The voice inside your head....

I don't know about other people, because their life experience is different than mine, but I know that tough times have led to two relationships unlike any other in my life, one with my mother, and the other with my daughter.  (I have a pretty unique relationship with my son, too, but it's different, and anyway, this isn't about him!)

I lost my father at age 12, and ironically, my daughter was 12 when her dad and I separated.  Although each situation was different, it was also surprisingly the same.  Thoughts, feelings, emotions - they were often mirror images at the same age.  I have had the unique opportunity to experience both sides of that coin, and it has allowed me insight to both women that I would otherwise not have had.  As hard as it has been at times, it is a privilege to be in my life, sandwiched by these two strong and independent women.

My dad...

I have been thinking about my dad a lot over the last few days.  I don't usually spend a lot of time dwelling on it, but sometimes I wish he was here to talk to.  Fathers bring unique perspective and passion to the business of living, and sometimes I wish I could tap his wisdom and feel his hug one more time.  This has been one of those weeks.

Pot luck, Lutheran style

There are very few things we can be certain of in life.  But here are three things I know for sure.

• Death will come to all of us at some point.
• Taxes are odious and will always be too high, no matter how much we have to pay.
• You will never starve at a Lutheran pot luck.

I try to avoid death as best I can (there are several doctors putting their kids through St. Olaf on what I have spent to elude it,) and taxes are currently a sore subject around here (it is mid-March and the pressure is mounting.)  So I guess that leaves pot lucks, which is one of my favorite topics.

Lazy Saturdays....

Today I have the blessing of a lazy Saturday.  It is rare in my life, a day with nothing on the calendar, and I am enjoying it to the fullest.  My robe and slippers are getting a full work out this morning as I idly sit on the sofa doing nothing important, which is, in many ways, the most important thing I've done all week.

Just...

According to Merriam-Webster, the adjective "just" means:

1. Having a basis in or conforming to fact or reason;
2. Faithful to an original;
3. Acting or being in conformity with what is morally upright or good;
4. Being what is merited;
5. Legally correct.

I have been thinking about this word for the last few days, and how we have distorted the meaning in colloquial English to indicate almost the opposite. "I am just an at home wife and mother." "I am just an office manager."  "It is just a dog."  "He is just a child."  "They are just a fill in the blank."   Dismissive.  Oppressive.  Demeaning.  Hardly fits the original meaning of the word.