For years, I've had the practice of taking a yearly Solo Journey. This started by accident, "serendipitously" --I like to say. I took my first one to Sedona, Arizona in 2001 following eight months of breast cancer treatment. Four years after that trip, I took an "intentional" one for my 50th birthday present to Jekyll … Continue reading Follow Your Intuition
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Mama Stories
This time of year, I think a lot about Mama and Daddy. On February 26, 1950 they were married in a double-wedding ceremony with Mama's younger brother, Cliff and his wife. This also occurred on Daddy's thirtieth birthday. I have some pictures from that wedding at Cedar Rock Presbyterian Church--one of the many small congregations … Continue reading Mama Stories
Valentine’s Hopes: Letting Go of the Sea of Fish
For the past few years, with Valentine's Day approaching, I've written blog posts that featured my parents' courtship as expressed in their letters. I am the holder of this family treasure of a box of their correspondence from the mid-1940s until they were married in 1950. I've read many of them, partly as a daughter, … Continue reading Valentine’s Hopes: Letting Go of the Sea of Fish
The Gift of Time: Precious Moments with a Child
At Christmas, one of the things I gave each grandson was an "event with Grammy." This followed from asking my son, Brooks for suggestions on what to buy his boys. Brooks responded, "Give them a special time one-on-one with you." There are days during the year that I have time with each one alone--when they're … Continue reading The Gift of Time: Precious Moments with a Child
Focusing on the Goal: Camino Bound
Last Friday, I stepped forward and made my deposit for the eighteen day, Portuguese Coastal Camino trip. I'll go with a group of ten with the company Prayerful Path https://prayerfulpath.com---headed up by Mary Maddox from the Atlanta area. It will be in August instead of June, as I originally posted. Looking at the calendar, I was … Continue reading Focusing on the Goal: Camino Bound
Holiday Home: Christmas Past and Present
It's finally here, or already here, depending on your age and how you look at it; today is Christmas Eve. Whatever decorations we wanted to display, and presents we intended to purchase, are surely taken care of by now. Since I wasn't in the process of moving this year, I've had more time to decorate … Continue reading Holiday Home: Christmas Past and Present
Making Holiday Memories: Still a Family
Just a week until Christmas. The excitement was building last Friday night for my three-year-old grandson, Parks and five-year-old grandson, Baker in the midst of the Durham Bull's Baseball Stadium. That was where we went for our holiday outing to the Wool E's Winter Wonderland. The field was transformed by colorful flashing lights, a huge … Continue reading Making Holiday Memories: Still a Family
Christmas Time: Loss and Longing
We've now entered Advent--- as it's called in the Christian Calendar, that time of waiting for the birth of the Messiah. And for others, who may not be steeped in the Christian tradition but celebrate the season, it's also a special time of memories and meaning. As much as popular and traditional songs celebrate this … Continue reading Christmas Time: Loss and Longing
Preparation in Gratitude
This week we'll be preparing for Thanksgiving. Some folks will travel great distances; others will drive just down the road to share that meal with family and friends. I've made my first trip to the grocery store to purchase the main items, but for sure there'll be a couple more for those things that were … Continue reading Preparation in Gratitude
Special Times: A Grandmother’s Tale
This week I had a new experience with my grandsons: keeping them for an extended time while their parents were visiting friends in Seattle. I kept Baker, who is now 5, and Parks, who is 3, for two days a week for over three years. So, I'm familiar with their routines from all those hours … Continue reading Special Times: A Grandmother’s Tale