18 Aug 2014

The Sweetest Little Supernova

by | posted in: Marriage | 0

My husband asked me to marry him when we were still in college. He was working at the college’s library in a work-study program. I worked part-time for minimum wage. Both of us were broke, paying tuition with loans we are still paying off nearly 20 years later. We got help from our parents, too. Our dates were mostly walks, rented movies, home cooking, and snuggling until 4:00am. Now, our dates are walks, rented movies, home cooking, and falling asleep at 9:30… read more

16 Aug 2014

It’s Lovely In Cyrenaica this Time of Year

by | posted in: Faith | 0

My late great-grandmother presented a copy of The Children’s Living Bible to me on Christmas 1979. I don’t especially recall Christmas 1979, so I’m grateful for her handwritten inscription on the title page. I miss her so much. She had beautiful, lilting handwriting that leans forward enough the strokes look like a flock of blue birds about to take flight.

“Read and cherish Romans 10: 8-9” the birds sing… read more

15 Aug 2014

Time Wears Stilettos

by | posted in: Faith | 0

One of the best things about Steel Magnolias is every other line is quotable. Lately, I’ve been dwelling on this line, delivered by sweetly sassy Truvy:

“Honey, time marches on and eventually you realize it is marchin’ across your face.”

Last night, I was staring at myself in the mirror. I have a deep line next to my left eyebrow that betrays inherent skeptimism and questioning nature. I must be skeptical and confused a lot because when time stomps across my face, it trips a little before making a recovery. Time looks around sheepishly to see if anyone noticed. Time should have been paying attention, but Time was texting Memory the grocery list. Again… read more

12 Aug 2014

The Prayers of a Sharp Cheddar

by | posted in: Culture, Faith | 0

“What I am asking for is really very ridiculous. Oh Lord, I am saying, at present I am a cheese, make me a mystic, immediately. But then God can do that—make mystics out of cheeses.” Flannery O’Connor, A Prayer Journal, September 25, 1947.

One of the greatest literary minds of all time called herself a cheese. Throughout her journal, the devoutly Catholic O’Connor struggled with questions of faith, writing, her place, and her prayer life. As I read her journal, I was constantly struck by her alternating lack of confidence in her ability and her overwhelming confidence God was going to use her gifts for his glory. Somehow.

But she was a cheese and if she is a cheese, so am I. I might be less than a cheese. I might be a processed cheese food, aerosol can-based, with smoky bacon flavor… read more

11 Aug 2014

Hey Eeyore, I Think of Your Mother

by | posted in: Parenthood | 0

You had one, right? Someone cut your cloth into odd oblongs. Someone assembled the pieces and drove straight pins through to hold them together. She chose a new needle that was thick and sharp. She wet and twisted the scraggly end of grey thread in her mouth, making a stiff point to plunge through the needle’s eye. One strand, doubled over is doubly strong. She pulled until the ends matched and looped them into a tangle large enough to plug your cloth… read more