This is a post for blogger types. And/or people like me who, as hard as we try not to, allow ‘likes’ or ‘fan’ numbers to dominate a sense of well-being. Of love. Joy. Belonging.

I want to invite you to Mizpah. I think Mizpah looks like this.

This is a picture of our Thanksgiving table before my family and I sat down to eat together.

We had pasta (yep, big bowl of pasta with red sauce), rosemary rolls, and a gorgeous green salad. It was cool outside, about 65 degrees. We listened to Pandora’s Ben Howard station and laughed and sipped on wine while the sun slipped behind the trees. A little piece of heaven on earth.

So Mizpah. And your invitation. [Read more...]

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I consider myself kind-of apolitical.

Not because I don’t care about this country or have an opinion about who I’d like to be president.

I do. I voted last week.

I know my vote matters.

But these are just the details.

This election ~ details.

Not the whole of life in the great, grand scheme of history as we know it.

And no matter what I’m thinking, it’s not enough to hate on people who think differently. Candidates included.

So this morning, just like every other morning … I woke up, had a cup of coffee, read my Bible and prayed.

And just this morning, I heard God say, “No matter which way you’re thinking, I got this …”

Amen?

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I’ve always loved the start of school but this year it feels different. Because this year, our youngest is at college. Dropped her off last week at the University of Texas. I snapped a quick pic with my phone of her down on the Drag, soaking in the new scenery.

This is the first year I won’t mix up a big ole batch of pancakes on her first day of class or get a hug at the front door when she leaves. And we won’t sit around the table at dinner and talk about her day. Lots of things have changed.

But one important thing has stayed the same: My back to school prayer for Sara. [Read more...]

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Someone celebrated 83 years of living yesterday. Yep. That would be ‘the real Will Davis’ ~ sitting here next to his son (and my husband), Will Davis, Jr. 

As it’s customary in our family to affirm the birthday boy or girl … after dinner, we took time to sit and tell ‘Gdad’ how much we love and appreciate him. [Read more...]

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Last week at our family cabin in Estes Park, we saw a bear.

Story went something like this: We pulled up to the cabin. Made a joyous commotion. Struggled and laughed as we dragged our luggage inside. Then pulled open the drapes to find this cinnamon bear helping himself at the bird feeder. [Read more...]

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Today, I’ll stand behind someone in line at the grocery store that just lost their job.  I’ll sit behind a car as it misses the green light ~ watch it go from green to amber because a distracted mother is gazing out the window wondering when her teenager will come around.

Today, I’ll go to the drive-thru to get my favorite coffee and the cashier will be grumpy. Impolite. Because he just found out his sister has cancer. Then, as I’m driving to the bank, I’ll narrowly miss getting hit by by a car with some guy on his cell phone.  He’s angry, animated, occupied. Talking to his soon to be ex-wife.

Today is the duplicate of yesterday. A portent of tomorrow. Today people are hurting. Struggling to believe this is a day worth rejoicing.

And so today, it’s necessary to be nice.

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Just over a week ago when I realized I was a part-time mother, I was ready to completely fall apart. And I was considering all kinds of things to fix my pain like training for a marathon or starting a pie blog …

Gratefully, I have decided on a pie project. Mini version of a whole-live-long-pie-blog. But much less stressful and sweaty than training for a marathon. I enlisted Laura Lee to help me.

[Read more...]

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Our daughter, Emily, graduated from Baylor this weekend. And while everything seems to be changing so fast ~ I was reminded some things never change.

All weekend, I kept thinking … I can’t believe this precious child is graduating from college. Life is moving so fast.

The once strong-willed-wild-child is now a young lady. [Read more...]

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My husband, Will, posted yesterday about the top ten things he learned from his mom. I love his list. And I decided that it’s the perfect way to celebrate my sweet mom for Mother’s Day.

Gratefully, my mom is still around setting a great example for me, my sister and brother, and a boatload of grandkids. This list is just a drop in the sea of Mimi goodness but here goes.

Ten things I learned from my mother: [Read more...]

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