It came alive! Seeing the Valley of Elah in Israel a couple of weeks ago, the place where David slew Goliath, it made sense! The valley was big, but not huge. Much of the rich, fertile soil had just been tilled. On one side is a long hill with a continuous ridge, and on the other side, the same.
Continue reading Let That Stone Fly!
A Sparrow’s Song
A couple of weeks ago I set the alarm for 5:00 AM to see a 5:30 AM sunrise over the Sea of Galilee in Israel. It was late and dark when we checked in the night before, but the back of the hotel was right on the water. You just can’t miss a sunrise like that!
The first step out of the lobby was facing west and I was about to make a U-turn east. The very first thing, on the very first day, in my very first time in Israel hit me squarely in the chin with surprising force. It wasn’t the sunrise, or a holy site, seeing the people or experiencing something brand new. It was something simple. Something ordinary. Something remarkably familiar. Continue reading A Sparrow’s Song
Dear Claira
Dear Claira,
Welcome to this side of our world! We’ve been waiting a long time to see your pretty granddaughter face! You’ve been enjoying another life the last 9 months in the peace, comfort and care of your mother. You’re still actually getting the same things from your mother, it’s just in a new, different way.
My guess was that you would be born a week earlier than April 18 because there was a full Continue reading Dear Claira
Rab’s Sweetest Catch
As much as one of my sons likes fishing, Saturday was his best catch ever!
Todd was married Saturday. It’s a pleasure to officially gain a new daughter, Kolby! We are proud to place her picture on the family wall with Todd and the siblings of a really, really large family. But, there’s always room for one more! 
Continue reading Rab’s Sweetest Catch
Unclean, Unclean!
Two thousand years ago leprosy was the MOST dreaded of all diseases. The skin often lost feeling, but other times, it could be extremely painful. Rashes and sores, particularly around the face, nose, hands, elbows, knees, buttocks and feet were common. The disease often attacked the sinuses causing difficulty breathing, and as it advanced, could collapse sinus cavities, and even the nose itself. Continue reading Unclean, Unclean!
Driving Daddy Crazy
You’d think it gets easier. Uh, uh. Not at all. Jessica’s the 8th, and final kid to teach to drive and officially has a learner’s permit.
“Daddy, can I drive through Houston?” she asks.
A parent hears that question and a swallow gets stuck between the windpipe and esophagus. The palms turn sweaty, the mouth dries, blood pressure rises and an immediate regret follows from drinking that big strawberry Coke from Sonic Happy Hour. Continue reading Driving Daddy Crazy
Family Frog Genes
Some family traits are passed down generation to generation as consistently as a calendar. From my life angle now, it’s fascinating to see traits in the grandchildren that my children had. Some could discount this as trite or trivial, and maybe it is just sentimental thinking that sees what I want to see, not what is. But then again, in some ways my oldest son, Blake, and his soon to be four year old son, Cooper, are remarkably the same!
Case in point, frogs. Continue reading Family Frog Genes
Beauty in Pain
(Katie, one of my daughters, and I went to a coffee shop. She brought her art pad. I brought my Ipad. We played a game. We each wrote a random topic..…mine for her to draw: “A dandelion kissing the wind while hearing a butterfly sing” and hers for me to write about: “I heard someone say, ‘Learn it young — beauty is pain’”. This is our combined work over two hot cups of coffee.) Continue reading Beauty in Pain
Footprints
When there’s nothing but 360 degrees of blue sea and sky, an aft view on open sea is amazing! The engine’s work leaves a telltale story of movement. It doesn’t tell you where the ship is going, but definitely shows where it’s been.
Deep blue sea water grabbed by the engines moves the giant vessel along and the “footprint”, as nautical folks call it, trails the ship as far as the eye can see. Continue reading Footprints
OCD Music
The best songs stay with you, or so they say. Some stay with you so well they become Obsessive Compulsive Disorder! They mesmerize, yet terrorize, at the same time.
It starts a never-ending one song play list between the ears that just won’t quit! Continue reading OCD Music
RabBits 