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...
Shower of Perspective
Whenever I have stayed at hotels while traveling, the showers seemed small and cramped. Especially compared to my shower at home. My luxurious shower has separate showerheads for my husband, Jack, and I. And he has a rainmaker showerhead. And there is a seat. And a handheld shower attachment (for when we get old and have to sit down in the shower.) Jack and I can both shower without bumping into each other – or scheduling our shower times. Given all of that, when I stay at a hotel, the shower Keep Reading...
The Year I Boycotted Mother’s Day
Yes, I boycotted Mother's Day. It was several years ago and I had three teenage daughters living in my home. (If any of you have teenage daughters in your home right now, you probably know where this is going.) Mother's Day was fast approaching and one of my girls asked what I wanted for Mother's Day. Unfortunately, she asked that at the end of a very long day of frustrating motherhood. It was one of those days that I wanted to put myself in "time out" so I would not have to listen to the Keep Reading...
Give Credit Where Credit is Due
Every year on Valentine’s Day, I have made sure my three girls wake up to a small gift. I always have a Mylar helium balloon, a tad bit of candy and sometimes I add a gift card or other small treat. In order to accomplish this each year, I have to get the balloon late enough at night for it to be a surprise since it’s hard to hide three balloons from three curious (and sneaky) girls. Often, I have done the late night run to the grocery store – praying they aren’t sold out of balloons. Some Keep Reading...
Cussing in the Rain
I have a friend whose faith is very solid. She prays with her four kids every morning, is involved with many activities at church, reads her Bible regularly and has an active prayer life. She is what many of us would call a “model Christian” – if there could be such a thing. Last Sunday, my friend, (we will call her Martha to protect the innocent) bid farewell to her husband for nine months as he deployed to Iraq. After a tearful good-bye, she took the four kids to church and then home to Keep Reading...