I have been doing dementia research this week; not really, but it seems that way. There have been two excellent dementia awareness events near me that I attended with my family. If you know my dad at all, you know he is a bulldog. It is why he was such a successful business man. He … Continue reading Dear Friends and Family
Hard Things
It has been a week of hard things. The thing we had been dreading came to pass. Moving Ray into memory care was physically exhausting as expected, but I don’t think it was because of the move itself. That part only took the movers two hours because there is very little stuff left. Each move … Continue reading Hard Things
Meltdown
I had a meltdown this week. Allow me to give you some backstory. Five or so years ago, we began caring for Bill’s dad, Ray. In that time, we have moved him 4 times, handled some very complicated legal matters, managed all his doctor and dental appointments (and the dog’s vet appointments), gotten his estate … Continue reading Meltdown
The One
In Ethiopia, our host Glenda, did a devotional time each morning before we went out. She has amazing insight into scripture and her time with us was always in preparation for what we would be doing. One day, when we were going out into the village to visit widows and orphans, she talked about how … Continue reading The One
Creation’s Song
Creation speaks to me. Always has. The smallest flower, the highest mountain…all of it is inspiring to me because it points me to the one I love, who loves me. Rain is my love language. The moon is my muse. The thing about nature is it is rarely silent. There is always a song. In … Continue reading Creation’s Song
The Widows and the Orphans
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress. James 1:27 The ministry we partnered with, HopEthiopia, uses James 1:27 as the core scripture on which their vision is built. Rather than an institutionalized orphanage, they have what is called a Children’s Village on their property. The … Continue reading The Widows and the Orphans
The Power of Story
Story is defined as an account of past events in someone's life or in the evolution of something. A good story has complex characters, action that builds, an exciting storyline, and surprising plot twists. We don’t often think of our lives as a story, but they are, which is why great stories resonate with us. Whether … Continue reading The Power of Story
We Choose Healing
Eighteen years ago, our country was violated by Fear. The rape was brutal and violent and caught us completely off guard. In the court of public opinion, some said we deserved it by the way we were acting. Others chimed in that we were pitiful and too stupid to understand the signs. As is common … Continue reading We Choose Healing
Entering Ethiopia
Making our way from the city of Addis Ababa landed us in traffic which resembles chaos. Vehicles of all kinds weaving in and out cutting one another off makes for a hair-raising ride. It is easier to trust the driver and look away. Gazing out the window gives more understanding of this place anyway. There … Continue reading Entering Ethiopia
A Near Miss
The bottom fell out. Rain was coming so hard and so fast my windshield wipers on high couldn’t keep up. I slowed to a crawl, as did all the cars around me…except one. I imagine the driver had someplace to be. I could feel the frustration radiating from the pickup in the stops and starts. … Continue reading A Near Miss
Michelle's Mosaic 