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Remembering to Remember
Last week I walked made my way up the stairs after a very long day. Mid-way up, I heard a couple brothers giggle-scramble to the shower, like I wouldn’t figure out that they had been goofing around rather than tending to their business. But as I ascended the last step, my ears were greeted by a different sound, the sweetest of sounds.
And I posted on FB. “I know few things that warm my heart like coming upstairs to hear the muffled sound of a 14 yo girl strumming Somewhere Over the Rainbow on her pink ukulele. Do you think she would mind me opening her door and joining in with singing? … Yeah, probably not a good idea.”
I thoroughly enjoy entering the picture with a rousing song, especially some impromptu harmony. My kids find me annoying. I like to think I’m making memories for them.
My friend Natalie commented on the FB share, 
I read something a couple months ago. Thought about sharing. Then decided to wait to share until May. People joke that May is the new December. It is jam packed with activities, places to be, people to see, projects to be done, summer to be planned, parties to be attended, gifts to be purchased, … no need to continue. Then we pause for Mother’s Day. We stop and think for a moment how great our moms are and were. Some of us are included in that celebration. Then speed play resumes.
It’s a crazy race. And we often wonder in the midst … is it going anywhere?
Frank Shaeffer penned upon the death of his mother Edith an article I’d like to share with you. If you’re not familiar with the Schaeffers, they were missionaries, thinkers, teachers prolific authors, and the founders of L’Abri. From the NYT obituary: 
Today’s Table Talk is by our friend Margie Sims. Margie doesn’t know it, but I think about her wise words often. She encouraged me when we first met (okay, so we first spoke during an interview) with a keep on keepin’ on dose of inspiration from one who is not only in the trenches, but has also launched a couple kids into real life. She knows what its like to plant, fertilize & prune with faith – hoping/knowing that it all works out on the other side. Because she has seen the other side and knows what she’s talking about. She’s a mom of 10 (yes, 10!) ages preschool to adult. I hope you enjoy what she has to share today – especially as end of the year festivities enter the picture. She speaks from experience.
Thanks Margie! … and thanks for walking the road with me.
Everybody? Not on My Watch…
On Wednesday last week, I called my mom to let her know I was running a tiny bit late. I instantly knew by her pause that something had happened. She forced words through a tight throat of stifled sobs, “Lucia didn’t wake up this morning.”
Sweet Lucia. One of my parents’ lifelong and dearest friends. The mother of one of my lifelong and dearest friends. In fact, our families crossed on three of each other’s four children. I never remember a time without the Waggoners in my life.
“She didn’t wake up,” my mom choked again. This time the dam holding back tears broke. She released a flood of sobs, deep heartbroken, already missing her friend, sobs. Then she tried to quickly gather herself. We had a houseful of guests coming in less than an hour to have coffee with the wonderful Jim Daly from Focus on the Family. Bush Library