This was the first Christmas in years I have been completely devoid of the desire to “take down Christmas,” as we say. The first year I remember feeling this way was my first baby’s first Christmas. My mother-in-law had always decorated her tree with little birds. She was growing older and was ... Read More
The Bird Clock – Step 12 “Having Had A Spiritual Awakening”
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 Light at the End of the Tunnel – Steps 10, 11, and 12 The Maintenance Steps
Sunday I attended church with my children and their children. The service closed and before Carson could run off (I mean walk reverently) to Primary I grabbed him and gave him a big hug and asked him how he had enjoyed the Saturday excursion with his family to the zoo. He reported that it had been ... Read More
The “Sick Coat” – Maintaining What We Have Obtained – Steps 10-12
If you grew up with me and happened to have the flue, a fever, the measles, the mumps, or an earache you were given some very special attention in the form of two items of clothing. First, the earache hat, a little homemade flannel bonnet mom placed on our heads if we were suffering the pain of an ... Read More
“I’m Going To Count To Three and Then…” – Step 12 Having Had A Spiritual Awakening
The parenting skill that requires moms and dads to count to three, to think of a consequence that will get a child’s attention, and then follow through, must be new to my generation of parents. I don’t remember my mom or dad ever counting. I adopted the technique as a seventeen-year-old freshman at ... Read More
The Tools of the Trade
Morning prayer, a little writing in my journal, read and liken a few verses out of the Book of Mormon to myself, a few minutes in some recovery literature along with some writing, plan my food for the day, and a call to my sponsor – that’s how most of my mornings begin. Last week after coming home ... Read More
Walking Around With My Eyes Wide Open! – Having Had A Spiritual Awakening
My little redheaded firecracker grandchild Gracie went through a comical phase as she was perfecting that art of getting around in the upright position. Shortly after learning to walk this half-pint adventurer decided it wasn’t daring enough just to balance on two feet. So, she added the “fear ... Read More
The High Priced Ticket
A ticket to Disneyland these days is a pretty big investment in giving children some time in the “Happiest Place on Earth”. The price of a ticket, plus food and lodging, not to mention the price of gasoline to make the big journey totals quite a chunk of money. Eleven of us entered Disneyland first ... Read More