There is a transformation that takes place when a woman moves from being a “forty-something” year old mother of teenagers to being a grandmother. One of the early signs of this change is the acquisition of little eccentric things around the house. It’s quite unexplainable, but grandmothers purchase ... Read More
The Yellow Bedroom
In my home there is a room that in hindsight seems to have had a dedicated purpose. This room is affectionately known as the Yellow Bedroom. When I moved into this home in 1975 I had just had my first child, a little girl, and this small room with pale yellow walls became the nursery. Over the next ... Read More
“Who’s Character Is In Question?” – Step 7 – Humility
Recently, while I was on my knees speaking to my Heavenly Father I was struck with a thought that made me pause. It seemed to be a call to rethink the kinds of things I say to the God of the Universe. What came to me was that often in my prayers I pray for Heavenly Father, the perfect Father of my ... Read More
A Lesson From The Garage Door – Acceptance Is The Answer – Step 3
Just home from his mission for two weeks, my son had spent the day looking for meaningful work and receiving guidance for the fall university semester. He had spent the evening trying to find his returned missionary social footing. Feeling a bit like a fish out of Uruguay waters he announced, with a ... Read More
“I Know Because My Mother Tried” – Step 1 Honesty
Tonight my daughter and I were having the usual, “How was your day?” exchange over the telephone. I told her my day was great and then I added my predictable un-recovered, perfectionist addendum, some comment about something I hadn’t accomplished. She replied musically, using a phrase from a Michael ... Read More
The Gold Records – Scripture Study
For Christmas this year I received a new piece of technology with a retro flair. It’s a combination radio, tape player, CD player/burner, and record player. For years I’ve had a stack of records in storage, waiting for their fate to be decided. Down to the family room they came this year, just in ... Read More
The “Standing Long Jump” – A Contradiction In Terms? – Step 2
Recess at my elementary school meant swinging around and around on the monkey bars until you were sick, which I never experienced, because I couldn’t get up enough momentum to swing. It meant standing or running around the inside a large circle painted on the playground with lots of other little ... Read More
Closing the Gap: The Distance Between Getting Organized and Establishing a House Of God – The Tools of Recovery
“I’ll be OK. I just need to get organized!” These are words I’ve heard and words I’ve said countless times. I have spent a lifetime trying to get my time and my stuff in order. I felt it was the key to everything. You can imagine my joy when I ran into the Lord’s command to “Organize yourselves” in ... Read More