betsy

My 5 year-old figured out my husband’s smartphone password, so all the apps and games were within easy access for my little man.  He was so quick at grabbing the phone that we would be in constant search for it. There was no telling where my son was hiding with it. So, in an effort

I had an acquaintance in college that I would converse with in the campus dining room.  Our schedules happened to converge during mealtimes, and we would talk when we met with each other.  He was an intelligent student, and we had stimulating conversations during our time there. During one particular lunch, I remember sitting down

I remember walking into a small bridal boutique to look for a wedding dress.  It was a two-room quaint structure that had all the appearances of a little home. This location had been recommended by a friend, and it happened to be the right place for me. The dress I had imagined with its lace

This is my beautiful mother and me about three weeks after my birth. I am the firstborn, so it was her first Christmas with a child.  I was a newborn and had no clue about the purpose of a tree or Christmas cards, or presents, but it didn’t matter to Mom. She and Dad decorated

One of the Christmas traditions we cherished during childhood was Christmas caroling at the homes of our church members.  Off-tune or not, there were smiles and giggles all around as 50 of us belted out our favorite songs. The drummer kept us on rhythm, and the bells made the carols come alive.  It was fun(ny)

We were a family of six growing up, so a station wagon made sense.  To Dad, though, having TWO station wagons made even more sense. I can still picture the back door of the blue wagon, plastered with what seemed like a hundred bumper stickers. Dad was the pastor of our church, so it served

I was sitting in the optometrist’s office when I got the news.  “Glasses”, he said. Tears filled my eyes, and I leaned into my mother.  I felt silly, crying as a teenager over something as simple as glasses. But I was devastated, and the struggle was real at an age when image mattered. My mom

There was a small closet in the narrow hallway of my house when I was a young girl.  The hallway led to the living room from the bedroom that I shared with my sister. You would open the closet at your own risk because you never know what could fall out.  Sheets were stuffed into

The weeks leading up to our wedding were peaceful…for me.   I jokingly say that my husband was the “bridezilla” because he planned most of the wedding.  He likes the details. So, my role was to agree or disagree, and honestly, I preferred it that way. One day,  I was asked to make a decision.

My daughter was about to be voted in as the leadership representative from her class.  I could feel it in my bones. The campaign preparation included  an attractive poster – which included glitter, of course.  We spent hours putting it together.  And the speech was engaging, likening leadership qualities to items at a grocery store-