A work trip to Northwest Missouri isn’t complete without a visit to the Benedictine Convent in Clyde. I’m convinced that their chapel is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. I don’t take as many photos as I used to, but it never gets old. Takes my breath away and brings tears…
Category: blessings
A Day in the Life
Believe it or not, these seemingly random photos are actually related. These images reflect my day. From the time I got up to, well, now, I took one photo an hour (when it was possible) to document a “day in the life.” Not to say that my life is vaguely significant or even remotely interesting….
Sometimes…
….God smiles in color. And this year, God seems to be smiling a lot. In fact, I’d call it a full-on belly laugh. The trees in our neighborhood don’t even look real this year. It’s absolutely spectacular. A number of four-legged friends were out and about enjoying the colors and cool temperatures. Including this big…
Three Questions
“Ask yourself three questions before speaking: Is what I am about to say true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? If what you are about to say isn’t true, don’t say it. If it’s true and kind and, as far as you can foresee, has no negative consequences, say it. If it’s true and unkind,…
This Life is a Good One
This life is a good one. Enjoy it. — Jim Henson An oh-gawd-o’clock appointment had me feeling a bit fuzzy, anxious and disheveled this morning. I fumbled around the house on autopilot, but ultimately stumbled out the door on time. As soon as I was out the door, however, I knew something was a little…
“Err in the Direction of Kindness”
So here’s something I know to be true, although it’s a little corny, and I don’t quite know what to do with it: What I regret most in my life are failures of kindness. Those moments when another human being was there, in front of me, suffering, and I responded…sensibly. Reservedly. Mildly. Or, to look…
A Long List
These came home with me today from a local candy store. Gifts for my boys. There are so many things that I love about my boys, but the fact that they still love toys ranks right up there at the top. Even Batman Uglydolls. (I found these while searching for Hello Kitty Uglydolls. Go figure.)…
Look again.
Yesterday afternoon brought a day off from training, so I tried to cram in as many chores into one evening as possible. Chores that I’ll admit that I’ve been neglecting quite a bit lately. Like going to the grocery store, for instance. We were out of everything, so I dragged Tanner to the store to…
Near or Far: Some Thoughts on Prayer
Click on photo for source. As the past few years – particularly the past few months – have brought about challenges for my family that I never could have anticipated or even fathomed, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about and talking to God. Not in anger (if you subscribe to the psych 101…
It was a very good day…
A leisurely day spent with my boys is always a very good day. We wandered around the City Garden for a while… …and bonded with the sculptures. For the boys, this meant hugging, high-fiving and spooning. Plus a little bit of planking and mocking for good measure. We took in ice cream at this classic…
Beautiful
During my run tonight, I saw this plastic baggie tacked to a tree. Hrmph…never noticed this before. And I’ve run this route literally hundreds of times. Curious, I went off course to check it out. I thought maybe a good citizen had placed a lost item in the bag so an owner retracing his or…
Whoa…
This morning as I was getting ready for work, my phone rang. It was Tanner, telling me to “go outside and look west.” Are you kidding? An enormous, perfect double rainbow filled the entire morning sky. I loved him so much for that call. I loved that he saw the rainbow and that it meant…
If these hands could talk…
As we continue our newest work project, I am more and more amazed by how much a simple pair of hands (or two) can say. These hands could tell you the sweetest of love stories…a story that has not only unfolded to its final chapter, but is dwindling to its last precious, fragile pages. These hands could tell…
Christmas (according to the iphone)
Our work with a local charitable organization came full circle on Christmas Eve when we went out with a volunteer Santa to deliver gifts to a number of families. During the afternoon, we went to a housing complex for (as I understand it) folks (moms) with HIV. I lost count, but we visited at least…
Thank you
Today the boys and I were part of the wonderful world of Santa’s Elfdome. Translation: we helped wrap packages for a program here in town that provides Christmas gifts to families who would otherwise not have much of a holiday. Not only do kids and their parents receive gifts, they are handed their gifts from…
I saw love today
Just a couple of parents going for an unhurried stroll in the park… in light rain…in 40 degree weather…pushing their child’s wheelchair. I spotted them across the street as I left the grocery store this afternoon. Made my heart hurt.
A very good year
– Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was published for the first time. – Grover Cleveland replaced Chester Arthur as President of the United States. – The first issue of Good Housekeeping went on sale. – Sitting Bull joined Buffalo Bill. – Bicycle playing cards were introduced. What do these events have in common? 1885….
That is all.
Beloveds, you are fine, just the way you are. Perfect in your perfection! You are divine! – Iyanla Vanzant
Oh, Happy Day!
After twelve months of this… …and walking by this… …my boy got to do this. He finally got to ring the “I’m finished with chemo” bell. Oh, happy day, oh, happy day. Here he is with Lindsay, one of his favorite nurses. The staff sang to him, cheered him on and gave him gifts. We’ve…
Eat, Play, Love
One of the things I’ve thoroughly enjoyed about running is the portrait of my neighborhood that is painted every time I head out the door. A few deep breaths lets me know who’s doing laundry. Or barbecuing. Or smoking in exile on porches. A few extra newspapers littering the driveway is a good indicator of…
And today there was…
…a double rainbow during my run! AND another single rainbow at a stop light on my way home after work. I’m not on a “what does this mean” acid trip like the dude in this youtube video, but when you combine yesterday and today, these rainbow sightings are cracking me up! Did I mention that…
Perspective: Day Two
More time spent with this sweet family today. More family visitors, hugs, kisses, photos…more tears. I know we can’t do anything to change the way this story will end. However, while totally insufficient, we’ve done everything we can to make a difference. Now the best we can offer is our prayers. If I could possibly…
hey there, friends 