Jennifer, a registered nurse, wheeled my husband back in to the recovery room after his second cataract surgery. Even though Hank was groggy and slurring his words a bit, I immediately recognized the story he'd apparently been recounting to her. "Our son, Aaron, had emergency surgery at this very hospital when he was only seven... Continue Reading →
Finding Steady Love in My Unsteady World "Mom, I want to be home-schooled... forever!" Today was the second time in a month I've received this dramatic, desperate message from our seventh-grade daughter -- while she was at school. Jaycie came home three days ago wearing the jacket of a new beau, but apparently gave it back... Continue Reading →
It was a snowy night in December 2000, and schools had already canceled for the next day due to more snow and ice coming. That December 14th, eighteen years ago, would bring unexpected chaos, momentary terror, disruption in our lives --- and remind us of the mercy and faithfulness of God ... all in one night. Our... Continue Reading →
I've been doing a lot of dog walking lately, since we adopted Ralphie, our little rescued Yorkie-Poo. He's blind in one eye and has a cataract in the other, although his hearing is really good. He absolutely loves to go on walks, and it's good for me, too. Ralphie seems ecstatic with a sense of... Continue Reading →
The new fall 2015 season had begun, and we three "choir sisters" were excited to be traveling together again. *Sheila was driving and *Ginger was in the front passenger seat. I was in the back seat, looking through my music. *Names changed for privacy. I rarely get to ride with other ladies in... Continue Reading →
My husband and I lead the Blended Families Sunday school bible study class at our church. Although we've been bursting at the seams in the past for room, most of those families have moved out of state, so we usually only have 4-8 people weekly. Therefore, a new visitor is always an exciting occurrence for... Continue Reading →
Seventeen months had passed since we buried our dear fifteen-year-old Cocker Spaniel. Buddy had been a beloved family pet since he was eight weeks old, and it took a while to be emotionally ready for a new pet. Since we had a mission trip planned (to Washington, DC) in May and my knee surgery scheduled... Continue Reading →
We finally landed at Dulles Airport in Washington, DC. My husband, Hank and I and over four hundred others from Oklahoma had looked forward to this trip for sixteen months! "Worship Over Washington" was a mission trip of the Singing ChurchWomen, Singing ChurchMen, and the Baptist Symphony Orchestra, and we had a full agenda, and... Continue Reading →
Sitting at my home office desk a few weeks ago, I noticed some all-too-familiar ripples and bubbles in the laminate flooring. Oh, no ... not again! Apparently the heavy rains the week before had seeped under the house and beneath the flooring of my studio/ office, a room built in part of our garage. Since we've... Continue Reading →
I took a sip of my mother's iced tea from her hospital tray, since we were about to throw it all out. She was coming home today, after being hospitalized four days due to Colitis. It is an excruciatingly painful intestinal illness, but (the doctor told us) was not contagious. She'd cooked a delicious Thanksgiving... Continue Reading →
Inspiring Hope Blog 