I’ve often heard that earthly fathers are our first impression of what God is like. If we have a devoted, loving dad, it’s easier to accept a benevolent, personal, divine creator. If our father is aloof, abusive, or absent, it’s more difficult to believe in a loving heavenly Father. In my life, I’ve seen that this […]
Caregiving – When I Feel Like My Best is Not Enough
(I wrote this four years ago. After an emotional caregiving day with the folks yesterday, I began to write about it. Then I came across this post and realized I already had.) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Most people who check […]
8 Rules for a Lifetime Marriage
Look who had their 69th anniversary this month. These two continue to amaze me. Dad fights chronic UTIs, and Mom moves slower than molasses, but they are hardy stock from Indiana, and they have more energy than me these days. People ask them all the time, what is the secret to marriage? How have you […]
As a Caregiver, Two Things I Need to Remember (constantly)
As a caregiver, I had a rough evening with Mom this week. She’s 94 and has some dementia, and I help her shower. Tonight, she wasn’t very happy. She didn’t like something I bought her, she was impatient with the fact that I’ve not connected with her physical therapist yet (we keep missing each other), […]
8 Things I’ve learned from Caregiving
At just over 50, I thought I was fairly grown-up. Until my dad had a stroke in 2008. That’s when I became a caregiver. And that’s when I realized I didn’t know much of anything. Anything of importance anyway. I’ve been helping my folks, 90 and 93, for five years now. Before that, skipping […]
A Simple Advent Wreath! If You’re Five or 90, This is For You!
Six years ago, I woke up at 3 a.m. with a vision of an Advent wreath I had to make. This has happened a few times in my life, where an idea comes to mind that is crystal clear and urgent. We all know that phrase, “it dawned on me.” Our daughter says that’s how […]
Tahini-free Hummus
I love hummus. Well, my own hummus. I discovered hummus about five years ago and was hooked because I love beans. But, there was a flavor I couldn’t pinpoint that seemed ‘off’ to me, so I did some research and found out it was the tahini I didn’t care for. Which is weird, because tahini […]
Allowing Laughter (in an ALF)
Recently, my husband came home from playing Bingo with my dad at the assisted living facility (ALF.) “That’s the funniest game of Bingo I’ve ever played in my life,” he chuckled as he handed me these… “Where’d you get these?” I asked. “They were prizes,” he said. “I won two games.” “A three-pack of Whoppers […]