Yes, We’re Open
I started something new this year. I am volunteering at a pregnancy center. God gave me a sweet spot for hurting women, in general, and when the "crisis" is coming from an unplanned pregnancy, or even from the choice of aborting that pregnancy, I'm especially tender. There are a lot of other women, wired like me, who are staff or volunteers at centers like this all over the country. I so admire what they are doing, and the love with which they do it, and I'm honored and humbled to be even a part. This week, I showed up for my time slot, and the place was empty, save for the receptionist. I settled in, and started a wonderful conversation with her, a gal whom I didn't know that well....
House of Cards
There once was a woman who answered an ad for a job. She showed up for the interview, looking extremely professional, was well-spoken and seemed very well-educated. Sailing through the interview process, and consistently rising to the top of the candidate pool, she found herself with a job offer. Upon acceptance, she went through the tedious contracting process, providing all additional information that was asked of her, and returning all phone calls to answer questions that would pop up here and there. In the mean time, a pleasant space was created for her. A plan was made for her first day, to get her acclimated, then for her initial couple of weeks of training. However, at the...
Being There
My parents have been married for 53 years today. I think about that and it fills me with gratitude. When they stood on the altar of First Christian Church in Plano (23 years before Kevin and I stood in the same spot), they made a promise to be there - be present - for each other for the rest of their lives. That was not a specific vow, but the over-arching vow, I believe, in marriage. To not just be there physically, but engaged with your mind and heart, as well. So, they set out, those two young people in their early 20's, to be there for each other. In their first apartment, and their first house; a darling little brick ranch, not far from the church, with a 50's pink-tile bathroom and...
Mimmie’s Heart: Letters to Lilli #6
My darling Lilli…when you get to be as old as your Mimmie, you might start to realize there are things you wish you’d said more intentionally to your own kids, as they were growing up, or, at the very least, you'll wish you had said them better. I heard once that grandchildren can be a kind of “do-over.” I don’t agree with that entirely, for you are not mine to raise, day in and day out. However, because I am removed from the constancy of your daily care, I think those things that need saying can rise more easily, and with greater clarity, to the top of my heart. It’s my hope that this letter (and the ones to follow in years to come) will help make your life’s road a little easier...
More
We watched an old(er) movie this weekend. You may have seen my plea for your favorite old movie on Facebook. I got a GREAT list of movies, in reply, that I'm actually keeping as a reminder (and if you're really good, I'll tack it on to the end of this post). But, back to my point. We watched Sabrina, the 1995 version with Harrison Ford and Julia Ormond. The original with Audrey Hepburn is one of my favorites (the DRESS!), but I couldn't remember how I'd felt about this version, so we ordered it up on Amazon. It did not disappoint. Well, except for the DRESS, which was entirely too mother-of-the-bride for a young and beautiful Julia Ormond. But, back to my point. Harrison Ford's...