Grandfamilies: On Little League, Crows, and Gray Hats

A Western Tanager (I Think) In Our Back Yard. From our dining room, we enjoy sit-down views into the crowns of the trees in our back yard. Call it an upside, if you will,  of living on a hillside lot. We take our meals and watch the birds as a habit. This spring, crows are hanging out in […]


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Grandfamilies: Five Simple Ways to Delight Your Grandchildren

Cadence, Licking a Beater.  Springtime is delightful, isn’t it? In our part of the world, the hills are green, flowers are bursting out everywhere, and the hummingbirds can’t keep their beaks out of the Echium blooms. I’m eager to share delight when I’m delighted, so I drew up a list, short and simple, of delights you […]


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Grandfamilies: On Fixing Stuff

An Allegory One weekend, some years ago, I wielded my glue gun to affix little foam hearts, brightly colored, about the size of a golf ball’s shadow, all around the edges of a plate-glass mirror. Now, you can buy these foam hearts (or animals, or alphabet characters) by the tub at craft stores. They’re sold […]


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Grandfamilies: Wanted–Grandparents

Batter Up! Ayden and Papa Rich. May 2009. Lala, why aren’t you here with me? Cadence drew out the “here” to three syllables. I heard his mother in the background: Cadence, hush! We talked about that. I turned my face from the webcam and wiped my eyes as the boy continued, I wanted you to be here! […]


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Basket Case

The cross was enough–more than I ever expected or deserved. But He didn’t stop there. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In […]


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