned in Retail Management breaks down the manager’s role in four parts: the importance of understanding financials, the skills needed to manage employees, finding the lost art of customer service, and the importance…
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A good friend and I were talking about some difficult interactions we had encountered over the past week or so. The ones where it’s easy for the other person to suck the life out of you – fill your mind with frustrating conversation, and even push a few buttons. She shared that after one such…
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As a kid I envisioned God looking just like us – but bigger, way bigger. A few weeks ago while watching an interview on the Daily Show, Dr. Michio Kaku began explaining the complicity of our brains. He said that it would take a building the size of a city block, six stories high to…
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Psalm 46:10: Be still, and know that I am God Four little words placed next to each other creating a command that takes a lifetime to understand. Being still… It takes KFC commercials to remind us to sit down and have dinner. We are not accustomed to being still. Is it possible to be still…
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Esther 4:13-14 “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for…
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Genesis 3:11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Voices are distinct. Often we recognize an actor’s voice before we recognize their face. We have telephone conversation with people we can’t see but are certain they are who they say they are because we know their voice. Many people claim they hear…
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One of my employees is getting married. For the past year, this great event has been being planned. We are all interested in every detail. As the day approaches, the final tasks are checked off the list; one of those the final tasks, the marriage license. Those of us who remember the blood test many…
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Daniel 4:37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.” King Nebuchadnezzar, an arrogant bastard was he. He was the same king that put Daniel in the den of lions and when morning came praised…
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Job 42:5 My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. My buddy Job is an interesting character. Job loves God. He is seemingly a successful father with grown children. He is successful business man with great wealth. In a very short period of time it’s all taken away from him. Come…
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Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. I hate waiting. I have the knack for coming up with plans and ideas that require other’s specialties. This requires me to wait…
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Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. This was one of my favorite Proverbs as a kid. This one and the one that said everyone would rise up and call me blessed – that sounded awesome!…
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There are three verses that when connected create what I call a protective bubble – Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. What this verse doesn’t say is, I’m going to tell you the plans I have…
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I’m a preacher’s kid. It’s taken me many years to be able to admit that, I don’t need to spend time analyzing why I’m not very proud of this title. That’s very clear to me. I’m often embarrassed by those who speak up in the name of God and the church. Saying I’m a kid…
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Yes, that coffee thing. That allergy that came on abundantly and changed my life. The one that forced me to leave an industry I loved. That thing that has kept Jeff and I from visiting local restaurants, attending shows and events for the last four years. The one that has kept me grounded for fear…
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Today can’t begin without remembering a delivery room filled with bystanders waiting to assist, a doctor with laryngitis and a frantic rush to cut and clamp a cord that had managed to wrap itself around a tiny neck no less than five times. She was the chubby three-year old that couldn’t repeat three words in…
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I’m not sure why I noticed the red SUV that backed into the parking spot outside my store, perhaps it was the fact that it backed in. The hatch slowly opened as the passengers exited the front, from the rear emerged a rather large brown and black spotted Great Dane. Isn’t that cute, I thought.…
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A few months ago I decided to let my hair go natural; natural being gray. I started by getting a short cut. Then each weekend for several months I set up my personal salon on the back deck, complete with scissors, comb and mirror. I would strategically snipped off the remaining brown ends until all…
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Jeff (Hoppie) and I (Neenee) made a trip to Denver this weekend. As usual the conversation was entertaining… Hoppie had just come in the house to find a bucket to clean off some mud frozen to the deck. After following Austyn’s instructions he walked out the back door, bucket in hand. Hoppie: Now Liam, I’m…
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This morning I read a post my daughter wrote describing life at her house with two children who are very early risers. I had to chuckle as I recalled many early mornings when I would roll over in bed to find her laying between us. She would either be staring up or into my face.…
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Jeff and I made our way from the waiting area to the delivery room in hopes of one last visit before she would deliver. Finding the door closed we pressed our ears up against it only to hear the voices of several in the room. We were too late, the baby was coming. We were…
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My grandson has a new attachment – his baseball cap. He looks adorable in it and doesn’t leave the house without it. During a recent visit I heard him yelling from the downstairs, “I can’t find it!” “It’s by the dryer,” his mother called back. “Whats he looking for?” I asked. “His hat,” mom replied.…
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When our oldest son Raun was less than one year, Jeff and I decided to load up the truck and move to North Carolina. I was familiar with NC because I had spent my teen summers working at a youth camp my aunt and uncle were responsible for. My uncle was the founder and director…
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There are few questions I’ve pondered over the past few years as I’ve listened to all the debates on marriage. Question #1: If two Atheists get married at the court-house and never step foot in a church, are they considered married in the sight of God? Question #2: If two Christians get married in a…
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I’ve heard artists speak of moments of inspiration. A song writer who claims it took fifteen minutes to write a song. A speaker who moves outside his notes – using words and terms that flow from deep within. I love hearing stories of those who were known to lock themselves up for days, forgetting to…
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Walking on Water Day 31 of this 31 day fast. I was hoping for a big ending and I wasn’t disappointed. This morning as I sat at my computer it was as if a slide show began in my head with all the crazy and unfinished situations that have been part our life these past…
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The New 23 Psalm On Day 4 I wrote my version of the 23rd Psalm. I am thrilled to say I now see it completely different! A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd, I have no lack. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside restful waters. 3 He restores my…
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Me, me…what do you think about me? I have become so very aware of how our culture has become self-centered, self-serving and self-indulgent. It’s easy to see it in the our culture, it’s a bit more difficult to find it in our churches, our religions, our beliefs. But if you stop and listen for a…
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Psalm 19 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments…
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They just don’t understand. It started Thursday night and ran full force into Sunday. It began with a frustrating day. Add to that a headache. Add a feeling that no one cares and the weekend was set up to be quite depressing. This was my last weekend. I thought there was a lesson to be…
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On day 13 of this fast, I was standing in the kitchen thinking about how much I had learned. I thought – think of all the great things that are going to happen to me in the next two weeks if I keep going. Then I stopped and said, “Oh, no! I’ve done it again!”…
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before Him in love… I have spoken these words, I have taught them to my children…truth always win! I do believe that. I know it won’t always win tomorrow, but eventually it will win. HOWEVER…in the past, when I said “Truth will win!” it was because I believed God was in control and He would…
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Three Weeks in… This journey started with a 31 day fast. A fast that was focusing on my understanding of who God is not what I want him to do for me. So what have I learned… I did not understand the beauty, complexity and power of His Grace. I did not know how to…
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God will make you holy! We all search for the meaning of life. I’ve searched my entire life. I can simply say that I now believe that God created us for His pleasure and purpose and He will spend our entire lives getting our attention. Once He has that, He spends the rest of our…
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Sarcasm Sarcasm and Cynicism are just one’s sense of humor, RIGHT? I always thought so, until I heard it explained this way: Our brains are very black and white. They are not controlled by our emotions. Thus, the words that come our of our mouths are factual to our brains. If I say jokingly “Geezz…
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The Riches of His Grace One of the biggest realization for me over the past 7 months is the fact that I did not understand God’s Grace. As I have studied God’s Grace, it isn’t as easy as Fear not – only believe. I’m not sure if one could ever truly understand all that God’s…
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Peace crushes fear John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. Peace is a gift. Peace has already been given. My assignment, to not let my heart be troubled…
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Guard your heart. Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life. The bible tells us frequently to guard our hearts, to guard wisdom, to guard our minds. It never says guard your money, your career, or even your children. It takes all our efforts to guard our…
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All the voices! My head is full of voice. Some make me laugh, others get me in trouble, a few make me remember, and some I wish I could shoot. It is very important to learn to decipher the voices in our heads. I hear a lot of Christians saying, “God told me…”. In the…
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Fix my kids! Mark 5 tells two stories. A father came to Jesus to ask if Jesus would come and heal his 12-year-old daughter. On the way, Jesus passes a woman who had been sick. She had spent all her money, time and energy seeking a cure. As Jesus walked by, the woman reached out…
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Bible word find! I pray that the fellowship Communication Transfer Release of your faith may become effective to begin to work to begin to produce through the knowledge acknowledge to admit to existence to admit the truth and reality having force or power of every good thing with is in you! Translation: I pray that…
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…figure it out! I was the queen of …figure it out! If I were in a talent competition, my talent would be figuring it out. As I learn more and more about Fear not – only believe, I no longer work at figuring it out. In fact, it makes me feel ill when I hear…
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Don’t fool yourself! Another one of my favorite stories is the story of Esther. The orphan who became Queen and saved her people. There is a point in this story that Esther’s uncle is informing her of a deadly plot; which if allowed to go forward will eliminate the entire Jewish population. She hesitated; for…
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My Good Friend Nebbie There is a story in the Book of Daniel Chapter 4 about a king named Nebuchadnezzar; my friend Nebbie. Nebbie claimed to know about God, but he did not know God. Nebbie had a bad, bad dream. No one was able to interpret this dream except for a man named Daniel.…
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What comes first – fear or faith? It’s a simple question. It’s answer is all telling! When life happens, where does your mind go – fear or faith? Hands down, no question about it, my mind resided in fear: what if… that means… who’s making these decisions… we have to get them to understand… if…
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The fact of Joshua 1:5 No one has been, is or will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, I am with you. I cannot fail you or forsake you! What amazing confidence there is when we Fear not – only believe!
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Now I see you! We all have a past. Some have claims of being victims, some abusers. Our past affects us but it doesn’t need to define us. I admit, I’ve struggled with this concept for years. Asking all the common questions: Why did that happen? How could they do that? Why does this seem…
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Isaiah 54:17 – another fact Fear not – Only believe that No weapon formed against me is prospering; and every tongue that accuses me is already condemned. This is the birth right of the children of the LORD, and my vindication is from God” Once we begin to look at these promises as facts, their…
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Faulty Systems I was unaware of how much faith I had in the systems in our world. If you would have asked me, “Do you think you are controlled by the world’s systems?” I would have most likely said NO! But that was far from my actions. When our battle with Bank of America began,…
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Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. We are never promised that in our life, we will not experience difficult times. That is…
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Fear not – Only believe I’m beginning to think that every verse, every story in the Bible is there in order to help us Fear not – Only believe. What is the opposite of this statement; Fearful and full of unbelief. That is where most of us live. I had a really big house smack…
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It’s a fact not a promise! When I hear the word promise, I immediately process it in a future tense. “I promise to…” means that in the future this will happen. I blame this on its definition, which points to the future. I have read most of the Bible promises in the same way…it will…
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My 23rd Psalm The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want (but I wanted a lot!) He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. (I hated being still) He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness, For His name sake. (I need a…
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Fire and Lions Why did Daniel have to go into the Lion’s Den? Why the Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego have to go into the furnace? Why didn’t God save them? He could have…He can do anything! Right? My husband Jeff has claimed for years that I live life looking for my field of clovers. I…
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My List Two days before I started my fast, I made my list. It was a list of undefined, incomplete, unfinished issues in my world. At first I was thinking that it would be important to track these things to be able to record any changes at the end of my 31 days. BUT that…
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Back in School – for the first time Last August after I returned home from an extended trip – I was sick. Not physically, but mentally. I was sick of me. I was sick and tired of feeling as if I could not explain what or how I believe. I was 50 years old! When…
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On September 23, 2009 I began this blog as a way to record the ever changing-changes that were happening in the lives of my family and myself. 130 entries later, our lives barely resemble what they were a short 24 months ago. This past September I felt it was time for some new challenges, new…
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These are few terms that will enhance your Oktoberfest experience: aufstöin (v.): to donate a beer. Batzerl (n.): small amount of something. biddscheen (n.): please, can also mean “here you are” when someone is giving or serving something. Brezn (n.): Bavarian pretzel. Aesthetically twined string of dough, baked to a pastry. At the Oktoberfest, the…
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Saturday was the official opening of Oktoberfest. This is a festival that Jeff and I look forward to celebrating each year. This year, Oktoberfest began 9/17/11 and ends 10/03/11. Taking into consideration family travel arrangements, we will be extending Oktoberfest one additional week; officially ending this yearly tradition on Saturday 10/08/11. Saturday the 8th, also…
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Something happens to us between being a teenager and having teenagers of our own. What we as teens thought was adventure somehow becomes danger. What we saw as a challenge becomes foolishness. We want to protect our kids from any struggles, any danger; we want them to be on the easy road. My son had…
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The speaker paused and said, “You sit around whining and complaining saying, ‘Why doesn’t God use me?’ (pause) Because you don’t know nothin’! Would you use you?” Each time I replay it in my mind, I laugh. Our world is full of experts who don’t know nothin’. This doesn’t prevent them from shouting their non-expertise…
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We are on our way! For those who saw the post, “If it’s right, it’s right!.” we’ve taken the first steps. If it’s right, it’s right! www.jjunctions.wordpress.com
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I had the privilege to observe someone who had been living in fear, suddenly begin to live without fear. It was amazing! There was a noticeable change. It was obvious, it was measurable, it was contagious! Living in fear of what is ahead, or what others may think or what might happen, affects the way…
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Thirty years ago today he was born. The doctor who delivered him was called away from his son’s wedding to do so, it was apparent he had been celebrating a bit too much to be the doctor on call. But he made it and so did Raun Alexander Bruenning. From the beginning Raun has been…
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In an earlier blog; Hit the ball, Drag Harry, I wrote that I was no longer dragging around my version of Harry. This week I’ve had a new realization; others apparently felt I should not have let Harry go, so they picked him up and keep trying to give him back to me! At first…
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There are two sides to all games, the offence and the defense. Too often, there also seems to be two sides to every relationship, conversation and business transaction; there’s an offence and a defense. It amazes me that there are those so skilled in taking control of the game by playing offence they seem to…
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As I entered the airport front entrance, I noticed the line. Twenty minutes later, I realized that the same two people were still standing at the same two check-in counters, no one was moving. I also felt the restlessness growing in the crowd. There was a lady who was standing at the end of the…
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There’s an old proverb that says, When the student is ready, the teacher will come. For most of my life I have lived feeling ready and wondering why no one was showing up! The teacher in this proverb can be a multitude of things. It can be a simple idea, an opportunity, an answer, a…
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I was asked if I had noticed any difference in the events of the past week that may have been affected by the time I spent fasting. At first, I had a difficult time recalling any major events; there was nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing out of the ordinary? Wait a minute…last week was…
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A few months ago I decided I wanted to understand fasting. I know a lot of religions practice it. When I googled it, I found a ton of sites recommending fasting to improve your physical health. Fasting always seemed to be this torturous event that made one look spiritual – I was hoping that my…
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January 9, 2011 changed our lives. We were well aware that our son’s home life was becoming more and more dangerous. He was desperately seeking an answer that would allow him to safely remove the children, and himself, from the situation. On January 9th, after several visits from the police, his wife was arrested for…
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This has been an odd week. On Monday I mailed my last unemployment form; tomorrow the final check will be arriving. Eighteen months ago I left work, never to return due to my new allergy. Since that day, I have found myself with a lot of time. Hopefully I have used that time wisely. We’ll…
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Somehow my email address found it’s way on an email list of a woman who decided to start a writers group. If I do the 6 degrees of separation thing, I can connect us – but it’s a big stretch. Anyway, I signed up and attended the first gathering. This in and of itself is…
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Stories of King Nebuchadnezzar are found in the Old Testament. He was the king that tossed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into the fiery furnace. They didn’t burn and he proclaimed that their God (not his) was the true God. Sometime later he had a dream that warned him of coming events. If his life didn’t…
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Recently, Suze Orman, the blond financial wizard (classy description isn’t it), has been speaking about the new American Dream. The concept intrigues me, in fact it excites me. According to Suze, the old American Dream of more, more, more is dead. If you don’t agree, just look at the corpses lying around your neighborhood. There…
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As I spoke with my daughter this morning, she made the statement, “Look what we would have missed.” What was she speaking of? Today, Emery is three months old. That is her developmental age, which is based on when she was released from the hospital. Her real age is just over 6 months, based on…
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Because of the amount of time I spent in Colorado this past fall, my grandson Liam, who was 18 months old at the time, really bonded with me. Liam learned a lot of new things during this time. He learned to give kisses. The first time we were showing his mommy, Austyn said, “Liam, can…
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I was informed by my grandson that there exists those who refer to me as mean. It’s not the first time he has felt the need to relay such information. The conversation went something like this…and by the way, the names have been changed to protect the guilty…I didn’t want to come across as too…
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I heard this statement quoted frequently growing up in the church. It typically was used when criticisms were flying around. I think a lot of us heard it. The problem that I have begun to be aware of, is that used incorrectly, this statement prevents us from making sound judgments about things that are truly…
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The table was set. Yarmulkes were worn. The wine was poured and the Seder began. Finger puppets told of the ten plagues. Blessings were read and questions asked. Matzah was broken and parsley dipped. When it was time for the meal to be served, the lamb was amazing. The rum soaked raisins made the Apple…
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There is an empty cup sitting in the middle of the table and an empty chair at the table. Both of these are reserved for Elijah. Towards the end of the Seder we pour another cup of wine, this makes #4 and yes, you can handle it. We pour another cup and set it in…
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My very favorite part of the Seder is reciting Dayenu. Dayenu means; it is enough for us. DAYENU How many favors has God bestowed upon us? ALL Had He brought us out from Egypt and not executed judgment against them, It would have been enough! DAYENU! Had He executed judgment against them and not destroyed…
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The exodus was not simply an event that happened to us. It is an event that we became. It is who we are. It is the life of each one of us, occurring again and again, in our wrestling match with the world, in our struggle with our own selves. We embody freedom in a…
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A large part of Passover is remembering the bitterness, What’s so great about the bitterness? Why do we want to remember that? Actually, our bitterness in Egypt was/is the key to our redemption. We never got used to Egypt. We never felt we belonged there. We never said, “They are the masters and we are…
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The Seder Plate is another very important element of the tradition. Seder Plates come in all shapes and sizes as well as price ranges. Actually any plate will do. There are six areas marked on the Seder Plate which help us identify six elements of Passover. 1) “Zeroa” – a roasted chicken or lamb bone…
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Passover is all about the Haggadah or the telling. It’s a requirement that each year families celebrate Passover to remember the Israelites exodus out of Egypt. Traditions are only created because someone remembers to tell a story or celebrate an event year after year. The exodus out of Egypt happened 3300 plus years ago and…
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For several years we have celebrated Passover. It started just shortly after Jeff began to trace his family history and found many Jewish roots. I too have them, however most of my ancestors claimed to be German, but there’s a lot of Jew there. Each year this tradition of Passover evolves. We’ve included friends who…
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Last year my cholesterol level decided to go in the wrong direction. After being asked if anyone in my family had died from a heart attack or stroke at the age of 50, the doctor said we would take 6 months of a healthy diet and exercise. Thrilled that I didn’t walk out of the…
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My husband introduced me to the group Over the Rhine last year and I fell in love. Most of all, I love their lyrics. The other night as we sat on the porch watching the sunset, it’s what we do, we were listing to their latest release, The Long Surrender. The song Oh Yeah by…
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I typically hear people use this phrase when they are expressing joy about an event where the unexpected happened, or when everything seemed to fall into place, or when it felt as if something supernatural got involved… It’s a God thing. I thought a lot about this statement during those months that Emery was in…
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In my search for lyrics of songs that really don’t exist, these are two that I recall my mother singing when I was a kid. Mom grew up in Chicago in the 30’s and 40’s. I believe they were passed down to her by her granny-gran. A Little Fly Oh, a little fly flew in…
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I don’t know when I became emotionally attached to money. I’m not sure if I really want to dig down deep to figure it out. I do know somewhere it happened; money, whether it’s in abundance or lack has always been emotional. This became very apparent recently while I was visiting my son. I was…
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It’s no secret to those that know us that our last several months have been anything but uneventful. The other night I said,”We have so much to be grateful for.” My husband replied, “I know. Just think of where we could be.” Where we could be? Let’s recap. In early November our daughter gave birth…
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I stood watching for the big tsunami this morning. As I listened to the multitude of cell phone conversations going on around me, it was clear that most of those who had joined me were tourists. Some were excited, some were concerned, some thought they were seeing much more than was actually happening, and some…
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I’ve assisted family members as they began the process of cleaning out, downsizing, and organizing their stuff. I enjoy it. Yes, there are times I would like to throw them in the dumpster with their crap, but there is a great feeling when a once full, unorganized, messy area becomes clean, clear and livable. My…
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If you listen close enough, life provides the entertainment… Chase: Grandma, I know how to spell mom… MOM. Grandma: That’s right. Did you know that mom is the same if you spell it forwards or backwards? It’s just like DAD. Dad: That’s called a Palindrome. Race Car is another one. Grandma: hmmm….you’re right. Chase: Race…
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There’s nothing I can do. ~ I can’t say anything. ~ I knew something was wrong. There exists a four letter word that prevents us from doing what is right. It keeps us from speaking up, from shedding light on dark secrets, from helping those who find themselves incapable of helping themselves. FEAR holds us…
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Opened a new CD today from what is becoming one of my favorite artists, Over the Rhine – the words say it all. Take a minute and listen… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc7mg-rQcmw All my favorite people are broken Believe me My heart should know. Some prayers are better left unspoken I just wanna hold you and let the…
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I grew up in a world where we were told that everyone was watching us. That’s a lot of responsibility to place on a kid. I’ve come to realize that there are many who also grew up under such pretense. I’m guessing that most kids grew up being told that somewhere, someone was watching their…
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I’ve always been embarrassed when ask if I’m a Christian. Growing up a preacher’s kid had a bit of a stigma. I found out recently it is said that guys always wanted the preachers daughter – I’m glad I didn’t know that back then. It also doesn’t help that some Christians feel the need to…
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Job is an interesting book in the Old Testament. It’s also a little confusing. There is a particular verse that has been playing over and over again in my head. God and Satan are having a discussion and God says, “Have you considered my servant Job.” This verse perplexes me. Why would God point someone…
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I realized earlier this year that I have lived the majority of my life in fear. Most of those fears had a common thread; the fear of being alone. There were times when these fears paralyzed me, other times they brought on panic attacks, and they always had a great affect on my decision making.…
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My mom’s an interesting person. All her life she has lived for others. She is a servant. In fact, she is a servant to a fault. At times I tell her she needs to be servant, not a slave. Ethel will be 83 in April. She has been alone for three and a half years;…
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If you had been around to witness those times when Austyn and I received positive reports on our little Emery, you may have noticed us grab the other’s hand and say, “She’s third generation!” We are never quite sure how to finish that sentence. You see, Emery is the third generation of female infants who…
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My medical knowledge has increase just a tad since Emery was born. I have a greater insight into breathing, pooping, peeing, heart rate and blood pressure. There were two areas that when I began to learn of their importance, brought goose bumps and a few tears. While Austyn was in labor, every doctor and nurse…
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It’s been almost three weeks since we received that early morning call informing us that our sixth grandchild would be born in a day or so. If this call had come three months later, on the actual due date, there would have been a much greater measure of excitement. Fifteen weeks early and a five…
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The movie Sleepless in Seattle has many great scenes. My favorite is when Meg Ryan and Rosie O’Donnell are watching An Affair to Remember. Meg is crying as she expresses her desire to experience this in her life. Rosie looks at her and says; “You don’t want to be in love. You want to be…
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I voted today, it’s my right as an American. I’ve been taught that it’s my duty as a responsible citizen. I’ve also been told that it’s my RIGHT as a Christian. Right as a Christian? When did Christian’s get rights? Did the Constitution of the US void biblical principal? I’m having a difficult time finding…
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As we sat on the front porch watching the sunset, which by the way was fabulous, we were discussing a new author who we have fondly nicknamed Glowboy. With so many references to the word GLOW, I began singing “Glow Little Glow Worm”, a song I learned in my early teens. My husband joined in…
