For my daughter because through her pain~I was forced to deal with my own. You cry on Sunday nights while lying in your bed. Sleep invites, but heartache overwhelms you. “Mommy, I need you,” you call from your room. Heavy hearted, I respond to your plea. I come in and sit down on the edge…… Continue reading The Presence of Absence
Two of my three children are in their teenage years. Enough said. Post complete. Right? No. I’ll put some flesh on my thoughts. The most common pattern I see, in this teenage season, is a strong need to retreat. Once home from school, it’s no surprise if I don’t see their faces until I ring…… Continue reading Stood Up
Genesis 16:1-13 and Genesis 21:1-20 bring us face to face with an Old Testament relationship disaster. We get front row seats to watch circumstantial loneliness manifest-and become a platform for poor decision-making. Enter our main character: Hagar. Hagar is an Egyptian slave and Sarah’s rival. She didn’t have a voice as a slave, so she…… Continue reading Her Name Means Forsaken: Her Story Illustrates Redemption
One never knows what chance treasure these easy unconscious rollers may toss-up, on the smooth white sand of the conscious mind, what perfectly rounded stone, what rare shell from the ocean floor…but it must not be sought for or-heaven forbid!-dug for. No, no dredging of the sea bottom here. That would defeat one’s purpose. The…… Continue reading Are You Forcing a Blessing?
Christina DiMari captivated me with her memoir Ocean Star. It was a tough read, but honest and authentic. After reading, I couldn’t help but be enamored with starfish, the scientific process of regeneration, the need to be connected to our source of life, and our need for others. Regeneration is the restoration or new growth…… Continue reading Regeneration
I LOVE bacon. I could eat it with/for every meal. Yet somehow I had never heard of blanched bacon. On a recent trip to the public library I picked up the ever-intimidating Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child. As I flipped through the massive cooking “bible” I couldn’t help but stop on…… Continue reading A Lesson I Learned From Julia
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23 (NIV) When I think of holding on, it is usually directly linked to something. I tell my children to “hold on” when turning a corner quickly and I imply that they need to hold on to something that…… Continue reading Holding On
Alyssa DeLosSantos 