by Inspiration | Nov 4, 2024 | Parenting, Archives, Family
When Dad was Coming Home One of my earliest childhood memories was that of waiting outside our house for my Dad to come home from work in the evening. We… When Dad was Coming Home One of my earliest childhood memories was that of waiting outside our house for my Dad to come home from work in the evening. We had a long gravel driveway leading to the side of our house and on that same side yard stood a big tree. The tree had some low limbs that we could climb even when we were young – 4 or 5 years old. My brother, Bob, and I would wait for our Dad by climbing up and sitting in a branch of that tree until we could see Dad’s car start to pull into our driveway and hear the sound of the gravel beneath the wheels. When that time came, we would jump down from our tree branch as fast as we could and run over to Dad’s car. We couldn’t wait for him to get out of his car! I still remember the excitement I felt each night anticipating Dad pulling into our driveway, then getting out of the car and giving us, first, his big signature grin and then, quickly after, scooping us up in his arms for
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by Inspiration | Oct 21, 2024 | Attitude, Archives, Parenting
Take Control of You Mum tucked me in. “Mum, is it really going to snow?” She pulled the blankets up to my chin and kissed my cheek. “That’s what the… Take Control of You Mum tucked me in. “Mum, is it really going to snow?” She pulled the blankets up to my chin and kissed my cheek. “That’s what the weatherman said.” “Will they cancel school?” “It depends. If we get twelve inches like he said, they probably will.” “Great! I don’t want to go to school. I want to play in the snow.” “Now, Michael! Don’t go getting your hopes up. You could be disappointed.” “But the weatherman said.” “Michael, storms are unpredictable.” She patted my hand. “Go to sleep and we’ll see what the morning brings.” She closed the door. The room grew dark. Outside, the wind howled. Sleet and ice clattered against the window. I heard mum walk to the kitchen. It was safe. I rolled out of bed, crept to the window, and pulled the blinds back. Snow swirled beneath the streetlight and spun in circles over the pavement like the sands in a desert. My heart rate increased – no school tomorrow! “Michael, are you in bed?” Mum called out. “Yes, Mum!” I ran back to my bed and pulled the covers up to my
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by Inspiration | Oct 12, 2024 | Parenting, Archives
God Lives in the Post Office Our 14-year-old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4-year-old daughter, Meredith was crying and talking about how much she… God Lives in the Post Office Our 14-year-old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4-year-old daughter, Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words: Dear God, Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her. You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her. Love, Meredith ________ We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said
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by Inspiration | Oct 1, 2024 | Parenting, Archives
My Best Job Ever By all accounts, I am an ordinary, middle-aged woman no different from millions just like me. Over the course of my lifetime, I have had my… My Best Job Ever By all accounts, I am an ordinary, middle-aged woman no different from millions just like me. Over the course of my lifetime, I have had my share of jobs (and I use the word “job” because I can’t really say I ever pursued a “career” in anything). I am an Executive Assistant. When I got my first job, and for the following fifteen or twenty years thereafter, I was called a “Secretary”. They don’t call it that anymore, it’s not politically correct and although I never really understood why it was necessary to change it, ‘they’ did. In addition to working in an office, there were other jobs that included waitress work (now called ‘server’) and a host of factory and manufacturing jobs during the summertime of my high school years. I have always given my employer the best I had to offer, remained loyal, trustworthy and punctual and worked 50 weeks out of the year. Besides a paycheck at the end of the week and those two glorious weeks out of the year they call “vacation”, most jobs have been pretty mundane with self-effacing rewards
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by Inspiration | Aug 31, 2024 | Parenting, Archives, Relationship
An avid Gardener saw a small Butterfly laying few eggs in one of the pots in his garden. Since that day he looked at the egg with ever-growing curiosity and… An avid Gardener saw a small Butterfly laying few eggs in one of the pots in his garden. Since that day he looked at the egg with ever-growing curiosity and eagerness. The egg started to move and shake a little. He was excited to see a new life coming up right in front of his eyes. He spent hours watching the egg now. The egg started to expand and develop cracks. A tiny head and antennae started to come out ever so slowly. The man’s excitement knew no bounds. He got his magnifying glasses and sat to watch the life and body of a pupa coming out. He saw the struggle of the tender pupa and couldn’t resist his urge to “HELP”. He went and got a tender forceps to help the egg break, a nip here, a nip there to help the struggling life and the pupa was out. The man was ecstatic! He waited now each day for the pupa to grow and fly like a beautiful butterfly, but alas that never happened. The larvae pupa had an oversized head and kept crawling along in the pot for
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by Inspiration | Jul 27, 2024 | Marriage, Archives, Parenting
After 21 years of marriage, I discovered a new way of keeping alive the spark of love. A little while ago I started to go out with another woman. It… After 21 years of marriage, I discovered a new way of keeping alive the spark of love. A little while ago I started to go out with another woman. It was really my wife’s idea. “I know you love her,” she said one day, taking me by surprise. “But I love YOU!” I protested. “I know, but you also love her.” The other woman my wife wanted me to visit was my mother, who has been a widow for 19 years. The demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally. That night, I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie. “What’s wrong, are you well,” she asked? My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news. “I thought it would be pleasant to pass some time with you,” I responded. “Just the two of us.” She thought about it for a moment, then said, “I would like that very much.” That Friday, after work, as I drove over to pick her
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