Last Monday following my weekly post the day before, "Swimming Lessons," I thought about ideas for upcoming posts. I never know when the ideas will come, so when they do, I pay attention. I'd just completed a draft of my preface and Chapter I of the sequel to my memoir, He Heard My Voice, published … Continue reading Mattie B : Beta Reader
faith
Music: A Gift Over Time
When I was doing Life Coaching sessions, I had clients who were trying to find their true selves. They'd gotten bogged down in life, being the responsible adults they 'should be'; they'd lost who they were before adult responsibilities weighed them down. I'd suggest activities that would help them go back to what they loved … Continue reading Music: A Gift Over Time
Non-Negotiables: Online Dating
Over the past months as I've ventured further into the world of dating, I've been chewing on the concept of Non-Negotiables. With the online match sites, I've read hundreds of profiles since I joined almost two years ago. In those descriptions of what that person is like, what they're looking for, they begin outlining their … Continue reading Non-Negotiables: Online Dating
Happy 99th Birthday, Mama!
Today would have been Mama's 99th birthday. She died in April of 2020 in the midst of the pandemic--not from Covid but from a natural end-of-life after years of decline from dementia. Our family was lucky that the disease did not impact her personality as it does with many; she remained a gentle and kind … Continue reading Happy 99th Birthday, Mama!
Forgiving Our Fathers: Forgiving Ourselves
Today we celebrate fathers. It's a day of remembering for those of us who have lost them. For my son, Brooks, who's the daddy of my grandsons, Baker and Parks, it's feeling the love and the huge responsibility for his exuberant two and four-year-olds. With this day of national honoring of these men, comes mixed … Continue reading Forgiving Our Fathers: Forgiving Ourselves
Girls of Summer: Online Dating
Yesterday my grandson played his last T-ball game of his first season. At four-years-old, Baker has shown an amazing ability to concentrate when they're in the field, hit the coach's pitches, and run the bases tagging each one. Watching his team, I've been impressed at how skilled they are to have played for such a … Continue reading Girls of Summer: Online Dating
Armed Forces Day: A New Way to Celebrate
Yesterday was Armed Forces Day. When I was a girl, our family spent that day at Pope Air Force Base participating in the celebration. My parents were very patriotic, part of that "Greatest Generation" with Daddy an army veteran and Mama a Civil Service Worker during WWII. Being on the grounds of the base had … Continue reading Armed Forces Day: A New Way to Celebrate
Family Reunion: A Gathering of Loyalty and Love
Yesterday we had our Smith Family Reunion, Mama's family that had eight children and twenty grandchildren. We were lucky that all but one of the eight-- three daughters and five sons, lived in North Carolina and we saw them regularly when we were growing up. I have fond memories of Grandma Smith's farm house bulging … Continue reading Family Reunion: A Gathering of Loyalty and Love
The One Who Will Never Leave
On this Easter weekend, I've been in a thoughtful mood, considering what it means to be present with someone during their darkest hour. In my Christian faith, that brings me to the heart of a mother--specifically Mary, the mother of Jesus. On Good Friday, I thought of what it would be like to witness your … Continue reading The One Who Will Never Leave
Sweet Anticipation
Each morning when I arise, I get a cup of coffee--French Roast, black-- and head outside for a walk. This is the prayer that starts my day: "In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly." Psalm 5:3 NIV Photo by Jonathan Petersson on … Continue reading Sweet Anticipation
Connie Rosser Riddle 