America – God Shed His Grace on Thee – Happy 4th of July

Today we celebrate our Independence Day.
It’s a special day for many; just a day off for others; and just another day for still a few more.
In the morning I will get up and fly my American Flag.
We will likely grill some hotdogs, break out the chips and dip, and accomplish a little yard work.
I’ll spend [...]

Happy New Year

In review, it was a tough year for us and ours.  For me, the loss of a dear sister.  For my wife, the loss of a father.
But we are blessed.  Blessed in the assurance of the comfort and absolute victory of those who have left us behind and blessed with the strength to carry on [...]

The Therapeutics of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving can be good for the soul.
When we stop to give thanks it necessitates that we ponder what we are thankful for.  It causes us to remember, to reflect on the past.  And in the process we recall both the joyful times and the sorrowful times.  We grow grateful, and thus become thankful for the joyful times and [...]

Sometimes there is no going back.

How do you pick up the threads of an old life?  How do you go on, when in your heart you begin to understand there is no going back?  There are some things time cannot mend.  Some hurts that go too deep that have taken hold.
Frodo – The Return of the King.  
Can one truly forgive, [...]

The Garden

“Will you remember me?”
 
“Of course I’ll remember you?”
 
“How can you say that?  How can you be sure?  We’ve spent so much time together.  We’ve shared too many laughs, too many tears.  How can you remember every camping trip, every ride on the school bus, weddings, children, birthdays, Christmas gatherings . . .all the funny stories?”  [...]

An Unfinished Life?

My beautiful, older sister passed away this past Monday morning after a valiant fight against cancer.  As we prepare for her homecoming party, though we’re happy for her, each of us are having to come to grips in our own way with the loss of our beloved Donna Jo.
This is a poem my older brother [...]

Saying Goodbye

It was August 25th, 2007.  We had just come back from a lovely cruise and received the word that my sister’s cancer had taken a turn . . .she was not doing well.  They were talking about different courses of treatment.  When I got home I called her and talked with her about some of [...]

She was Crackle

When we were kids my brother and I would be so jealous that she seemed to never get in trouble.
Now, as an adult, she is so gullible.  It has always been so sinfully entertaining to “pull one over” on her.
At 50 years old, people say, “Is your mommy home?” when she answers the phone.
She cannot [...]

A Father’s Love

I watched you enter this world and I was filled with joy.
I watched you find your way through childhood and I was filled with laughter.
I watched you grow into a young woman and I was filled with pride.
I walked with you down the isle and shared in your happiness.
I stood with you at the hospital [...]

Somersault’s Baby!!!

Some time ago,  I was in an associate’s office and noticed a paperweight on his desk that had the question,  “If you knew that you could not fail, what would you attempt to do?”
Now I find that to be a very intriguing and convicting question. 
Because of events of that particular day, the question immediately [...]