The men are laying new vinyl today. “Do you want the seam here… or there?” asks the one in charge. And I’m thinking, I don’t care. I won’t be living with it. This will no longer my home. I’m losing my sense of home. I’m already separating from it like a dying person begins to […]
My House Is On Fire
I’d just set down bowls of chicken and rice kibble mixed with canned lamb dinner when my phone rang. I’m used to not being able to understand the grandgirl because of giggling and commotion in the background. But tonight (Monday–the day after Mother’s Day) was different. Through her panic, I finally understood her screams. “My house […]
Exhale Frozen Breath
The psychodogs take less than two minutes to relieve themselves before they beg to come back in. It’s still dark when I step outside. I catch my breath and imagine ice crystals forming around my lungs. I try to guess the temperature as the garage door creaks upward in protest. I slip my jacket sleeves over […]
Please Forgive Me
Dearest Nduta, Have you ever heard of the Dominican Republic? It’s a country that shares an island with the country of Haiti just south of the United States in the Caribbean Sea. Compassion invited me to go there last week on one of their trips and write some stories about what I saw. I […]
Without First the Breaking
E’s mother shut her and her sister out of the house because she could no longer care for them. C was reclaimed from a trash heap in the worst part of Port Au Prince. She was about five years old, scarred and burned, abused and cast away. I met her two years ago on […]
Pups, Patches, Aprons, and Grace
It all started with Sir Wesley John. When Rose Dog died, we swore no. more. dogs. But who can say no to a grand girl’s sad face? Only her mother. So the mission to make Grace happy fell to us, and thus began the hunt for a hypoallergenic, nonshedding, cuddle critter. Enter Happy Havanese. […]
Into His Presence
Note: In just five weeks, I’ll find myself next to the Frio River in the hill country of Texas when I attend The High Calling retreat at Laity Lodge. And oh how I need it as I’ve been going through a rather hard and hectic season. I need to be in this place with my […]
Are You Growing Up or Becoming Old?
Whoever decided small critters were good for older people? When I bent down to pick up the littlest dog during the morning rush, something in my left lower back went awry. After I’d deposited the oldest grand-girl at the school curb and returned home, I cranked the shower up hotter than hot and let the […]
Word of the Week: Books – Part 1
book – noun \ˈbu̇k\ : a set of printed sheets of paper that are held together inside a cover : a long written work : a long written work that can be read on a computer : a set of sheets of paper that are inside a cover and that you can write information […]
Word of the Week: Feelings
feeling – noun \ˈfē-liŋ\ : an awareness by your body of something in it or on it : an emotional state or reaction : susceptibility to impression I haven’t been feeling very Christian. It’s not even my battle, but I’ve been caught in the crossfire. Now that it’s finally over, I want to write […]
