Grandfamilies: Help, Don’t Harp–How to Make Your Visit a Win

Sawyer, Rob, Cadence, Daphne, Elaine, Me, Rich. Charleston. September 4, 2016. At the beginning of this month, we were privileged to be the houseguests of daughter Elaine and her husband, Rob. I cherish this privilege because I know that having houseguests for ten days is no small thing, no matter how much love flows between […]


Sabbatical * Hiatus * Furlough

Crater Lake. June 2014. Have you ever heard that old saying, If you have too many irons in the fire, you might smother the flames?  Me neither, to tell you the truth. I think I just made it up. But it has the vapid air of a platitude, doesn’t it? It feels true, all the same. I […]


Tears, Toilets, and Teachable Moments

Cadence and His Cherished Toy. Oh, and Cake. And Why I am Buying My Husband a Cape. We’d had a lovely dinner, the Southern California branch of the family herd rounded up and gathered at the endless trough of hospitality that is my-dad-and-his-bride’s-home. My sister was there with her younger boy, and Rich and I had brought […]


The Misprint

A Fairly Straight Wake. Treasure in the Typo A line in an unfamiliar song brought me up short in church. It lodged in my mind and glittered there like a gaudily-dressed starlet, demanding my attention. It was “I’m falling on my knees/offering all my needs.” Yes, I trust Him. And yes, I depend on His […]


The Misprint

A Fairly Straight Wake. Treasure in the Typo A line in an unfamiliar song brought me up short in church. It lodged in my mind and glittered there like a gaudily-dressed starlet, demanding my attention. It was “I’m falling on my knees/offering all my needs.” Yes, I trust Him. And yes, I depend on His […]