Tributes

Makenzie danced all over the United States. Missouri, Minnesota, Arizona, Louisiana, Texas, New York; many were impacted by this little ballerina named Makenzie. As a result of her influence and after she was killed, tributes of all sorts were created by those who love her. Youtube hosts many of these done by her [...]

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Thanks for the Memories

This past Sunday we celebrated ‘All Saints Day’ in the Church calendar. The day holds deep meaning and reverence as Christians everywhere remember those who have “gone before us” (as we gently say); those who, by God’s Grace, have been brought into His arms and whose lives while on earth, serve as examples to [...]

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“I’m Back!”

“He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.”  Job 8:20-22
I don’t know how it started or who let him in, but somehow, without warning, there he was. Laughter. Our friend from former days. Laughter. The one in our family who sat quietly during the past [...]

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Good Try

They say that the fifith month following the death of a child is the one of the hardest. Generally, in month one, the novelty of the loss wears out. In month two, we go back to our jobs, routines, and daily life. Month three and four show us what has [...]

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Time Marches On

Yesterday, it happened again. And I noticed the same thing today. In the morning, the sun strolled up and out from sleeping behind the horizon. At mid-day, the clouds sauntered across the sky. Into the evening, the wind hushed it’s howling and Day graciously released her dominance to Night. Minute [...]

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A Time To Mourn

Makenzie had a web; one that reached so many people in so many different parts of the county. Because ministry had moved our family so many times, Makenzie interacted with hundreds of different people. When she suddenly went home to heaven on June 3rd of this year, those hundreds – now thousands – [...]

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Cast All Your Cares … Into a Basket?!

This morning, Kellie gifted me with an hour-long massage at the spa residing in our hotel. Swanky and relaxing, the spa had all the accoutrement one expects when spending money just to have a backrub. Anyway, as I walked into the dimly lit room, Natasha (yes, that’s her real name) invited me to [...]

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My Idle Mind is Makenzie’s Playground

“My Idle Mind is Makenzie’s Playground”
I know.  That’s not how my grandmother’s chiding went.  For me, the statement seems true today.  As I sit here sipping Java, Makenzie’s image tip-toes into my idle mind.  Look.  There are her beautiful green eyes, peeking out from the curtains of the empty stage of my thoughts.  I see [...]

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Bearing It All … Almost. Part 2

When Makenzie died this past June, I never realized how deeply that wound cut.  In my mind, I thought, “Ok, after a few weeks, things should be back to ‘normal.’”  Foolish thought; especially in response to the loss of someone who brought so much joy to my life and the rest of the entire planet.
It [...]

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“Bearing It All … Almost” Part 1

I’ve received so many wonderful emails in response to Makenzie’s Living Magazine article.
One person wrote …
“Today I was so angry at my daughter for not cleaning her room and was irritated during most of the day. As I found and read your article about your storm in the CyFair Living Magazine, tears just flowed and [...]

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