Hey there. I will be returning soon to my semi-regular routine of posting stories and observations ( I truly appreciate you continuing to stop by and check for progress!). But, in the meantime I would like to share a guest post from Vanessa Van Petten since she has a new book coming out regarding parenting from the perspective of teenagers. As a parent of a teen, I always appreciate the gaining additional insight wherever I can find it, and Vanessa and her site have often been a valuable resource. Please feel free to follow the links below and take a look around, and, as always, thanks for coming along for the ride. READ MORE »
I think she’s happy here
It was a strawberry Fruit Loop. So innocently offered was this unassuming lure; all chunky and lopsided with sugar crystals disproportionately spread around the pale red morsel. I looked it over and glanced at the owner of the extended hand that held the treat. Two sad blue eyes behind tousled locks, and her eyebrows knitted in a frown from her frustrated chase. “I can’t catch her. Can you help us?” The girl and her sister had been chasing the little stray dog that had been roaming the park when we arrived. They had no success despite their tireless attempts, so Kendra volunteered my services in helping them capture the pup. The girls were very concerned that the dog would run into some type of harm or another, so they eagerly sought my support. Harmless enough, I thought. Use the cereal to attract the dog, or at least give it an honest effort and then get back to watching the boys climb on the park equipment. I reached out and grabbed the Fruit Loop… and little did I realize, I had sprung the trap.
Words are…
Words are, too often, just groups of letters arranged by some to fill blank spaces on a page, or spoken by others to fulfill a dialogue, or to break a silence. Words can be abused, get confused, be misused, misspelled, or misinterpreted. Words can be ill-timed, irresponsible, well meaning (but misplaced), misunderstood and, conveniently, forgotten. Words are…everywhere. They seem so impermanent: they expire quickly; they disintegrate; they fall on deaf ears; they fade from pages and memories…Words are, as they say, just words. But these words are not just words. These are my words to you, and they are all I have to tell you that I love you. I am proud of you. I could ask for no greater gifts than you…That I miss you, that I can’t wait to get home to you.
Now
Right now I am watching a mother play with her little girl. I am on a plane flying someplace I’ve already been and leaving behind the people with whom I’d rather be. Right now. The little girl is tired. She has been drinking her bottle in spurts. She alternates with a soggy wafer. Her first bites of solid food. She is restless, but she has smiles for everyone around her. Mom wipes away the soggy crumbs from baby’s chubby pink cheeks. They are enjoying the opportunity to play. Right now.
Face time with the C.E.O. (the list continues)
No, I have not been hiding away in a treatment facility trying to heal and recover from an undisclosed condition. The past several weeks have just been beyond hectic. We had a few personal transitions to navigate; work has been chaotic with increasing travel; I’m training for a 26 mile mountain bike event (which I’m still not certain I’ll survive); and I’ve embarked on the biggest writing endeavor of my life. I mentioned in the little things that “time” was a blessing and something I counted myself grateful for having. Well, time had turned into my enemy. It grabbed me by the shirt collar and pulled me into a back alley for a private conversation. Fortunately, I was able to gain some control, and have once again emerged with a little more time on my hands. In order to make the most of my new-found schedule flexibility, I took the opportunity to hang out with a few movers and shakers that I know. These guys are difference makers, and I end up learning something new every time I hang out with them. They are sharp, innovative, creative, and have been extremely influential in my life. It’s great to have this kind of insider access to them… the Dye family C.E.O. – Chief Executive Offspring. READ MORE »
