Today is Doug’s birthday. Since he chose not to have a funeral, I've wanted to write a few words about him, though I've struggled with this for weeks. At the last minute, this is all I can say… This week I’ve been hanging pictures and family photos. We hadn’t been able to do that before …
Tag: faith
Jesus in a “to go” cup
August 30, 2020, our little country church, opened it's doors for in person worship. It was the first time since the advent of coronavirus shut downs. I was excited and went knowing it would be different. It was different. And odd, and a little uncomfortable. We sat socially distanced, of course. Hugs didn't happen. We …
consistency
In early 2015, my son, David, had to return to Iraq with his unit in support of Kurdish troops. Since he'd started the retirement paperwork process, I thought that exempted him. It didn't. He went. With the exception of combat deployments, David called Doug and I every Sunday evening for all 21 years he served. …
preparing for what you don’t know…
About a decade ago I packed this duffel bag. My 72-hour kit. I was attending a CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) class, and had to bring it in on the last day. It was so big, so heavy that I dragged it in. Just as I tend to over think things, I typically over prepare. …
stop running
A few months back, searching for an old Halloween photo, I found this picture. We had moved to a new home, in a new subdivision, several miles south of San Francisco. I know this to be true because my dad's beloved and well maintained lawn, flower garden, fence and side yard fish pond didn't exist …
i always knew, he fought for me…
You cannot love a thing without wanting to fight for it G. K. Chesterton My dad was a quiet man who loved big fireworks. I miss him on the 4th of July. When it was dark enough, with his carefully selected box of fireworks in hand, Dad would walk to the end of our driveway …
where i lay my head…
I have slept in unusual places. It began the day I got married. We left our wedding reception in a hale of rice. With the passenger side window stuck open, I got the worst of it. Rice and all, we headed to San Francisco, to the place I "thought" we would spend the night. Unfortunately, …
the age of reality… one last thing
Actually, a couple last things. I'm ready to move on from this exploration of turning 70, but first, in no particular order............ SUGAR IS THE DEVIL - My son used to say "women are the devil", but since he married one and they gave birth to one, I'm assuming he got over that misconception. But …
staying the path
February 22nd, we had a light snowfall. It was over and beginning to melt by mid-morning. Normally I avoid the area, blaming it for the worst case of poison oak EVER. But on this day I walked up behind the shop, clicked a few pictures and moved on about my business. It wasn't until looking …
how faith and politics can come together
Judas betrayed Jesus. Jesus was crucified. Judas hung himself. And the 12 apostles became 11. How confused and overwhelmed they must have been. For three years Judas had eaten with them, slept with them, traveled with them, watched Jesus walk on water with them. How could he do this thing? As they waited and wondered …
Heart's Home 