God is NOT our Drill Sergeant
Cheers to my mom and dad’s hardcore belief in life. I was an unexpected baby (not to God, but to mom and dad). It had been 12 years since their last child, but mom was in a trainwreck that upset her “apple cart”, rather, her birthing cart. All the biological factors came together and whoa-la,…
The Greatest Advice I’ve Ever Received
I was delighted to say “yes” to being on a panel of four women from various backgrounds for the “SHE — Girls Night Out” on Friday night at City Reach Church here in Austin. What a great opportunity to speak from my vantage point about life and the way I have navigated many unchartered…
Just Tidying Up Things Around Here
I learned from the best of them – my mother-in-law – about organizing and keeping things in their proper order. Perfectionism is one of her claims to fame which she passed on to her son, my husband and to our son who is “Mr. Organized” to the nth degree and thrives on everything being in…
Responding to Correction with Grace
I watched my neighbor sternly call her dog when he turned the corner of the building. We could tell he stopped, because we could see his leash laying on the ground. The leash didn’t move. He stopped cold. He obeyed his master. I asked if he ever barked. She said, “Oh, yes! But I don’t…
Being Persistent Takes Persistence
Here’s another day of coming out from under my “mighty woman of God” rock and I’m going to boast about some of my weaknesses. I’m following St. Paul’s lead with his powerful words of advice. He said: “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in…
Being One-Another Minded
I wasn’t in the “in-crowd” growing up. You know — the crowd where everyone knew each other — gathered together in their little groups, ate together, in clubs together, hung out together at recess. I was a shy child. I know that’s hard to believe. Instead of going to the outgoing kids, my mom coaxed…
Daddy’s Girl
Yesterday was my girl’s birthday and, quite unlike me, I wasn’t with her because I was on “Nana Duty” in Austin. I called her and we talked about how much she was always a Daddy’s Girl. No, he wasn’t the hands-on, diaper changing, feeding or the one who got up with her in the middle…
School of Hard Knocks
Many of us went to, and even graduated from the School of Hard Knocks. I’ll never forget how smart my husband and I thought we were starting out in life — so very young and inexperienced. His dad tried to counsel us on so many things and offer his sound advice and wisdom to us.…