>Today is a very sad day. Today my parents and my older sister and I will move my younger sister to the dementia unit of a nursing home.My younger sister has Down Syndrome. She was a sweet little sister with a cheerful spirit and a cooperative disposition. It was difficult for her to frame her … Continue reading >A Sad Day and a Glad Day

>This is one of the surprise lilies blooming in our yard. I don't even remember planting them, but they recently popped up in front of my office window, randomly spaced in our west bank, and along the driveway. They're called surprise lilies because one doesn't notice the leaves early in the spring, which wilt and … Continue reading >Surprise!

>My "book boy" (thanks, Grace), Matthew Two, is finished! He may benefit from more polishing, but I'm sending him off to the Windy City today with prayers for his success. I probably won't hear anything about him until after the first of the year because he isn't scheduled to audition until then, but at least … Continue reading >Matthew Two Finished!

>Matthew Two had a lot of stitches yesterday.It probably hurt him more than it hurt me; in fact, I rather enjoyed sewing up his obvious gaps. He's going to need just a few more soon, but then he will be ready for his high energy diet and strength training.He will soon be fit enough to … Continue reading >Matthew’s Stitches

>The cute miniature rose in a small patriotic pot on my kitchen table is dying.I've been watering it, although I admit somewhat sporadically. This morning I read that one is supposed to cut it back one third after flowering, so I cut off the dead blossoms. It looks really bad now.I have another plant that … Continue reading >Pondering Potted Plants

>My "book boy" (thanks, Grace) Matthew really took in some calories yesterday. I spent some hours writing at a coffee shop while Libby was at the vets for her grooming appointment.By the afternoon, I was pleased with the way both Matthew and Libby looked.I sent an update to the acquisitions director yesterday morning and she … Continue reading >Matthew: Looking Good

>This is my fifth grade year.If I've counted back on my fingers correctly, the year I actually spent in fifth grade spanned the fall of 1964 and the spring of 1965. Wow! That was a long time ago!I sat in the far corner of the classroom, where the desks of several girls surrounded that of … Continue reading >Fifth Grade Year

>I'd like to thank readers for their prayers and expressions of concern. Last week I was able to write the article I needed to write, as well as write two catechism lessons.Yesterday I was able to write the articles and do the layout for the Seminary's newsletter.Today I am trying to put some weight on … Continue reading >Matthew Two update

>My FaceBook friend Gideon Strauss (whose fb profile pic reminds me of my oldest son, Seth) has recently posted quotations from Twyla Tharp's book, The Creative Habit. The pithy quotes seemed so specifically designed for me at this point in my life that I ordered the book. It arrived in my mailbox yesterday where I … Continue reading >Flaming Arrows

>This is how our front lawn looks this time of year when the cottonwoods shed seed in fluffy puffs that float through the air, roll into billowed pillows, and drift across the grass.