Yesterday was Jake’s 70th birthday. We’ve been celebrating BIG. It was also the day of a dear friend’s funeral. That was hard. Tomorrow I will be sitting in that same chapel watching a precious young friend get married. I am thrilled. But of course, I am quite weary, on this in-between, this-is-life-on-earth day, and I … Continue reading Remembering D. →

I know, I know. I just posted a story yesterday but please bear with me, for today is a memorable day and I don’t want it to pass without notice. Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Two years ago today Jake and I left Ireland, the end of our wonderful ‘visit’ of 18 months. We loved life … Continue reading Our Irish Goodbye →

“Are you with him?” the state park guy asked me, pointing to Jake, who was studying the map. “Yep,” I bragged. “Forty-five years now.” “Oh, then it’s time for a change.” Huh? “You need a new car every 20 years, you know.” I scowled. Are you trying to be funny? Then the awkward chatter ended … Continue reading March 16, 1974 →

I was thinking about giving up something for Lent. What if I gave up my right to get irritated at Jake?  Is that even possible?   Saturday was a good day, a J-and-S, we call them, a day when Jake and I do nothing but something together all day long. We drove to a new-to-us … Continue reading Lent? →

When we first went to Bolivia, the hardest thing about moving there, the greatest sacrifice I felt, was the separation from loved ones. I grieved leaving friends and family, and it was compounded seeing the sadness it caused Daughter #1, who was then 5 years old. She had a very best friend and she did … Continue reading Prayer →

Maybe I am weird, but as a general rule, I don’t like zoos. It’s simply because I feel bad for the animals kept in cages. Who is happy walking around a prison? But there I was, last week, pushing an empty stroller, chasing an active 18 m.o. granddaughter around a small, rustic zoo in the … Continue reading The Zoo →

Oh, my goodness. I can hardly believe this. If you read my story yesterday, you will remember I was facing an extra-long day of travel between Spain and home, feeling weak, physically and emotionally, and I wrote: I go, remembering:  I am known and loved. I go, expecting:  God will help me, strengthen me, and … Continue reading A Valentine Surprise, P.S. →