Joy
Joy of Children
My mom called her sister tonight and they exchanged stories of their holiday celebrations. My aunt hosted 19 people for Christmas. Among them was a 2-year old. She said it had been a long time since there was a little one around. The toddler stole the show and was the center of attention. She said […]
Reflecting on 2018
It being New Years Eve, everyone was reflecting on the past year – the good and the bad. As I think about this past year, we have been very blessed that my parents have made it through again without a hospitalization. There have been medical issues, of course, but nothing extreme. I am finding peace […]
Welcome to the USA
I love listening to the stories and experiences that people have. I find it fascinating that we as people are so much the same, yet so diverse. We got together with our neighbors this afternoon and heard about how the wife was in the Air Force for a brief period of time. She worked at […]
Final Christmas Preparations
I stayed up way too late last night cutting out and baking pieces to make a gingerbread church, but I really enjoyed doing it. I thought of all the different times that I could remember making the church with friends, youth groups, and family. My sister came today and we all finally put up the […]
God’s Grace in the Empty Space
I have been wanting to get to the Sacrament of Reconciliation during this Advent season. However, time is limited, there is a lot to do, and I kept forgetting. But the other day, I read about the experience of a good friend who went to the Sacrament. He wrote in part, “I feel so uplifted, […]
True Life-long Friend
My mom received a Christmas card today from a woman she has known for most of her life. When my mother was 5 years old, she started going to dance classes with the then little girl who was just a year older. There were many times in later years when their lives crossed paths in […]
Award Winning Photos
My dad has had a few different careers during his life. But one thing that has remained with him from the time he was a young teenager is photography. Just as music is to my mom, photography is to my dad. That is how he expresses who he is, how he sees the world, and […]
God is in Smiles
My mom and I got hooked on watching the new series, “God Friended Me”. The story is more complex and intriguing than I had anticipated. Tonight, something particular stood out and has stayed with me. It is that you can see God in every smile. I believe that is a simple, yet profound truth. God […]
Hidden Shell
A friend shared a sweet story today. He was at the beach with his family, including his son and granddaughter. When they visited the shops, the little girl found a shell that she just loved. Her dad bought the shell without her knowing it and when they returned to the shore, he hid it in […]
Beautiful Music Together
This evening I was searching through the TV channels to see if there was a Christmas show on when I heard my mom start playing Christmas music on the piano. After a couple of moments, my dad started singing. In a little while, my mom joined in as well. I thought there was nothing better […]
Still Finding God 