My parents came to visit last week.  They come every summer for one week.  Sometimes we rent a place in the mountains, and other years we have a stay-cation.  This year we stay-cationed.  Since we are new residents to Parker, we decided it would be fun to show off our favorite town. We spent a day shopping on Mainstreet, eating lunch at Portofino Pizza.  We took long walks on the […]

This week has been challenging to say the least.  I’m physically tired, emotionally drained, and spiritually dry.  I want things to be easy again.  To be peaceful.  After all it’s summer.  I’m wondering if “the lazy days of summer” is some long ago story that doesn’t really hold true today. In my search to find comfort this week, I went back to the beginning.  The very beginning.  I turned in […]

How may I help you, Siri asked? Not audibly, just through some text at the bottom of my phone screen. Isn’t that a loaded question?  Especially when it seems I can’t manage all the running around my day requires of me.  Or get dinner on the table.  Or get to the grocery store, to get the items, to get dinner on the table. As helpful as Siri is, she’s a […]

Repost from one year ago today: July 19, 2012.  It started like any other summer day, except I had to wake up early to get our dog, Chester, to the vet for grooming and a comprehensive exam.  From the time I stepped out of bed, I couldn’t shake the feeling that God was calling me to pray.  I felt anxious, like something bad was about to happen. As I drove […]

Madeline and I had the opportunity to spend the afternoon together.  Just us.  We decided to do our favorite thing.  Shopping!  I’m not talking Target either.  Though that is one of our favorite stores.  We decided to visit this little boutique in Parker that we had heard so much about. We walked in and fell in love with the store.  Cute clothes, adorable shoes, and eclectic jewelry.  Lots of great […]

[Mark Teats has been a guest writer on my site a couple of times.  He lives in Mesa, Arizona, and works as a counselor for Hospice Family Care and as a police chaplain.  He is also my dad.  This is an experience he had over the weekend, and kindly put into words for us.]   19 Just a few days after the Yarnell fire took the lives of 19 Hotshots […]

The calls started coming Thursday–the week before last.  Up to three a day.  It was Bank of America.  I was certain they wanted to talk to us about refinancing our mortgage, which we don’t, so I never answered one call.  Not one. After three more computer generated messages by 1 p.m. on Saturday, I started to wonder if we really did need to call them back.  Maybe this is important?  […]

To all the volunteers (of every age) who served at Southeast’s Vacation Bible School this week: I have thought long and hard how to put into words what I have seen played out before me this week. But I only have a few. You made a choice to serve.  You chose service to others over a thousand and one other activities.  You took the more difficult path.  The path that […]

“What’s wrong, Izzy?” She was looking a little hurt, or maybe confused. “Well I’m not sure.  It was weird.  I was trying to Facetime someone and it said they desa-lined me.  What does that even mean? “I have no idea.  I’ve never heard of that.” “Here, look at the phone, Mom” “Oh, it’s declined.  They just couldn’t talk right now, so they declined the call.  Not you, Sweetie.” Now why […]