Last week, I shared a story and a lesson on how to begin sheltering friendships in my blog. This blog post is a lesson on how to continue doing so. Throughout my years of homeschooling and serving in leadership roles within churches and nonprofit organizations, I’ve had the opportunity to run many events. One spring, I was leading a two-day tournament where students spent their time delivering speeches—again and again, in multiple rooms, to multiple audiences.…
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In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen Light a candle – Creative Co-op has some fun candle shapes. Lectio 365 NUUN – Martin Luther King Day – A book recommendation for children. The Story of Ruby Bridges – I love this book and how it elevates Ruby Bridges’ faith in God.
Leave a CommentIt must have been during my first year at the Naval Academy. I don’t recall my specific offenses—perhaps I had failed to carry my weight, or maybe I’d dared to speak out. What I do remember was bemoaning the rough treatment of women, especially as it concerned me, to my father. He listened, of course. My father, a proud graduate of the Naval Academy Class of ’42, had been forged in a very different fire.…
1 CommentGrowing up, Thanksgiving was a big event in our home—often bringing together 30 or more people. We’d always pull in an extra table to fit everyone. I can still picture my mom in the kitchen, managing the chaos, while I mostly stayed out of her way. Those days, with my parents at the center, are long past. Now, as my parents are gone and my siblings have their own families and traditions, the shape of…
Leave a CommentTurning the Ordinary into Ceremony My Tuesday started out just like any other, with me looking forward to my weekly coffee visit with MG, who stops by on her way to work. Our “chat” usually involves scrolling through her TikTok feed and sharing funny videos of small animals and babies she knows will make me laugh. But this Tuesday was different. The rhythm broke, as rhythms sometimes do, with sad news. Tea, one of MG’s…
2 CommentsMany aspects of my Navy training were about preparing for the unexpected—fire drills, uniform inspections, and man overboard drills. Each one is designed to help those training in the Navy to respond quickly and efficiently when things go wrong. Just last week, while sitting along the Severn River, the sound of six short blasts on a ship’s whistle pulled me right back to those drills. The Man Overboard call. It all came flooding back—the urgency,…
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