Transitions, schmansitions

I’m grieving the impending loss of a family member.
Well, she’s technically not a family member. And she’s perfectly healthy. And she only lives a 1/2 block away, so it’s not like we’ll never see her again.
But in August, Margaret is leaving Joan, the daycare provider we’ve been with for four years, since before David turned [...]

Frick and frack

I love this photo of David and Margaret Ruth, taken by Margaret Anne at my brother Fred’s house at Easter:

Their body language says it all.  David, sweet, cautious,  tentative, holding back, holding on to the couch for support.
Margaret, smiling wide, arms raised as if she were on a roller coaster. Ready to take on the [...]

Enchanted Tea Parties – Not

Ever since I heard another mom being praised for the fact that she had Enchanted Tea Parties for her kids, I’ve been feeling guilty about the fact that I’ve never had an Enchanted Tea Party. I’m feeling guilty. A bad mom. For not having Enchanted Tea Parties.
Part of the reason I don’t have Enchanted Tea [...]

Precious Lord, Take My Hand

I had the difficult task today of singing for the funeral of  a 38-year-old mother of three from who died unexpectedly last Thursday.  It was a beautiful, intimate service, attended by so many people who knew her and her family.  She was a wonderful wife and mother, and a talented artist, and a bright, warm, [...]

Of course, things were different then

I often hear people reminiscing wistfully about childhood adventures.  They usually involve risk and independence and freedom. “I remember when I was 8 and my mom put me on the bus to go visit my grandma.” “I remember when I was 7 and I camped in my friend’s backyard without our parents and we stayed [...]

An Evening Prayer

I’m afraid that I don’t have anything amusing or funny to say today. I’m just not feeling it. So if you want a laugh, it’s probably best to read something else.
One of the reasons that I love being an Episcopalian is that I love the Book of  Common Prayer.  (Actually, I know many people who [...]

Happy Mother’s Day

Today, we have a guest-blogger: my neighbor and good friend, Pegeen Reichert-Powell, who also happens to be a very talented writer. She sent me this Mother’s Day “letter from her children”, and I asked if I could post it.
Dear Mama,
Thank you for always being there for me (except those times when I 
want to go to [...]

10 jobs I’m really glad I don’t have

This morning I was thinking, “I’m really glad I don’t have to be Drew Peterson’s lawyer.” And that got me updating my list that I keep in my head of all the jobs I’m glad I don’t have. (Yes, I actually do keep lists of things like this in my head):
1. Drew Peterson’s lawyer. (Or Drew Peterson’s [...]

Best slow-cooker pork chops ever

No, I really mean it.  Even Emma liked it, and we know she’s not a big crock pot fan.  (Margaret liked it too. David not so much, but he’s going through a non-meat phase.) I found the original recipe on www.allrecipes.com, but I modified it a bit.
Ingredients:
4-6 pork chops (I used bone-in pork chops, and [...]

Bells and smells

I recently read a statistic that over half of U.S. adults have changed religions.  So I got to thinking about my own religious change; specifically, how I became an Episcopalian, and more importantly, why I’ve stayed an Episcopalian for 24 years, with no thoughts about changing. 
People come to the Episcopal church for lots of reason, [...]