My mother grew up in the days when gentlemen drove and ladies rode, so she didn’t get behind the wheel of a car until well into her thirties. Fortunately, she loved to walk and I have happy memories of us walking, talking, and playing “Twenty Questions.” I still love to walk. My jogging days are …
Category: Miscellaneous
Mar 23
When You Can’t See Daddy
When our grandson Benjamin was four, he was a total Daddy’s boy—as in, the best time of day was when Daddy came home and the worst time was when he had to leave. So it wasn’t surprising when we were together at a local pizza buffet a few years ago and Benny stopped eating pasta …
Feb 22
The “Language of God” is in our DNA
After I became a patient advocate for Dr. Marc Hirsh in 1996, I discovered I was in for a real education. I was working for the first time in a medical office and constantly had to ask the nurses to explain medical jargon. What’s a DVT? I thought he had a blood clot? “He does. …
Jan 26
Swallowing Sunshine
So, this month is my 50th birthday! I know that surprises some of you who thought perhaps I was pushing 70. Well, actually both are true… It was January 1972, my sophomore year of college at THE Ohio State University (some of you are cheering and others are booing—I love you all). My best friend …
Jan 12
The One Cancer Diagnosis that Made Me Smile
I literally have known thousands of people diagnosed with cancer, but there has only ever been one whose diagnosis made me smile. I think you’ll understand why after reading this story of how God touched two hearts to bring hope to hundreds of hurting people. I met Karen Wineholt in 1983 at a meeting for breastfeeding …
Dec 29
What We All Really Need
He likes sweet. I like salty. He thrives on change. I seek routine. He favors the East Coast. I prefer the West. He is impulsive. I have to plan to be spontaneous. But we do agree on this: We’re still very much in love. Forty-eight years ago on this date we said “I do,” and …
Sep 29
How God is Like a Cross Country Mom or Dad
I don’t know if your family ever had a cross country athlete, but our middle daughter Bethany was one in high school. She didn’t excel at the long-distance event, but decided running would help keep her in shape for her favorite sports of basketball, and track and field. What I initially didn’t realize was that …
Jul 07
Some days you’re the pigeon, some days you’re the statue!
Perhaps you feel a little like a pigeon-covered statue these days or maybe you simply would like to experience a measure of calm in your harried life. Either way, here are some words to the weary taken from “leftover” quotes (including the blog title), which I ended up not using when writing my last …
Mar 17
Heard any insensitive remarks lately?
“Oh, my grandmother had that kind of cancer—she didn’t last long.” “My neighbor has what you have—he’s in so much pain.” “I thought you’d be over this grieving by now.” Heard any such insensitive (dare I say “stupid”) remarks? I think I’ve heard them all and then some. I remember bumping into a church …
Oct 16
Navigating Life’s Storms
So how are you feeling today? Happy? Frustrated? Overwhelmed? Popular psychology tells us that feelings are “neither right nor wrong.” But I want to tell you that feelings do not necessarily mirror the facts. I witnessed this firsthand a few years ago when my husband and I headed out with my boss, Dr. Marc …