Do you know what this is? If you think it is merely a golf ball retriever, you would be wrong. This is a Hummingbird Rescue Device! At least it is in my house – or in my garage! My last house had an unfinished detached garage. Where there should have been a ceiling, there were just rafters. At the roof peak, my husband installed a fan that automatically came on when the temperature reached a certain point and would suck the hot air out of the garage. That is great unless you are a Keep Reading...
Mr. Magoo
Pio came into my family’s life when he befriended my brother while they were in medical school. He grew up in the Philippines but came to America to go to medical school and since his family was so far away, our family took him in as one of our own – including him in our family celebrations and holidays. Before I tell you a story about Pio, I need to let you know that everyone was okay. So feel free to chuckle as you envision the scene… Pio was driving his car down a highway and saw a car Keep Reading...
Freedom – from the sock basket
Yesterday was “Pile Day” at my house. The day dedicated to going through all of the piles that have piled up due to schedules piled upon schedules. One of the piles I slayed was the sock pile. It really wasn’t a pile of socks. It was more like a big basket where socks got piled. And piled and piled! When you have three girls (especially if two of them are dancers), then you probably have sock issues. We have sock issues! The sock issues started when the two oldest girls were little. One Keep Reading...
Wedding Fiasco
Twenty–six years ago today, I was anticipating the moment when I would stand beside my groom and we would vow to love each other forever. My bridesmaids, mother, aunt, and friends were helping me get ready for that moment. We were a busy group trying to curl hair, spray it in place, apply makeup, get dressed and keep calm! Finally, the moment had come to make my way to the back of the church. Then she said it. As I’m standing there in my dress ready to go - she said it! “You can’t get Keep Reading...
Going and Coming and Coming and Going
When I ride my bike, there is a two-mile stretch as I leave my neighborhood that is it relatively flat. By Northerner’s standards it would most definitely be considered flat. But in Texas, our guidelines for flatness are a little different. In Texas, anything with an elevation is a hill. On this two-mile stretch ~ with only a slight hill ~ the road is flanked by pastures most of the way. If there is any sort of a breeze, it seems tenfold on this stretch of road –with limited trees to act as a Keep Reading...
One Woman’s Strength – Another Woman’s weakness
A week ago, my parents hosted about 30 kids from our youth group in their home When they left, there was a pile of sheets, blankets and towels that needed to be washed. My sweet, servant-hearted father loaded the back of his car (with the seats down) and headed to the laundromat for the first time in over 50 years! My sweet Dad I was reminded of a trip I took to the laundromat. I hate doing the laundry. I would rather mow the yard in 100-degree temperature then do Keep Reading...
Are You In Good Company?
The Suburban was loaded for the annual Christmas trek from Texas to Colorado. We joked about how we looked like the Griswold’s from the movie, Vacation, with our carrier on top of the car loaded, a rack that inserts into the trailer hitch piled high with coolers, and the inside packed with three teenage daughters, a teenage nephew, a tranquilized dog and some harried parents. We fought our way north as the kids competed to see who could turn up their iPods the loudest and completely annoy their Keep Reading...
The Whole World Can’t Be Wrong
My oldest daughter was learning to drive several years ago so when we drove from Texas to Colorado, I thought it would be good experience for her to drive when we went through the Texas Panhandle. In that region of Texas, the roads are straight, wide and seem to go on forever. Her driving permit was fairly new and West Texas seemed like a pretty safe place to practice highway driving. The first hour passed without much conflict. (For those of you who have driven with a strong-willed teen and Keep Reading...
It Smells Like…
My oldest daughter did what every college student wants to do as soon as they move out of their parent’s home. She went to the mall and bought a genetically inferior puppy she could not afford nor had the time to care for. Then she did what all of those parents that have gone before us warned us she would do – she brought the dog home to us because she could not afford it nor had the time to care for it. In our daughter’s case, it was only going to be for a month while she traveled the world. Keep Reading...
Quarters at the Mall
For all of those parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles that watched their children, grandchildren, and other relatives graduate from kindergarten, elementary school, high school and college recently... When my girls were “stroller age,” we went to the nearby mall often. Not so much to shop but for entertainment. In the middle of our mall was a big carousel. My oldest daughter loved to ride it (and my less adventuresome second daughter liked to watch her older sister ride it.) We even Keep Reading...