I've deliberately avoided posting during this COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine time period. It isn't that there aren't plenty of reflective moments in our days. There are. No doubt, each day is filled with a variety of moments that cause me to pause and take those mental snapshots of our day. I wasn't going to post about this crisis. I wanted to avoid and pretend it wasn't actually happening all around me. AND if I take the time to think about this, if I take the time to type out these letters on my screen..... Well, then it's real. These five kids of mine, age ranges from 12 to 19 are truly a gift during this time as they live day to day in their e-learning or online classes. They are free. Free from worry, stress and free from panic. I do believe, as their parents, we set the stage for their reaction. It forces us, as parents, to take a good, long and hard look in the mirror. What are we communicating by our own example of how to handle suffering, str...
As time continues to move, so do chapters of our lives. I can barely type the words, but I indeed have a college aged daughter who aspires to give to our world. She has been inspired and strives to give hope and love to others through her chosen profession. While my pride in her is truly abundant, having achieved significant scholarship dollars, a place in the university’s honors program and a maturing nature, I find myself doubting the foundation beneath her. Have we done enough? I imagine every parent asks this question prior to sending their child off into the world, tackling all the demands and expectations while remaining true to self, her family and her God. The few weeks prior to my daughter moving out, I found myself having disagreement after disagreement with my eldest. In my mind’s eye, I kept convincing myself, I am ready for her to go, I am ready, she is ready…all will be well. In reality, and quite honestly, it was my beloved who brought the t...