Category Archives: Family File

Thoughts on family life

A Small Drop of Tea

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These frigid, dreary days of midwinter can be challenging.

Some of us slowly plug away at winter projects in the basement, take an afternoon nap, and heave great sighs of general antsy-ness.

Some of us slowly type away on writing projects on the computer, read English novels, and heave great sighs of contentment.

To inject a little joy into our hum-drum days, I’ve started a new tradition—tea time.

Between 2:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., (depending on the length of the nap) the tea kettle goes on, the tea biscuits come out, and PB humors me by being a good sport. It’s a fun little break in the day. I don’t make him lift his pinky finger or speak in an English accent (although I want to so badly). He would rather be in the woods or in the garage or…. probably anywhere else, but alas, the wind chill is dangerous and the garage is not heated. So he’s stuck inside with me, drinking Hot Cinnamon Spice Tea and munching on shortbread biscuits.

I think it’s absolutely lovely.

I think he secretly likes it.

Out with a Bang

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We celebrated Christmas with the whole gang on Dec. 29-30, ending the year with a bang. These guys made some serious noise (very early in the morning) and cleared out the cookie and caramel stash in no time (sorry for all the sugar, parents). After opening presents, they all got to work on their new stuff. Each year I marvel at these young humans that are growing and becoming interesting, intriguing, and unique individuals.

Opa and Nonnie surprised the kiddos with matching jammies.

The 2024 Bible Reading Plan will be posted tomorrow!
Happy New Year’s Eve!

Journey to the Center

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PB took me on an adventure last weekend to the center of the earth.
Or more precisely, the center of the Northwest Hemisphere.
Who knew this remarkable spot was right here in Wisconsin?
I didn’t. Until Saturday.

In case you need to brush up on your Junior High geography, here’s a quick review.

There are only four places on earth where the 45th Parallel Latitude intersects the 90th Meridian Longitude.

  • The Pacific Ocean—45°S – 90°W
  • The Indian Ocean—45°S – 90°E
  • A mountain in China—45°N – 90°E
  • Poniatowski, Wisconsin—45°N – 90°W

The only place on all of earth’s 197 million square miles where a person can stand exactly halfway between the equator and a pole and halfway between the prime meridian and the 180th meridian is right here in America’s Dairyland.

We drove north for a couple hours, turned into a farmer’s cornfield, then walked 1/4 of a mile.

PB sure knows how to get to the center of this girl’s heart. He took me on a surprise adventure to a place I’d never been before and we stood on a special spot together that no one else among the world’s 8,045,311,447 people were standing.

It was magical.
A perfect date.


We became official members of the 45-90 Club.


Then we got some lunch and drove home.
It was such a good day!
Life’s an adventure with PB!

Sweet Spot

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We have entered the sweet spot.
Our littlest ones are out of diapers
and our oldest ones are still not driving.
We are in a delightful window of time.

Just look at these kiddos.
They give me hope for the future of this world.

The Grandkid Lineup — 2023

Behold! Children are a gift from the Lord.”
Psalm 127:3

Wonky

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I miss this.

A few years ago, in an effort to upscale our home’s curb appeal, I sent for a set of decorative garage door hardware magnets. From the road, the black plastic rectangles, hinges and handles looked like the real deal. There was only one problem.

Teddy is our three year old grandson. He and his sister and his parents stayed with us for a while this summer. He regularly exposed us for the fakers we are by rearranging the magnetic pieces. Children have a way of keeping you honest. And humble.

Teddy and his family recently moved to their own place and the garage door has looked respectable ever since. But I miss the unexpected reminders of the joy of imperfection. I used to smile as I drove in the driveway and saw those handles helter-skelter on the garage door. It prompted me to pray, “Lord, sometimes I put on a fake front and try to look like everything is perfectly in place. Help me to be authentic and real, even if my life looks a little wonky some days.”

“But when the Perfect One comes, the imperfect will pass away.”
1 Cor. 13:10

PB and Andy

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My mother used to say that February wasn’t good for anything but reading a good long book. I’ve adopted her philosophy with a twist. February isn’t good for anything but reading a good long book on a beach.

PB and I headed south for a couple weeks and came home when February was just about over. We enjoyed sunny skies and warm sand in our toes. We saw some sights and spent time with some lovely people along the way.

Our last stop was Mount Airy, North Carolina, the hometown of Andy Griffith, and the inspiration for the fictional town of Mayberry.

During the early days of the pandemic, everybody had an opinion they were happy to share. Those in a leadership position of any kind during that time know how stressful it was to maintain peace and harmony. In the midst of chaos and criticism, uncertainty and unpleasantness, PB and I escaped to Mayberry every night after supper.

A half hour with Andy, Barney, Aunt Bee and Goober lowered our blood pressure. We laughed a little, we learned a lesson, and we whistled the theme song. For a few moments, we harkened back to our own childhoods (like Opie’s) in small towns (like Mayberry). The TV show provided a sacred thirty minutes of simple joy and warm community, things that were sadly lacking in the world at the time.

When we made plans to take off this February and visit family in North Carolina, it was a no-brainer. PB booked a night in Andy Griffith’s boyhood home and one of the kids set us up with a ride in Barney’s squad car. We went to the Andy Griffith Museum, had lunch at Snappy Diner, and stopped in at Floyd’s Barbershop. We sat in the sheriff’s chair at the courthouse and bought a souvenir at Wally’s service station. It was a walk back in time.

Watching the Andy Griffith Show
(even if you’ve seen all 249 episodes)
while sitting in Andy’s living room
would make you smile, too.

Teenager

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I’m throwing a little celebration here on “small drop” today! 

Thirteen years ago, on February 2nd, this little experiment began and I had no idea what I was doing. I still don’t know exactly what I’m doing, or if I’m doing it right, or if it’s even worth doing! I do know my little blog isn’t fancy-schmancy or in a league with the big-girl bloggers out there. But I’m content with a small space to articulate my small thoughts to my small audience! So, happy birthday, “small drop”! 

As I hit this milestone, some thanks are in order. 

Thanks to my son-in-law, Noah, who said to me one January day, “You should have a blog.” Within a few seconds and a few clickety-clacks on my laptop, a new babe was born! I was extremely intimidated and it took me a month to get enough nerve to publish my first post.

Thanks to my two girls, who encouraged me by saying that I did, indeed, have something to say, and then told their girlfriends to read their mom’s blog. However, if my daughters were the only ones who ever read this, it would be enough for me. 

Thanks to my sons, who let me use their experiences to demonstrate grace.

Thanks to my grandchildren, who garner more “likes” than any other type of post.

Thanks to PB, who doesn’t mind when I sit him down and plop the computer in his lap and say, “Want to read my blog?” To which he responds, “Did you write about me?”

Thanks to my friends who intentionally stop by, as well as readers who drop in by accident. You have no idea how it thrills my heart to know you’ve been by for a visit!

One more: Thanks be to God, who was the original Word that became flesh and lived among us for awhile. And continues to live among us. Amen!

The Helmet

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“Where’s my helmet?”
Those are the first words this little guy says when he comes to our house.

He wears it for walks in the woods.

He wears it while watching TV with Opa.

He wears it while riding in the boat with his sissy.

It’s a good idea to wear a helmet these days.

Lord,
protect the minds of our little ones.
Help them to seek truth and goodness and beauty.
Help them to walk in Your ways and think Your thoughts.
Guard them from hollow and deceptive philosophy.
May the helmet of salvation keep them safe.
Amen.

“Put on the full armor of God.
Take the helmet of salvation.”
Ephesians 6

I Like You

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PB and I exchange cards on Valentine’s Day.
That’s it.
No flowers, no candy, no fancy dinner out.

Even buying a card seems extravagant these days. Next year, I’m going to take my love to Walmart and peruse the valentine section, pick out a card, have him read it, then put it back on the rack. I may even give him a kiss right there in aisle three. We might hold hands as we walk out to the parking lot. With the money we saved, we could pick up a burger and fries and eat it in the car on the way home. Sounds perfect.

This year, however, we did splurge on cards
and PB found just the right one for me.

Forty-two and a half years ago,
we promised to love and cherish each other.
I’ve never once doubted PB’s love for me since that day.
We never promised to like each other though.

And there have been many days since August 25, 1979 that I’m pretty sure he didn’t like me too much. I know that because there were some days I didn’t like him either. But we loved each other still.

Love is a given.
We vowed to love each other
and every day we choose to make good on that promise.

But to be liked?
That’s different.

It means he would choose me for a friend even if we weren’t a couple.
It means he appreciates my quirky ways, even finding delight in them.
It means he’s genuinely interested in what I’m doing and where I’m going.
It means he would rather have me along than go somewhere alone.

He doesn’t just put up with me.
He likes me.

I think it’s possible that my Valentine card is a reflection of Divine Love.
Sure, God loves us. He has to. He promised He would.
But I also think He really, really likes us.
He chooses us,
delights in us,
is interested in us,
desires us to join Him.

“This is what the Lord says… You are mine.” Isaiah 43:1

How sweet it is to be liked by You. ❤️