Stuck!

A sickening crunch under my wheels was followed by the realization that my car would not move. The wheels were spinning uselessly in the gravel when I applied the gas pedal. There I was, at least 45 miles from home, my cell phone was dying because I had forgotten my charger cord, and dusk was [...]

Compatibility and Marriage

Recently, I had a conversation with someone about dating and marriage, and the issue of compatibility came up. The person I was speaking with raised the question, “How much does personal compatibility play into having a strong marriage? How much “alikeness” is important and in what areas?”
It was an interesting question, and one worth asking [...]

A Bunny and a Baby

Tom came in from mowing and announced that we had a nest with some baby rabbits in our yard. He had nearly run over them with his mower. We made sure the little guys were left alone, and in a few days, our adorable little visitors began hopping cautiously around our yard. We delayed mowing [...]

Crosstalk Alert: Moms Talk Modesty

Julie LaPierre of EverydayMommy.net will be my guest on Crosstalk today. If toddler t-shirts with “Maneater” and “Cougar in Training” make you see red, this show is for you. The overt sexualization of little girls now starts before they leave the crib. One company even has “high heeled” shoes for babies so even your infant [...]

EmmyCam: Brothers Are Great Babysitters

William said today, “Emily makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside when I look at her.” Babies certainly do that. It’s great to see brotherly love. Sam babysat for Em last week when I had to take William to an away game for flag football out of town. He does so well with her.

Autumn Leaves are Falling

I like to change the banner here at the top of my Hope Blog for each season. Autumn really is here outside my window. I couldn’t believe it when I looked out from the kitchen today to see the back yard with leaves all over the grass. I don’t know where time went.
I have heard [...]

Alleluias Without End

Our son William was four-months-old when he first heard the magnificent organ at Gesu Church in downtown Milwaukee. Tom was playing his trumpet there on a Saturday, so I came with him to sit up in the balcony and watch the musicians. The organist was playing the mighty Widor Toccata that made the church literally [...]

Random Monday Thoughts

Quote of the Day: “There’s nothing worse than a baby’s wrath and nothing better than a baby’s love.”
–Will Schlueter (after his sister had an extended crying jag.)
*Emmy has been storing up smiles in her heart since she was born. She is now, very selectively, starting to give them out. Yesterday morning, after she had eaten [...]

EmmyCam Strikes Again

This is Emmy at the hospital yesterday after tests wore her out. The paparazzi rest not, day and night, in this family.

Sentimental Journey

I’m sitting in the gorgeous, 165 million dollar glass tower of Children’ s Hospital here in Milwaukee. It’s the brand new facility built to expand the size of the other building that was no longer large enough to meet the needs in the area. Emmy has come down with some kind of infection and has [...]