There’s this writing spider, she’s known as a “common garden” spider and she has taken up residence in my flower garden. Now, please keep reading because like many of you–I don’t like spiders either. I’m the one who found a large water spider in my closet–the size and resemblance of a tarantula. And in my panic and infinite wisdom, I ran and got the bug spray and drenched the spider with the poison until it fell to the floor. And me, feeling much relieved looked around and my

It was on a Monday--friends and family trickling in the sanctuary--many already filling the pews. We had come together--to grieve--to reminisce--and to celebrate a life well lived. The program read, "A Service of Worship to the Glory of God and to celebrate the life of...a man's life that my family had come to know and love. This dear man--his co-worker and friend, his pastors, and his granddaughter spoke so eloquently--shared stories of conversations and laughter and what

It was Wednesday morning–the day following, when the world heard the heartbreaking words, “Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80”. And it was early–before sun up and I laid there, not ready to get out of bed. I picked up my phone and began seeing all the Dolly social media posts–interviews, songs, movies–all the good things she had done over her lifetime. And my eyes watered–my pillow caught my tears. Dolly was a huge part of my childhood–the Lackey family always watched

Recently I visited a Hospice Home–my first ever visit to a Hospice facility. A dear friend of my family is dying. He’s lived close to nine decades. And just this week, the doctor shared the message with his family–72 hours–maybe, a little longer. My great-aunt Lena–I’ve shared a little about her before. She was my bonus grandma–my Grandma Lackey’s sister. Her house stood in the middle between my childhood home and my grandparents–Papo and Grandmudder Lackey. She was an

Like many of you, I grew up on well water--our well was located in the backyard--the base--a round circle of concrete stuck out of the ground about three feet--or less, and on top of the mouth of the well was the concrete cover--heavy enough two strong humans had to lift it. Don't sit on the well!! You'll fall in!! Get away from the well!! If I had a dollar for every time I heard my Mama shout this to me and my siblings--I would have a thousand dollars--maybe more. I hated

This week's cleaning and decluttering involved unearthing a box of my high school yearbooks and I sat for awhile--in the quiet--in a sea of memories--looking through photos and reading messages from friends and classmates. And there it was--her message to me--she, a senior, and me, a sophomore--her brother--a classmate of mine. She signed in closing--"a friend always". My "a friend always"--she passed away unexpectedly a little over three years ago. I still miss her, as I al

I watched as my youngest grandson scooped his net down deep into the sand–pulling up the heavy sand mixed with bits of broken shells, salt water, and seaweed–as seen at first glance. My grandson–he shook out his net and as the water poured out through the tiny holes–he placed his little hand under the heaviness of the net and pushed what was left and then he began searching–not for shells or shark teeth–but for sand fleas. He’d pick them out from the net one by one–counting

I heard this word the other day--"Rebloom" and yes, I guess when we think about blooms our minds and imaginations turn to flowers and the reblooming of perennials making their way out of the ground--reblooming year after year. However, on this occasion in this particular text the word “rebloom” was used not in the context of flowers, but with people. The reblooming of one's soul--mindset--creativity--change--a rebirth you might say. I recently visited one of my favorit

Ask me how I know God listens--how He answers prayers.... I made this deal with God. Well, not so much a deal, but it was something I really wanted to work out and so I said, God, I’m going to pray for thirty days about this one thing and if after thirty days I don’t feel you leading me–then I won’t pursue it. And God, I’ll not just voice my prayers–I’ll write them down–in a journal for thirty days–every night before I lay my head in sleep. That was in November of 2019. An

My Daddy always said, 'don't buy me a gift. Just get me a card if you want to get me something.' I stood in front of the Father's Day cards display--and for the first time in my life, I had no need in buying a Father's Day card. And tears washed my face-- My Daddy's passing was still raw--hard to believe--he passed away suddenly on a cold March Friday. And here it was, already June--Sunday and Father's Day. The days leading up to this first Father's Day without my Daddy--I

She’s from a big family–a middle child. She began holding a needle and thread in early childhood–her mother was a quilter–a seamstress–her grandmother, great-grandmother and many of her sisters–the same. Her seamstress days didn’t begin as a quiltmaker–she sewed clothes, doll clothes, curtains–furniture covers–pillows–and out of necessity–darned socks and repaired holes in worn-out jeans–work shirts. This seamstress–she seemed to excel in all she touched with the weaving o

We were closing in on three hours of play under a full moon--two summer collegiate teams--battling until the end. It was a pre-season game--but to be seated here--watching--cheering on these young men--one team with only two practices prior to this game--to true baseball fans--this intense game was as exciting as if we were sitting under the brightest lights in the biggest stadium--witnessing Major League play. Sitting in the bleachers, my mind drifted to memories of my own