Douglas and I have spent the last six days in an extended-stay hotel. All of our worldly goods are packed in the biggest Penske truck, as we transition to new lives. Yesterday was his last day at work here, and he starts his new position at the same employer on Tuesday in our new home... Continue Reading →
Sitting in the passenger seat of our rental car in Italy, I was thankful that Douglas was driving, because the boldness of Italian drivers will being you closer to God. You are praying the whole time not to be hit or not to hit someone. It seemed that we were always caught in the middle... Continue Reading →
Snow-covered mountains soothed my spirit and brought me joy! We are home and tired! But, it is a good weariness, for we enjoyed Italy and look forward to returning some day to more areas, like Rome and Florence. We left Montesilvano on Friday morning, a two hour car trip to the airport, and finally arrived... Continue Reading →
Hindsight is not helpful in changing past decisions, but it will save you some heartache in the future. Not to be disingenuous, I should have either waited until we returned to have the defibrillator surgery or postponed the trip until I had healed sufficiently to enjoy all that Italy has to offer. Yet, I am... Continue Reading →
We are here! A little worse for wear, but preparing to have a great time, with pictures added each day, hopefully. I had surgery last Tuesday to place a new pacemaker with defibrillator that required me to stay a night in the hospital, because I was slow to overcome the anesthesia. Still, the doctor said... Continue Reading →
The tall pines on the hill poked at the clouds, A battle centuries old which always brings delight. On this May morning, I sit quietly on the porch, Admiring nature's waltz in the shimmering light. It speaks of a force that's invisible to our eyes, One that causes the trees to continue to stand Through... Continue Reading →
At one of the churches I once attended, I was asked to be a mentor for young women who were part of the Women's Ministry. It required being a spiritual compass of sorts for new Christian women, helping them understand the Scriptures and how to live a life acceptable to God. I turned it down,... Continue Reading →
In elementary school, our teacher, Mrs. Geraldine Hawkins, introduced us to the poetry of Langston Hughes, James Weldon Johnson, and other black poets. The poems made us laugh, cry, reflect, and reminded us that we were identical to whites, all of us Americans. We were required to learn each poem line by line, reciting them... Continue Reading →
Even though Douglas has been teaching a class on healthy living at our church and has been eating much healthier, he's having a hard time losing more than five to ten pounds. As I prepare for my new reality, having my own personal defibrillator in my chest, I, too, need to lose some pounds, something... Continue Reading →
