"What I remember about your dad," my cousin said at a recent family reunion, "is that he was a big kid. He was always in the thick of things, playing with us. He never sat still." My cousin's lip trembled a bit, and tears came to his eyes. My eyes also went damp, as they always do when my older cousins describe their Uncle Harlan's antics. Though their memories bring me to tears, I crave their … [Read more...]
Unexpected Traditions and the True Meaning of Christmas
A year ago, my left hand was in a cast to recover from surgery to reconnect the thumb tendon I'd severed in a kitchen accident. A back injury had incapacitated my man-of-steel husband. As a result, we wisely decided to forego decorating the house for Christmas. "It's only for one year," we told each other. "We'll do things up right next year." Those were, dear readers, our most Famous. Last. … [Read more...]
Today I Choose To Be Grateful
Today my arm muscles ache, my blood sugar is higher than it should be, my feet hurt, and my heart is overflowing with happiness. Why? Because my dear niece got married on Saturday night. She is my daughter's life long friend, so when she asked her aunties to make forty pies for the wedding reception, I responded the only way an auntie can. "Yes," I said without hesitation, knowing full well … [Read more...]
The Pressure Cooker Effect
In May our daughter, her husband, and their fourteen-month-old moved into the upstairs of the roomy, old farmhouse where my husband and I live. With their arrival our quiet, empty nester lives were dramatically altered. I couldn't be happier. Over the summer I observed how parenthood has changed my daughter and her husband. They are no longer young adults in single-minded pursuit of their own … [Read more...]
When You Know Too Much
This summer our family embarked upon the grand adventure of multi-generational living. It began in May when our daughter, her husband, and their then 13-month-old son moved into our upstairs as they transition from starving graduate student status to starving artists status. The adventure is going well, everyone is adjusting, and my husband and I love sharing every day life with our … [Read more...]
When Chronic Pain Makes Us Doubt God’s Promises
Chronic pain. Parents of kids with special needs deal with it every single day. Not only our children's pain, which is what springs to mind for most moms and dads when the topic arises. But also our own chronic pain. We all experience it. Our pain can be caused by the physical demands of caregiving. It can be mental and emotional pain exacted by sleep deprivation, the trauma of seeing our … [Read more...]