When Old Is New Again
It really wasn’t even a decision, really. It was more of a collective, family lightbulb moment. Take Cathryn back to Annapolis Christian Academy. Not “send” her back. Not “let her go” back. Take her back. Through all of this mess with the church… the pain Ken and I have felt, the struggle to wrap our brains around the loss… she’s felt it too. It was a death to her, too. She lost a friend in Tricia, too. She saw someone she trusted do the wrong thing, and then ignore her. Her pastor, no less. It was a rough lesson to learn at a young age. Lesser kids might have abandoned their walk with God. She didn’t. But slowly she became less and less herself. Less and less “Cat” – the sparkly, bubbly,...
Read MoreComing Back Up For Air
And just like that. It was all over. We haven’t stepped back into Port Aransas Community Presbyterian Church since that awful Sunday abortion of a congregational meeting. No one in any official capacity has called. No one has prayed with us, or for us. Not one word, except for the “fired by Fedex” letter. It’s been 5 weeks tomorrow. Shun on. And yet, life has gone on. Spectacularly, in fact. Don’t get me wrong – we grieve. We grieve the loss the safety net of a church family and spiritual home. We grieve the fact that the church isn’t required to pay unemployment and he was fired months short of his pension being vested, which means he was left with nothing. No money. No official goodbye. No thank you. No lunch to bless...
Read MoreIn The Shelter
Coming back from a week of saying goodbye to Ken’s Mom (and her sister June.) Fully understanding my mother-in-law’s sadness and pain. Seeing what she endured in a dishonorable husband. I grieve. I can’t form sentences. Big words escape me. News comes last night: Ken’s job is likely being eliminated by the church tonight. Our youth program gone. God sends songs. To all who are looking down Holding on to hearts still wounding For those who’ve yet to find it The place is near where love is moving Cast off the robes you’re wearing Set aside the names that you’ve been given May this place of rest in the fold of your journey Bind you to hope You will never walk alone In the shelter of each other We will live We will live (Never...
Read MoreComplicated Relationships
As I write this, my mother in law is drawing her last breaths. She’s fought a hard battle with heart disease, diabetes, and finally, cancer. I am deeply saddened.
Read MoreThe World’s Loss is Heaven’s Gain
I wasn’t blessed with a sister. I had two brothers come along 9 and 12 years after I was born, and some of the mysteries of siblings somewhat escape me. I love my brothers, don’t get me wrong, but we don’t talk very often and when we do it’s about pretty simple stuff. I got married when they were still in elementary school and moved to Texas, so it’s just different, I suppose, from some families. Like the one you see above. On the left is my friend Tanya. She’s also my daughter Cathryn’s “real” mom of sorts. They are hilariously similar in ways large and small. They laugh, they bring joy to everyone they meet and they’re the center of many people’s attention for their infinite goodness,...
Read MoreYeah – I’m THAT Mom.
Oh. My. Stars. Seemingly overnight, I became THAT Mom. The working mom. The mom that’s got a meeting and has to miss Monday Morning Moms in Touch, and the one that sent a text to her assistant last night at 10pm to please bake a cake for her kid to pick up at 7:15am. Horrifying, right? It took me 18 years, but I’m driving an SUV. I’m talking on my Bluetooth headset in the carpool lane. I have a standing order at Starbucks and they know me by name. I’m booking flights and keeping a bag packed for business trips. I ordered a new Oakley Messenger Bag and didn’t balk at the $120 price tag. I live and breathe by my Google Calendar and Blackberry. I say things like, “Let’s Huddle Up Next Week” – which is the new...
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