Wow! Where do I begin? As Inigo Montoya so eloquently put it, “Let me ‘splain. No. Is too much. Let me sum up.” Highlights of our trip: We arrived in Seattle Monday the 20th and that evening took Grace and Curtis to dinner at Agua Verde, a cool Mexican restaurant where we joined Daniel and […]
Giving thanks for Thanksgiving Read More »
Last night George and I had brownies with vanilla ice-cream, fudge sauce, and fresh peaches for dessert. It was yummy, but the biggest treat was sharing it with Katelyn and her grandmother. Faithful, long-time readers of this journal will (probably not) recall this story I wrote back in 2003 about Katelyn and Luke when they
Big World, Little World Read More »
George interviewed Jacob about Independence Day. It’s pretty cute. You can listen in by visiting . In spite of the rain we’re supposed to go to Shadowood Lake tonight for potluck and fireworks. Soggy corndogs. Yummmm. Actually, it should be fun no matter what. We know quite a few families who live out there. Famous
Dancing with Lightfoot Lee Read More »
My good friend, Mary, received a fantabulous review in Publisher’s Weekly Religion Bookline on her upcoming, debut novel, Watching the Tree Limbs. I e-mailed my congratulations, and she responded in her typical turn-the-attention-back-to-you fashion, “Can’t wait to read your swimming reviews!!!” After receiving my reply to that comment, she insisted I post it on my
I was sitting in the den reading a book when the phone rang a few minutes ago. The caller ID said Out of Area. The number had a 703 area code. I couldn’t place it. Probably just a telemarketer, I thought. I waited and let the machine pick up. Loud, distorted music blared from the
I still haven’t found what I’m looking for Read More »
I’m in Dallas waiting to meet Grace at the airport tomorrow when she returns from her two-month European jaunt. I can’t wait to see her! But that’s not the reason I’m here a day early. I arrived Friday afternoon to attend a reunion celebrating the 40th anniversary of my high school. Everyone who graduated from
We can probably all picture it in our minds. As the camera zooms out to embrace a breathtaking view of the Austrian Alps, Maria flings her arms wide and spins with utter abandon. She opens her mouth, and the exquisite ache pent up inside her explodes in spontaneous song. “The hills are alive with the
It takes a while to build a living hill. Read More »
When I got in my car Wednesday night to drive home from Tyler, I tried to plug Over the Rhine’s “Good Dog Bad Dog” into my CD player. The machinery would whir a bit then spit the CD back out. Between attempts I’d hear snatches of beautiful classical music, but I mostly ignored it. I
After the final benediction Sunday morning I remained at the piano, jamming with the band as usual. Then I faced the three guitarists, said, “Always a pleasure, gentlemen,” and headed to the sound booth to gather my lead sheets. It’s funny. You spend your whole life becoming. Always working toward goals. Always looking ahead to
I listened, and as I listened, I prayed. His pain touched places in my heart few ever reach. Even now unhurried tears flow silently down my cheeks. Tears for a brokenness I know must be lived through one breath at a time. And yet, all is well. All is infinitely well. The sun passes over