12.22.2018

It's Married

Touring an art museum with a little one is an adventure not to be missed. 
Especially at Christmas. 
(whispered conversation, of course)
"Look there—do you see Baby Jesus?"
"Yes!"
"And who's that with him?" 
"Married."

11.28.2018

The Right Time


Sometimes my life feels like this old watch with no hands. 
TIme tick-tick-ticks away and I have absolutely no way to measure or control it. 
Time presses in on my thoughts constantly, and I give my own voice to its shrill demands.
When will it be time? 
Are we almost there? 
How long will this take? 
Publishing is one of the slowest processes in the career world, falling just behind Bonsai tree farming. 
I'm impatient and often plan an escape to something faster and better paying, albeit less fulfilling. 


The scriptures show my experience is nothing new.  
The people of Israel paddled the same boat—waiting, with no sign of encouragement, for their hope to be fulfilled. They cried out for Messiah—the One who would rescue them from oppression, restoring freedom and prosperity. 
When will it be time? 
Are we almost there? 
How long will this take? 


As we enter the Advent season of reflection, please know that our struggle with time is nothing new. Go ahead and let the questions fly before God's throne. But don't get up from your knees yet (or the bed, park bench, bus seatwherever you pray). Instead, take time to ponder Galatians 4:4-7. 
Don't miss this opportunity to express faith. 

Because at just the right time ... He will come through. 
"But when the fullness of time had come ... God sent his Son."

And it will be better than you dreamed.
"... you are no longer a slave, but a son, 
and if a son, then an heir through God."



10.26.2018

Toadstool Surprise


Someday when you're out walking your combo dog* on a crisp fall day,
you might see one of these ordinary brown toadstools.
It happened to me. 

When I stooped to see a bit better, tiny light-sparkles bounced from micro-thin
spider strands stretched across the cap.  
What a clever decoration!

From bended knees, I peeked farther under the cap to see sunshine-lit gills.
This often despised-sprout looked more and more like a welcoming shelter.

And from a ground-level view (belly)—what an impressive structure! 
The perfect place for tiny folk to relax on a sunny fall afternoon. 

At least it was ... until my combo dog rushed back to see what was so interesting. 
Turns out toadstools are delicate, not dog-proof at all. 
Back to walking. 

* What's a combo dog?
That's what you get when you adopt a puppy from the local animal rescue people. 
They tell you it's a Labrador retriever, but it turns out to be a
beagle-y, Australian shepherd-ish, terrier-type of mutt. 
A cute, smart, adorable one.

8.24.2018

Backyard Days and a Story Snapshot


It was my last year as a homeschool mom.
The sweetgum showered red-gold leaves, the bees buzzed lazy tunes,
 and my youngest teenager read aloud from Tolkien.
It was a memory moment—the kind meant for savoring.
Today was the same kind of day, but I didn't get to read in the backyard. 
I hope you did, though.

 
I took this photo of a pair of glasses I found at a sale. 
Purchased for a few quarters, they sold again for much more. 
My writing fund appreciated the small contribution. 
So, here's a bit of flash fiction inspired by these seen-better-days specs. 

     Missing
     "Where are my glasses?" Craig ran his hand up his forehead then back down, mashing his nose flat. "Every time I lay them down, they go missing." He flopped into his armchair and a slight veil of dust puffed into the afternoon sun and floated toward thick window panes. 
     Janice handed him the newspaper. "You had them in the church this morning, didn't you? Then you stopped at the Danaher's on the way home ..." She glanced up at him from her own reading, hoping for a clue. Craig had gone still at the mention of the Danaher home, the crazed epicenter of the once-quiet village. "Did you have a chance to talk with—" 
     "No." Craig shot up from his chair and the newspaper fell to the floor, unnoticed. "I remember now. They are at the church." At the door, he grabbed his hat from the hook and pulled it low on his forehead. "You're right, Janice," he said. "You're always right." 
     

7.11.2018

When Your Umbrella Flaps


When you're on a hot beach and the noontime sun is beating down, this is not what you want 
to see above your head. But that's exactly what happened on our tiny patch of Florida beach this year. 

We were happily gawking beach sceneryparents corralling sandy littles, sun-darkened seniors 
knee-slapping, and shark tooth seekers bent double, surf scanningwhen
WHOOF! 
Our umbrella lost its battle with the wind. 
For a while, we let it flap, too lazy to get up and wrestle it back into a proper form. 
I took a few photos of its free-form, flappy beauty—some of my favorites of the week.

Next time things go wrong on your patch of sand, instead of rushing to repair, 
take a breath ... can you see it? 
Beauty often shines in unexpected, less-than-ideal circumstances.

6.06.2018

Mimosa Tree Life


The mimosa tree is one of the last to send out its leaves in the spring.
It's fair to say that every year I think, "Well, the mimosa's dead."
But then suddenly, there they are—sensitive, green leaf fronds. 

Then soon, the tiny balled clusters that almost look like berries.

And when you least expect it ... 
pow.
You look over your shoulder to see a tree covered with silky-pink blooms.

Do you find that pattern repeated in life? I do. 
Something I'm looking forward to is delayed, so I decide it's never going to happen. 
I buy into the idea that hope is dead, the blessing is removed, and I should move on.

Then ... 
pow. 
God does one of His best works.

Consider the story of Joseph. 
Sitting in a pit and then in a jail, he must have thought his dreams 
were dead, swept away, maybe even a mistake. 
Except they weren't—the story has its own pow. 
Read more about the deeper meaning of Joseph's story here

I'd love to hear about your mimosa tree experiences. 
Comment below or email me soon.


4.03.2018

Hummingbird Nectar Recipe


They're curious and eager in early spring.
Brilliant, winged beggars actually peer in my kitchen windows. 
They're looking for me, demanding attention. 
The earliest hummingbirds seem to prompt, "Hey—feed us!"

As spring grows older they grow bolder, sipping sugar no matter who's nearby.
We have deep-summer memories of laying under the hummingbird feeder, 
watching them joust through the heat and into the dusk.

In late August, their feeding becomes frantic, they guard and defend.
 The nectar wars begin ... 

... and this guy always wins.

Some tips for feeding hummingbirds: 
* Hang the feeder in the open where it's easily found. 
Near a flower bed or container garden is ideal.

* I use Miss Helen's simple recipe: 
1 cup water + 1/4 cup sugar. No need to boil, just stir until the 
sugar is completely dissolved. 

* Keep the feeder clean. Before you refill it, empty it and scrub it. 
Make sure to rinse away any soap residue. 

* Make it impossible for ants to ruin your feeder by using an ant moat
It's the easiest and cleanest way to keep ants away from the nectar.


Do you feed hummingbirds? 
I'd love to hear your stories and comments. 
Meanwhile, enjoy this and this
And you must see this. 






3.27.2018

Come Inside


"Come inside, my dears. It's going to snow in the morning. 
I shudder to think what piles of wet snow would do
to your glorious ruffles.
Those fragile stems were never meant to 
bear the weight of wet winter.
So come inside and stay a while. 
It's warm and bright ... almost like being outside."

2.26.2018

Play the Long Game


My sons are grown. 
I can no longer say "mostly men" when I talk about them. As a younger mom, I envisioned this part of parenting according to the saying "Grown and Flown" ... as in they're gone, I'm finished, finito. If you imagine some tears, you'd be right. Various parenting organizations urged me to make the most of every moment, to maximize every season, before my children finally came of age. And it's true. Time flies by. Adorable tots really do turn into capable adults. Mine certainly did.
But you know what I discovered? 
Parenting does NOT end between cake and gifts at the eighteenth birthday party. 

When that young adult comes asking for advice, "What you think about ..."
help with a project, "Do you have time to work on ..."
or a boost of confidence, "What if I can't do it?"
That's when we know—they still need us. 

No friends, parenting isn't a short-term occupation. There's no retiring from this. Grown and Flown—who thought of that, anyway? We're playing the long gameand we connect with our grown children no matter where they've flown.

But of course, it is different. Briefly, here are a few strategies I'd like to suggest:
                        - Help communication flow by asking open-ended questions.
                        - Don't let old hurts get in the way.
                        - Be flexible and ready for new ideas and activities.
                        - If they live nearby, use food to incite gathering. If you feed them ... 
                          (check out my Football Food Pinterest board)

How do you parent your grown children? I'd love to hear about that.


*** For further reading check out Focus on the Family's resource page for parenting adult children.






1.19.2018

Snow Art


These ultra-disposable bits of natural art never cease to amaze me.
 I'd love to own the camera equipment required to capture their true beauty.

Another item on my "someday" list. 

I'm pondering this:
"As white snowflakes fall quietly and thickly on a winter day, 
answers to prayer will settle down upon you at every step you take, 
even to your dying day. The story of your life will be 
the story of prayer and answers to prayer.” 
― Ole Hallesby


1.15.2018

January Faith


Paperwhites bulbs are so plain in their little nylon sack, 
quietly brown in the fluorescent lights of any big-box store. 

It takes a January kind of faith to plant 
and water something that looks so dead.
But when life begins to stir ...


... the reward is very, very great.
In view of the astonishing results, the preparation efforts seem small.

The paperwhite lesson is one to carry through 2018 and on.
What promises from the scriptures are you tending with hope
although they look dead and lifeless right now?

I'm tending these.

Would you share yours?