The Linings Aren’t Always Silver

  Fifty-two years ago on this day, I took in my first lung-full of earth's atmosphere and awarded all those in attendance with a hearty bellow. Or so I assume. Today, though, when I took my first conscious breath of air and wiped the sleep from my eyes, I was quiet. I slipped out of bed and walked outside into a delicious pre-dawn coolness, choosing to greet this day - my birthday - with the sun itself. Glancing up, it appeared that there was not a cloud in the sky. It looked to me that the sun would come up over the eastern horizon without much fanfare, its giant golden orb peaking up steadily over the tree line. But, as I watched, a small strip of cloud lit up in brilliant pink and...

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And Just Like That, She is 26

And Just Like That, She is 26

  How is it that I can no longer say you are in your early 20's? I've been kidding you for the last few years, calling you a "thirty-something" because the life you lead is much more in line with that age group, but now that you're 26, and officially in your late 20's, it's leaving me a little gobsmacked. Where did the time go? Weren't you just here.... Or here... Or here? Weren't you just chatting away on a phone that, while cordless, still required that you be inside our house? Weren't you just playing dress up, heading off to your first day of preschool, and hanging out in my arms? Didn't you just have a head full of curls? For crying out loud, WEREN'T YOU JUST BORN??? I know you...

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Trust the No

  If you've been a regular reader, you know that it's basically been nothing but crickets over here for a little over a month. Likely, you've been living out the events of your own life and haven't really even noticed, but some of you may have been wondering why I've been silent, and, well, there's mainly one big reason: I've kept quiet out of fear of spilling some pretty wonderful beans before we knew for sure they were ours to spill. Our daughter and son-in-law, Emmie and Bobby, are moving the family home to Texas! Yes. REALLY! We are over the moon about it, and not just a little bit excited! They will be here in June, and for the first time in 10 years, all of our family will be in...

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It’s a New, GOOD, Day

  There are two people in my life (at least that I know of) who are struggling mightily with their pasts. One is working hard to be free of theirs, making great strides through forgiveness, but tired of constantly fighting lies that continue to creep in and whisper "less than," robbing their peace of mind. The other? Well, they refuse to move forward at all, preferring instead to wallow in a sea of "if only," casting blame on everyone in their path for their circumstances. Interestingly, they are both surrounded by people who seem to have it all together, and in the cast of that long shadow, their own lives pale in comparison. The thing is, that's a lie, too. No one has it all...

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Time Keeps on Slipping, Slipping, Slipping, Into the Future…

Time Keeps on Slipping, Slipping, Slipping, Into the Future…

  Hi there. Remember me? The girl who used to post here everyday? Well. Let me tell you about the last three weeks. I went to Florida the second week of March. Kevin followed, and we spent the next few days with the kids, celebrating Brody's birthday. Then, Kevin stayed for a business meeting, and Lilli and I flew back home to Texas. We spent that week having fun, while Kevin returned to Emmie's house and spent those days having fun with Brody. Then, Lilli and I flew back to Florida, where we saw Kevin for a day and a half before he flew back to Texas. After another day, I met my friend, Mary Snyder, at the Tampa airport, rented a car for the drive down to Fort Lauderdale, and set...

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