Slowly the crowd came to its feet. Some laboriously used the row ahead for leverage. Over the attendees, silver glinted, like imperfect halos, caught by the lighting above. Although the gathering, a conference on intentional Christian grandparenting, had its share of “over-the-hill-ers,” a spattering of younger attendees also stood. Strains of the hymn, “How […]
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A notice comes on my phone. A picture of my great-grandson pops up. I open the app and find a video of his mommy talking to him, leaning over his little tummy and digging her head into his soft middle. I hear the delightful sounds of baby gurgling which erupts into baby laughter. His shriek […]
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They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, it turns out that its value may be much less. Fake photos on social media showed captured U.S. Soldiers and Tel Aviv in shambles. They looked real, but they were fake. When filtered through AI to discern which ones are generated by AI, apparently AI […]
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When my daughters were teenagers growing up in Italy, a group of American high schoolers asked them for Italian swear words they could use. My bilingual daughters, were unfortunately accustomed to that sort of question from both cultures. They also knew well how to play the, “I can’t understand a word of what you are […]
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Our grandson drops his arms and ducks his chin. His despair comes from missing a soccer goal, a basketball shot gone wrong, or a race not won. His feet drag. He is disheartened. Unfortunately, I see myself in that dispirited droop of the shoulders, bowed head, and defeated shuffle of feet. It’s not just myself, […]
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I had a little unintended smackdown. Probably well deserved, but still…it kinda stung. And the entire time, I chided myself on one thing. I knew perfectly well that it shouldn’t have bothered me so. Along with that thought came another. There would be no pain without an underlying issue of pride. That revelation grieved my […]
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The ring’s been on my finger over 50 years. When he gave it to me, I was afraid it would slide off and I’d lose it because my finger was so slim, so small. It’s kind of grown onto me now. Putting it on or off takes some planning and a jar of hand cream. […]
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A steaming cup of coffee warmed my hands. My husband lifted his tiny Italian espresso cup in salute. Outside the patio doors, cement like layers of snow-ice, shone so bright, we squinted as we chatted. Scenes played out in my mind, a head-throbbing jumble of news reports and political shouting. It mixed with my morning […]
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Whiter than snow, Lord, whiter than snow. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. Wherever you live in the USA, you’ve been aware of the great snow storm. You have likely been part of preparations, predictions, and in much of the country, its fulfillment. Before it hit, stores filled with people and shelves […]
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“He hit me first,” little arms cross in defiance, and little legs plant firmly. No retreat without a struggle. These are days grown ups brawl and pick sides, while firmly clinging to their own righteousness and good intentions. Mud slings and voices shout in the name of compassion and justice, while all of it escalates […]
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