"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...]
God Has a Reason for this New Life
My baby brother turns 57 today. He is my parents' third child. Mom was shocked, rather than thrilled, to hear she was pregnant in the fall of 1958. And for several good reasons. Her husband had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis only a few months earlier. The progress of the disease meant he would soon give up his job. She had just signed a teaching contract to support her family. Then … [Read more...]