The Slushie from a Stranger
“Remember me?” he asked. The biker in yellow reflective jacket parked his bike at the end of the driveway, and started towards me. “Hi, I do.” I grinned amicably to the older gentleman behind me. I first met Carl the Can Man a few weeks ago—then too I was prying stubborn weeds from between my…
My Court Case
It’s the court case of the century, of the millennium. Standing tall, he addresses the jury, calling out to them as impartial silent witnesses. It’s a three-part conversation, playing out on a grand scale. God speaks first. The witnesses he appeals to are the strong silent type: stalwart, of few words, fly-on-the-walls–types for centuries. …
Shattering Public Speaking Jitters
Have a work presentation coming up? Getting started in public speaking? Or as a student, do you hate oral presentations? As my speaking calendar is filling in for this next year, and I reflect on how much I love sharing with women, it occurs to me that not everyone enjoys public speaking. If that is…
Come Away With Me…
Pontoons and fishing boats hum through the channel at low throttle. Rubbery lily pads bob in the waves at the shore, sliding slyly further out into the channel. Green and red-throated humming birds flit tentatively closer and then swoop brazenly within a foot of my face, jeering me to stop them. Between kayaking, Speed Scrabble…
Neighbors and Breaking a 7-Year Record
“Aren’t they going to think you’re weird, Jen?” he asks. “Traditionally, people bring food to the new neighbors, not vice versa. Won’t they feel obligated to reciprocate?” “I don’t know. I think it’ll be nice,” I reply, “and I want to share these cookies with them. My parents do things like that in their neighborhood.”…
Of Prayers and Spiderman: And Why We Need Heroes
It takes a midnight nightmare to let you know what verses you have on active file. Trying to comfort a frightened four year old, yet still maintain that last vestige of sleep cover, I started reciting the songs and verses that came without thought. “My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s…
Five Seconds Away From Joy, Better Health, and Peace of Mind
“Mom, can you come get me?” Cocoa paint congealed in my orange plastic tray today, as my seventeen year old son’s sick voice continued huskily. “My fever is higher again and I just wanna be home.” “Oh bud, why don’t you sleep there tonight and I’ll come get you first thing tomorrow morning?” It was…
Of Friendships and Peanut Butter
She was the friend who invited me over for peanut butter and jelly one day. Juggling our kids in the hallway after Thursday morning Bible study, she spontaneously invited my kids and I, and several other moms and kids, over for a spontaneous let’s-scrounge-up-and-share-whatever-food-is-available-lunch. Over peanut butter and grape jelly, we smoothed toddlers’ faces, nursed…
Rigor Mortis and Finding Your Place
The wind blows hard, swaying the towering greens, and awkwardly dancing the brown pine that’s in rigor mortis. Summer falls hot and heavy. From behind air-conditioned windows, I contemplate projects, dropping landscaping down to the bottom of the list. Paint trays stack in the laundry room, awaiting creamy Canyon Cloud. My daughter sits slack-jawed…
The Parenting Mistake We all Make and Need to Stop (Plus a Giveaway)
We all do it. We think we’re protecting them. We think it’s for their benefit. But we’ve all done it at some time, and it happens most often with toddlers or preschoolers. The setting is different for everyone, but it comes up. In the lull of a terse conversation, a child pipes in. Depending on…