Forward

If you remember anything about Robert Frost from your high school CliffsNotes, it’s likely some version of “the best way out is always through.” Maybe that’s true sometimes, but other times I think the way out may be to go back or even to be still. What I’ve come to believe is more true, particularly…

Not Final

Dear friends went to Horton’s today and sent me a picture of my Dad’s headstone. It was just installed and I hadn’t even had a chance to get out there yet. It. Hit. Me. Hard. So final. Final because it was the last task for me to double check. Final because his name is in…

Good Grief

There’s no right way to grieve people say. To people who are grieving I say There’s no one right way to grieve. I am unsure if people mean it when they say it or if they are just offering encouragement. What I am sure of is that after seeing countless family and friends grieve people…

Freedom Thoughts

Today began before the sun fully came up, with loud noises and flashing lights. An ambulance at a neighbor’s house immediately had me praying, and also immediately transported me to the night my Dad died and how the world looked as I arrived at my parents’ house. Red flashes. Red is the color of stop.…

June in Pictures

June: in like a lion and out like a lamb, just like the weather in March. Ella is at Appalachia Service Project, serving in Dickenson County. Teams like the one she’s with travel to Central Appalachia from around the U.S. to repair homes in some of the most beautiful country in our land. She will…

Keeping Myself Honest

My journal entry from January 19, 2014, was called Keeping Myself Honest. I wrote it and then shared it because I really wanted to not wimp out and I thought I might. I have been thinking about going back to church.Since Audrey was born, I've only been a couple of times - early on to…

America the Great

In the last week I have watched two documentary series about 9/11, and the thing that sticks in my mind above all else is how much we’re capable of coming together. Of helping people, while not even thinking about differences. We can just be good humans and good neighbors. If we could just figure out…

Counting Every Blessing

Sometimes we don’t know what we don’t know or we don’t know what we’ve been missing, until we experience a thing and realize that’s what we’ve needed. For the first time in over a year, I went to church to worship in person this morning. I’ve been watching the service online each week and that’s…

Easter People

Every Good Friday, and actually on all my dark days, my favorite words of Pope John Paul II always come to mind. Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song. More simply, sometimes our Sunday is just 48 hours away.

Ugly Truths

I’m so tired of left and right finger-pointing. I’m tired of “but you guys” did this or that. Or statements that include the words “both sides.” I’m done with this week’s responses like “criticizing the Capitol participants is hypocritical of you.” Or “you didn’t condemn the violence at Black Lives Matters protests last summer.” Actually…