I’m not very sentimental. I think I used to be—I think. Seems like a million years ago. Perhaps the sheer volume of life’s activity has sucked the sentimentality out of me. I think I lost that oozy-goozey-fuzzy-wuzzy feeling when our second daughter was in elementary school. Baby books are filled out completely, but somewhere around Emily’s fourth grade year—WHAM! Oozy-goozey …
Tell Me a Story
One of the greatest challenges for any writer is a little concept called, “Show! Don’t tell!” If editors and agents were paid a dime for each time they corrected it, I’m guessing many of them would be retired by now! As a reader, you might not notice it—until you read a book that told you things rather than describing them. …
Can’t We Just Get Along?
Do you consider yourself prejudiced—racially biased? I had no idea I held any prejudice in my heart until a precious African-American friend lovingly showed me how my attempts to embrace her actually mirrored historic attempts at forced conformity. I thought respecting her as an equal meant saying, “You are no different than me.” Not true. To truly respect my dear …
Measuring Stick
I hate trick questions. Can God create a rock too big to move? Ummmmm. I’ll bet that one never makes it to Jeopardy. How about: Have you stopped nagging your husband? Or worse: Have you stopped beating your wife? There are no good answers for those questions. Speaking of beating your wife…rough transition, but go with me…
Open to Interpretation
My husband and I recently celebrated our twenty-seventh wedding anniversary, and I think one of the greatest things about being married so long is the knowing. I just KNOW him. And vice versa. I don’t have to ask if he likes green beans or Brussels sprouts. He need not ask if I want to watch a movie or go hiking. …
Church Potluck Plus Crab Legs
Some of the best cooks in the world sit in church pews—as attested to by the line of 8 ft. rectangular tables, sagging under the weight of crock-pots and casserole dishes brimming with home-cooked goodness. I love potlucks for many reasons, two of which I’ll discuss here. First, because it’s all-you-can-eat. Gotta love a buffet. Second, because there’s something almost …
