• Our Kids, Our Family

    They Can Laugh All They Like

    We now have 3 (count ’em three) 20-somethings living in our big happy home. This is their summer residence, sort of. And of course we have summer school! A full course in Gen-Whatever cultural education is underway. Our younger, tender children will get lots of expanding data entry during these weeks.  (help) One of these fine men is studying psychology…

  • Living Vertically

    {NO SUBJECT}

    I tried to focus. Re-focus.  I tried to force open a window of inspirational reflection.  At least finish yesterday’s journal entry left hanging mid-sentence. These days are filled with unique family demands that crescendo just prior to the screeching, super slo-mo, sideways-slide of summer. Busy, but different. Amidst the planning of camps and no-camps for the small and mid-size ones,…

  • Living Vertically,  Our Kids, Our Family

    A Friday Paradox

    I love this word. Paradox. In a conversation through this space about marriage, Evan Forester and I shared ideas on submission.  Wise Evan called up Paul’s words in his letter to the leaders in Phillipi and the whole concept also became relevant to TODAY’s current events (of all things). Philippians 2 puts it: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is…

  • Living Vertically,  The Mystery of Marriage

    A Year … Almost

    Mom has moved the pillow to the center of the bed:  submission to the truth.   He is with Jesus and her life is changed.  How can she be happy that he’s gone?  How can we celebrate the joy of heaven when we have such guttural pain in our body?  It’s the most ultimate choice that we must work through…

  • Living Vertically,  The Story

    Mom? Scandalous?

    Scandalous runs in my family.  It goes back for generations. In this fuzzy 1973 snapshot of a few well-mannered, if giddy, English family members, the layers of unheard of behavior would make your hair curl! The woman in the middle: my grandmother. Born in Santiago Chile in 1901, married an Englishman who worked for the BBC.  During WWII her husband…

  • Our Kids, Our Family,  The Mystery of Marriage

    So Many Boats

    My husband and I had a wonderful impromptu date on Friday night.  We stole away to the only Persian restaurant in town, and instead of talking about our nutty list of activities to manage over the next 48 hours, we pondered our opportunity to grow…  as parents and as humans who have learned a thing or two along the way. In…

  • Living Vertically,  Serving, Leading

    Vibrating Thresholds

    I know, weird.  But the idea of vibrating thresholds is once again the best way to describe this time. It’s my new way of thinking about life change that we can sense but can’t see to the other side.  Sometimes it’s merely waiting. But often it’s continuing to heed the insistences on our heart. Walking towards the dream. Steve’s and…