If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. I used to squirm at the mention of that phrase, until I had to admit it’s often shameful truth. We mothers, make it our business to be in everyone else’s business. When one in our keep, which often stretches beyond the confines of our home, is hurting, mama hurts. And when mama hurts,…
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A Line in the Sand
On my flight home last week, I was seated next to a random stranger named Mike. Within minutes though, I realized that he was not random and our meeting was no coincidence. After exchanging generic pleasantries, we learned enough about the other to know our conversation felt safe. Even though pre-coffee dawn, Mike wanted to talk; Mike needed to…
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Hail Mary!
I’m from State College, Pennsylvania home to the Penn State Nittany Lions. My parents met at Penn State and because they loved their community, they settled in, had four kids and never left. Growing up there, a love for college football was a given and that love has stuck with me ever since. If you could care less about football,…
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Look at the Birds
When our plans to visit Europe were nixed for the third time, Doug suggested a road trip to Texas. Not exactly a satisfying alternative, but with his retirement coming into view (in the next decade anyway), and Ian completely idle, our lemonade making excursion would be part exploratory and part escape. Becca’s college experience at Baylor was our first…
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Getting Back up Again.
Darn it, it happened again. Discouraged by recent events in my family, I have gone dark and found myself wandering in the wilderness. Aware that I’m bad company, I’ve spent lots of time alone in a place of dissonance. A place where I’ve allowed my feelings to rule the day, knowing they conflict with the truth. It has felt as…
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