It’s Thanksgiving morning and the sun is beginning to shine outside as the smell of turkey in the oven fills the house. This year Monieca and I are celebrating the holiday with our son and his wife, as well as her parents, brother and sister-in-law. It’s a great opportunity to deepen our relationships with Sara’s… Read More »
Miracle in a Hospital
“I prayed that I would see my son again before I died.” That’s what the elderly gentlemen told me recently when I visited him in the hospital. He had not seen his son in 15 years. Arguments and conflict caused the separation and it had broken his heart. He broke down in tears as he… Read More »
The Familiar Red Kettle
Every time I ring the bell for the Salvation Army during the Christmas season, I’m fascinated by people’s demeanor as they pass the familiar red kettle. It was no different this past Saturday when Monieca and I, along with our friends Kim and Carl and their daughter Kayleigh, rang the bell at the JC Penney… Read More »
Black Friday and Christmas Lists
Black Friday! The busiest shopping day of the year! Crowded malls and big sales! Long lines and exhausted stores clerks. It’s become part of the American culture and I was in the middle of it this past Friday. My family had celebrated Thanksgiving at the beach. Turkey, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, pumpkin pie, and the… Read More »
Thanksgiving Smells
I’ve gotten emails lately asking if I’ve stopped blogging. Since my last post was November 6 one could easily assume I had. The truth is I’ve just not had anything I really felt inspired to write…guess it was my own version of “writer’s block.” Whatever the reason, I’m glad you noticed and asked about it.… Read More »
A Hot July 4 Holiday
Happy Independence Day! For most Americans this is a paid holiday when we spend time with family celebrating in any number of ways. One third of us will fire up the grill so we can enjoy hot dogs, hamburgers or steak. Others will take to the lake, the beach or the pool. With the thermometer… Read More »
A Patriotic NBA Draft
It’s no secret I’m a huge Kentucky Wildcats basketball fan. So it’s not a surprise that I watched part of the 2012 NBA draft on TV last Thursday evening as UK set two new records by being the first team in NBA history to have two players selected with the first and second picks in… Read More »
A White Marble Headstone
My dad named me after his favorite uncle, Stephen Hogg. I grew up wondering about him, but knowing very little about him. He was buried in the family cemetery on our farm and his headstone stood out from the others because it was the classic white marble stone with a slightly curved top that marks… Read More »
A Soldier’s Funeral
I’m not sure how old I was. A young kid of seven or eight I suppose. What I do remember is the house was less than two miles from my home. It was small and the family didn’t have much. I can’t remember their names but I can picture the scene in my head. It… Read More »
Celebrating Easter
Finding the lucky egg was the best part of Easter when I was a kid. It was worth a quarter when I was really young but its worth grew to a dollar as I grew older. Eggs were hidden in a four acre field we cut for hay and all the cousins ran all over… Read More »