There are words some people do not like to say or hear simply because they sound weird or remind them of something bad. Words like ‘juicy’ and ‘moist’ come to mind. For me that word is ‘stomach.’ I don’t like the way it sounds or that it makes me think of my own. For those… Continue reading Don’t Say It!
Author: Laurel Burton
Wait for the Bus
Recently, I was speaking with someone on the phone. Our conversation led us to talking about our dads and their dementia. He said even though his dad was in an assisted living facility with dementia, he still knew when Sunday was coming. Saturday night, his dad would get dressed in his best Sunday suit and… Continue reading Wait for the Bus
Angry Words
They say many a seriousness is said in jest. Perhaps so. There’s an old hymn we sing in worship sometimes called Angry Words. It is beautiful when sung in the different voice parts. People very often say things they don’t mean, don’t realize how it sounds or think about how a person may receive those… Continue reading Angry Words
Go Back
What happened? Where did it go? I think these are questions we all ask ourselves when we reach a certain age. What happened? How did I get to be 55? Where did the time go? How did it go by so quickly? Would you go back if you could? Impossible of course, but I would… Continue reading Go Back
Tangled
When my kids were younger, they loved the movie Tangled (and they still do). In Disney fashion, it is a remake of the story of Rapunzel, who, as you probably remember, had very long hair which she let down so her prince could climb up to rescue her. There’s a tree near our farm that… Continue reading Tangled
Focus
I am OCD. I fully admit it and know it. So do most people who know me well. It doesn’t keep me from functioning normally, but it does make me want to do things perfectly which I know deep down, I will never accomplish. When I began my new job 6 months ago, I was… Continue reading Focus
One Last Time
When my Daddy died 10 years ago, my mom, oldest sister, and I were able to be by his bedside and watch him take his last breath. I know not everyone would feel this way, but I still consider it a blessing and a memory that will always be with me. During Covid lockdown, there… Continue reading One Last Time
The Party
Don’t you love a good party? One where everyone is laughing, smiling and generally having a good time? When I turned 50 (ahem) a few years ago, my sister, with my family’s help, threw me a surprise birthday party. I kind of found out about it and guessed what was going on, but I went… Continue reading The Party
The Shoes
As parents when our kids are young, there are a lot of decisions to make. Some are harder than others. We never know how those choices are going to affect our kids down the road. When I was little and just learning to walk, the doctors told my parents I had to wear corrective shoes… Continue reading The Shoes
Whispering Hope
As a mom and former teacher, I know how hard it can be to teach kids of any age how to whisper. It seems they cannot grasp how to make their voices that low raspy, quiet sound. However, I know many adults, myself included, that don’t always know how to listen for whispers. I’m not… Continue reading Whispering Hope