“Hi Panga de la Panga,” he said into his little cardboard phone with the numbers inked in with my messy writing, “I’ll call you back later. I’m in gospel meeting.” His little bare abs flexed as he reached over to situate his “phone” horizontally, propped up against a bunch of hymn books. He was quite…
I’m the Wife
It’s not very ladylike to put on boxing gloves. I guess that’s why I’m recurring to my faithful pen (or thumbs, in actuality) instead. We all imagined quarantine to be a time of relative peace. We’d just tuck in and quietly do our thing, waiting out the virus as best as possible. Far, not only…
Thank You
Thank you to each and every one of you for the outpouring of love and prayers after my last post. It would be unfair to publish all the sadness and not recognize the absolute good that are God’s people. There is such a deep, satisfying joy in being a member of this beautiful family that…
Opinion Piece: Plaquenil
Note to Readers: Please bear with me. I write only to open eyes to one small aspect of the horrible worldwide suffering. In no way do my words marginalize the pain suffered by millions in hundreds of different ways. Our hearts go out to you today for whatever level of difficulty you are experiencing. May…
The Corridors of History
Any inhaler of literature lives with thousands of stories floating conveniently around in their grey matter, much like sailboats on the open sea. Bobbing here and there, our neurons flash around from Europe to Asia, from 750 BC to 1665 AD, from kings to servants, to whatever happens to catch the glint of the sun. …
The Whole World
I stepped outside after washing dishes (that’s a lot of happy birthdays in soapy water) to the back porch. It had been a hot afternoon, the dry mountain air sucking us all into prunes. The cold night breeze was a welcome relief. Habitually and unconsciously, my eyes traveled to the rectangle of black sky beyond…
Hard Things
It was back in fourth grade, Mrs Houck’s class. As usual, I had some free time while the rest of the kids finished their work so I picked out one of my favorite books from the overflowing shelves. I sat there in relative silence, just the scratch of 25 pencils around me and lost myself…
On the Road Again
We’re traveling home, heading back to Campeche for a week. Doctor appointments, a wedding. You know, all the things. We decided to do it in two days. Take our time, smell the roses. Geraniums: beauties I took for granted before moving to the tropics I’m not a crafty mom. I don’t particularly enjoy games. I’m…
Sweetness Takes Wings
I knew something was wrong. I mean, everything was wrong but this was even wronger. It was wrong our family was fragmented, the kids taken care of by someone else, David and I living between hotel and hospital, our baby separated from us all by a double set of sterile white doors. But the fact…
Yet Not I
...I labor on in weakness and rejoicing, for in my need His power is displayedCity Alight, Yet not I but through Christ in me We were on our way to distribute and invite the other day when this song came up on David's shuffle. It encouraged me in the moment but I didn't realize that…
penelope alves 