Nov
18
2021
Last December, Dad and I read sections of “The Violence Within” by Paul Tournier aloud to each other. Tournier believed that criticism was a form of violence that burdened the relationship. According to Tournier, criticism removes unconditional love and...
Nov
17
2021
Dad delighted in people. Wherever he went, he made lifelong friends. On the day he died, I called many people whose numbers were on his phone to say goodbye. If we missed you, I am very sorry. One family...
Nov
16
2021
One aspect of Dad’s character I admired was his presence. He carried himself with dignity and power. His voice could fill a room or a gym. Dad met my husband Shann before I did. He would speak throughout Montana,...
Nov
15
2021
Today is my Mom’s 80th birthday. Her courage in caring for my Dad through cancer reveals her reliance on prayer and dedication to serving. Mom is one of the most persevering people I know. She holds two masters degrees,...
Nov
12
2021
The other day Mom and I walked through our neighborhood together. We stopped to see a woman planting in her yard. Her house has a gorgeous sanctuary with hundreds of flowers, and she was preparing her garden for winter....
Nov
11
2021
My dad loved veterans and felt deeply grateful for his friends and family who served. One man that he came to know and love fought in the Vietnam war. They were around the same age. This man lost an...
Nov
10
2021
Dad asked our family to be with him when he first received the news he might have cancer. We gathered around the kitchen table to wait with him when the hospital called with his results. He told us he...
Nov
09
2021
When my daughter Natalya turned fourteen, our relationship didn't feel the same. I felt like she didn't want to connect, and I wanted to blame her. I read books about teens. I tried to give her autonomy and space....
Nov
08
2021
The night Dad died, the sky was full of color, the sun was blood red with Hesperus, the evening star was visible. I took a picture because the colors were vivid, not realizing this would be the day Dad...
Nov
04
2021
I asked my Mom what the most challenging part of her journey right now was, and she paused for a minute and then said, “Not hearing his voice. He traveled many days throughout our life, but we talked almost...
