by Cestiny Crowther All emotion is important, even anger. Ponder with me…. If we were never supposed to feel any range of emotions, then they likely would never have come into existence. Each stage of an emotion has an appropriate time and place. We need to be aware when our...
By Julie Thompson “It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood. A beautiful day for a neighbor. Would you be mine? Could you be mine?” Anytime I hear these song lyrics, a smile comes across my face and I immediately picture Fred Rogers putting on a red sweater and changing into...
by JL When I first came to this class, I thought maybe I would just learn a few things. I was nervous and did not know what to expect. I have felt for many years that something was very wrong with me. I felt alone and that no one understood...
By Mary Ellen Collins Every year we take time to pause and reflect on what God has been doing through the Motherless Daughters Ministry. We hope and pray that you feel loved and supported by the women here in this community. Many of you have commented that our blogs have...
by Dottie Menkhaus The holiday season is a time to gather together family and friends. It is a joyous time of year, but it can also bring painful reminders that there are some who are no longer here. Our loved ones leave behind an empty chair when they pass on....
This essay includes spoilers for Disney’s “Frozen II.” by Kirsten Clodfelter Source: NY Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/12/opinion/frozen-2-movie.html When I settled in next to my 7-year-old last weekend with a mindbendingly expensive bag of movie theater popcorn and our smuggled-in convenience store candy to watch “Frozen II,” I knew to keep an open...
by Kristen Mitchener Knowing I would see Mam-ma and Pap-pa saved me from drowning in my chaotic home life. With them I could be a care-free child without fear of criticism or rejection. When the fighting between my mother and stepdad became too much or the kids at school bullied...
by Marisa Saenz In certain situations, like stress, I find myself at the grocery store shopping, preparing to make a meal. Cooking has always been a source of love, healing, and togetherness for me. Even in a family dispute our family would stop for a time to gather and eat....
by Dottie Menkhaus Few things are more heart-wrenching than saying that last goodbye to a loved one. My last goodbye to my mother happened when I was 16. The day was a Monday. I visited her in Hospice that evening. I expected my mother to be awake and talking, but...
by Julie Thompson My mom retired after 35 years of being an elementary teacher. As she was ending her teaching career, I was beginning mine. I loved sharing teaching stories with my mom. She could relate to what I was going through, and on those really tough days and weeks,...
