(The rains, though it didn’t rain on my little mountain until Saturday, caused a lot of havoc this past week. One son was in the middle of tornado watches, my mom in-between two that touched ground one mile east and one mile west of her. It was an unusually hot, humid week here. When the rains finally came to us … Continue reading →
There are moments when my husband dazzles me, moments when the sun just dog-gone shines brighter because he walked in the room. When I feel slimed by the world, it all washes away with one word, one smile from him. It’s as though someone sprinkled me with. . . pixie dust. “All the world [marriage] needs is faith and trust. . . and a … Continue reading →
(It’s been a big week – my birthday and our 40th Anniversary. It sure doesn’t feel like 40 years until I start stringing all the stories together. When my sons’ say their ages, it sounds like 40 years. When little people called grandchildren call me, “Muddy,” it sounds like 40 years. . . but the spirit-girl inside – she doesn’t … Continue reading →
I was born in the early 60s, but I grew up in an earlier generation. I grew up in my grandparent’s house, with a grandmother and grandfather who were pre-teens during the first world war – and were raising pre-teens to babies in the second world war. My neighbors were spinsters, widows and couples who grew up during the same … Continue reading →
I’ve been reviewing 14 years of Blue Cotton Memory posts over the last few months. I’m working on a project, so they’ll better understand what I’ve been doing in this space for all this time. As I dug around, I found this post – it feels like I wrote it just yesterday, but it was about 12 years ago. Some … Continue reading →
One morning, when the sun spilled through the front windows of my grandmother’s house – something happened between the drinking of hot cocoa at her kitchen table and my sockless feet pushing off the porch floor propelling me high and low on my grandmother’s swing. My “Can-I-stay-here-forever” wish which every child asks when it’s time to leave their grandparent’s house … Continue reading →
(I’ve been waiting to see what class God has enrolled me in this year. Last year was the Year of Redeeming Prayer class, the year before, The Year of Selfless Prayer. I’ve had The Year of Standing, the Year of Jubilee, The Year of Walking, The Year of Living Shalom. . . . I am always amazed how God teaches … Continue reading →
Loving people and being yourself go hand-in-hand. It took me a long time to unpack what others thought of me – or maybe it was my perception of what they thought of me. I needed to catalog the traits, interests, and dreams that were mine, separating others’ traits, interests and dreams for my life. Next, I needed to study what … Continue reading →
tent worms nestin apple tree leavesin limbs raisedreaching skywardas if to heavenleaves rustling in thestill quietgreen raiment devouredwithout a sound bagworms dangle fromfamily fur shrubs landscapeby porch steps, garage doorsunder windowsillsleeching nutrientsuntil pine needles devouredlimbs brownedthe high and low siphoned awaypeace, joy stripped how, some ask, in the devouringand leeching – how canGod be goodor true– to let us endurehard … Continue reading →
(I first posted this ten years ago. It seems even more meaningful today. Praying your faith, hope and charity are kindled brighter in your heart with the reading). When Hope Grace was born, great expectations were cast forth, hearts leaping in expectation. Much was expected of Hope. Her sister Faith Grace took to teaching her the facts of their Father … Continue reading →
