Good morning... After a full night's sleep, I wake in the guest room of my parent's villa in the Renaissance senior living community near my hometown of Berea, Ohio. The walls here are filled with pictures our of our extended family growing up over the years. Two of my favorite photo collages live in this room, a frame [...]
Good morning... As I wake early to travel to Ohio for a visit with my parents for my mom's birthday, I think of the Anne Lamont quote: “I am all the ages I've ever been.” Turning 84 years old today, my mom is all the ages she have ever been. She is a living bundle of memories from [...]
Good morning... Like many once-in-a-lifetime events, the 21st birthday of our youngest child was kinda underwhelming for me. Years ago, during a particularly challenging summer with our son, I found the hand painted old fashion sign above: "Good Beer. Good Cheer. Always on tap here." I purchased it at Goodwill as a symbol of hope that our family [...]
Good morning... A few weeks back, I went to an art class led by a friend who is also a spiritual director. We were asked to bring along photos to incorporate into a collage. After an opening prayer, she slowly read aloud Psalm 139:13-16 from the Message translation, centering our attention and inviting us to choose words or [...]
Good morning... "It's hard to believe that we were holding a prayer vigil outside of the hospital for Dobbs at this time last week," said one mom I talked with after Saturday's baccalaureate service. The Davie family, friends of so many of us from our Lovett community, lost twenty year old Dobbs the next morning on Mother's Day. [...]
Good morning... Every spring I love the baccalaureate service hosted on the fertile soil of the Lovett School, a farewell communion ceremony for graduating seniors and their families. As head chaplain, my husband Steve invites a parent to speak who is graduating their last child. This year's meaningful message was given by Lauren Gearon, graceful mother of three [...]
Good morning... Along with a baby blue golf shirt to match the color of his eyes, I gave me father a tiny yellow birthday gift. Pictured above, I gave him a small symbol of the love I see him sharing tenderly with my mother, his wife for over sixty years. Two little ceramic birds leaning into each other. [...]
Good morning... My father is 85-years-old today. Right now, at 3:40 am, I am gently unwrapping his first birthday gift. For the first time in weeks he is asleep in their familiar bed, hopefully receiving some much needed rest. I took his place on the couch nearby my mom who is sleeping in her recliner, continuing to recover [...]
Good morning... I wake early in deep prayer for my special friend. Today I support her, as she supports her husband, as he lays his father to final rest. After weeks of facing serious health challenges, her father-in-law went to heaven at age 85. My own dad turns 85 this week, and, as many of you know, my [...]
Good morning... This baffled woman surrounded by a wide variety of delicious possibilities represents the way I feel the morning after my fun filled birthday: "I don't remember the name, but it had a taste that I liked." I couldn't possibly name all of the nuanced ways God's love pours through you to me yesterday. Just like a [...]
