Settling In

For the last two days, I have been working to get myself settled. Dad, Brother and I moved my stuff down to the farm. Most of it will be stored in the 200 year old barn, and I will spend some time this year cutting down my belongings so that when it comes time to move...

Knowing My Mother

Tonight, Dad started sorting through photos, and he sat down with Brother, Mina and I and reviewed the images of the houses he and Mom lived in, pictures of Brother’s first haircut, images of me with the forced smile I still adopt for photographs. We saw big...

Owls, Friends, and Dreams

“A wise woman builds her home.” That’s the beginning of Proverbs 14, and when I read it, I took one of those little short breathes we take in surprise. You see, I have been praying for wisdom a lot lately. And here was a clear direction on how to...

Lonely Christmas

Often, I see people out alone on Christmas or other holidays and I feel sad for them. No one should have to be alone on these days. Yet, today, all I have wanted to be is alone, or at least for it not to really be Christmas. Now, I understand why people would be out...

Silent Night

Christmas Eve. The boys are sleeping. I am drifting toward there myself. I spent a lot of today disappointed in what Christmas Eve meant today. Then, as often happens, Dad, Brother, and I headed out to dinner and stopped by a neighbor’s house to load his outdoor...