It’s 2022 in Kalispell, Montana. In the dining room, which is used loosely as a homeschool room and catch-all-for-papers -and-projects room, my mom was taking a piano lesson. Outside the air is cool and dry, the sun bright and pure. My other children are silently playing or reading. “I’m going to teach you to play Chopsticks first,” …
Would it have been ok if the book of Job had ended with chapter 42 verse 9? “…the Lord also accepted Job.” Speaking from a very human point of view, what if all Job got for his suffering was God’s approval, a good word, a restored and stronger relationship with his Creator? What if …
My dad was projected to live into his 90s. His grandparents and parents had, and they enjoyed relative freedom until the last days or weeks of their passing. He worked at being healthy through hard physical work, regular stretching, cutting out sugar, and staying busy with volunteer work. Graduating by the skin of his teeth …
On regaining control Realizing I had an addiction to scrolling mindlessly on Facebook, I decided to stop looking at it for awhile. Not only did I spend significant time mindlessly scrolling, I spent hours intentionally reading and responding as well. Sometimes periods of despondence would overtake me after I engaged in discussions that tip heavily …
13 months: on addiction to Facebook, not getting what we wanted, and “God is good” Read More »
I was acutely aware of my need for my dad to stay, and yet I was grateful, even jealous, of the peace he had finally achieved. Philippians 1:23-24 “For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the …
Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He which began a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” It has always struck me as odd that God is so willing to let us grow slowly into being more like Christ. He’s willing to let the process continue …
All week I had anticipated today, but then I didn’t remember the significance of the day when it arrived. I didn’t remember until my mom mentioned it on our group chat and even then I thought, “Nine months when it feels like nine years or nine minutes.” My dad used to tell me, “Write about …
I’m a nurse at a hospital where I work twelve hour shifts. Across the United States, nurses who work twelve hour shifts are considered full time if they pull three shifts a week; I generally do two shifts, sometimes three. To most people outside of nursing, working two or three shifts a week sounds like …
Every time I post on my blog I think, “I’ll post again right away maybe even tomorrow, but for sure by next week.” Then perfectionism and real time responsibilities step in like soldiers blocking the literal and figurative way to the computer. Days pass, weeks pass. Perfectionism and procrastination, really just a fear of failure, …
Before losing my dad I had never considered having a relationship with a deceased person. It seemed obvious and logical that once the person was gone, the relationship ended. Of course, there would be memories and the grieving process and the waiting period before being reunited in Heaven. Even when friends would say, “My [mom/dad/child] …
