Latest posts
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The Man Drawer
I don’t have much time to write tonight as I’m busy packing up our house. I had the option of staying in this house a little longer or moving in to the new one a little sooner, and in the end I decided though it would be best to just made a mad dash of it…
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Fresh Conversation
“A person isn’t who they are during the last conversation you had with them – they’re who they’ve been throughout your whole relationship.” Ranier Maria Rilke I love talking with Vernon, and I think he likes talking with me. But he really loves it these days when someone else comes to visit. Fresh conversation, among other things.…
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A Family Christmas
The best Christmas present for me this year? My brother Hyatt and his wife Nicole and their four kiddos coming down from Palo Alto for Christmas (and the several days around it.) They could have made a special Christmas for themselves in the comfort of their own home amongst their dearest friends but they decided to…
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Do They Know It’s Christmas?
I was asked to do a little voice-over for a friend’s budding ministry at the church this morning. It focuses on committing to ‘intentional acts of kindness’ in the local community throughout the coming year. This could be anything like taking in the neighbors rubbish bins to reaching out to the homeless. I won’t list all…
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From a Four-year-old Photojournalist
“As human beings, our job in life is to help people realize how rare and valuable each one of us really is, that each of us has something that no one else has–or ever will have–something inside that is unique to all time. It’s our job to encourage each other to discover that uniqueness and…
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Home
“Home is the nicest word there is.” —Laura Ingalls Wilder I have been so busy tying up loose ends (and trying to untie some knots) before the end of the year that I nearly forgot to mention our good news. We found a house to rent…starting mid-January. Plenty of time to enjoy the piece of mind before…
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Vernon Sings
Perhaps I just needed to get a few frustrations off my chest in last night’s post in order to see more clearly again. Because today, I was able to recognize improvements in Vernon. Justine has been able to accompany me on visits more frequently, and I can see that their relationship is strengthening. He…
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Limbo and Rainbow
“There are times to stay put, and what you want will come to you, and there are times to go out into the world and find such a thing for yourself.” ― Lemony Snicket That’s the thing. When does one know when to stop pushing for change and just relax and BE where you are?…
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Intentional Acts of Kindness
People have been incredibly generous and supportive of our family. We wouldn’t have been able to finish our year without donations. It has been an incredibly humbling and sweet experience to be in the position of so much receiving. But even as I’m receiving, I am thinking: “These people are teaching me how to act when someone…
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Hugs and Kisses
Justine Harper is such a sweet little nurse. Bit bossy, but she comes by it naturally. It chipped at my heart to hear Vernon say she is mostly mine and a little bit his. And Justine agreed with him, with the deep brand of wisdom only shared by 4 year olds and their elders. I suppose because I’m…