Children
To be 16 in the summer
Summer in the South for a 16 year-old consists of parents who bother him more than the heat, and days filled with friends, food and future adventures waiting just around the corner. Too old to stay home with his mama, but not yet old enough to be set totally free, it’s a summer for finding…
Read MoreTrue love found in the cafeteria
My college son returned home for the summer and I could tell he’d found a new love back at Samford University. It was a shock to realize he’d actually become quite fond of not one, but several ladies on campus. It’s true. The cafeteria staff has stolen my son’s heart. It’s difficult for me…
Read MoreCounting blessings at Cracker Barrel
Years ago, I taught in the Pre-Kindergarten program in an inner-city public school, and realized the students were confused when we read stories about Santa Claus. I finally grasped that it wasn’t the Jolly Old Elf who puzzled them, but the concept of a fireplace was totally foreign to a group of children who lived…
Read MoreThe Ransom of Red Chief self defense plan
This story can be found in my book, “The Majorettes are back in town” Putting aside the current politically correct, social and ethical storm of the bathroom gender issue, we should step back for a moment and realize that from the instant children were invented, mothers have always worried that some type of boogey man…
Read MoreIs it still acceptable to give parenting advice?
I could have drastically changed her life for the better in five minutes, but modern, politically correct rules prevented me from interfering, so instead, I kept quiet and helplessly watched as she got the ever-living daylights beat out of her by her four-year old son. Looking totally clueless to his actions, the mother ignored…
Read MoreMothers, just say ‘no’ to the swimsuit!
Swimsuit season starts early in the South. By the second week of February, my Mother would drag me to Gayfers to ensure I had first choice of the sturdiest of all the Jantzen suits. She knew if we waited too late, the selection would be picked-over and I’d have to settle for a flimsy suit…
Read MoreThe Joy Choir
In addition to some first-class Holy Rollers, Southern churches have also produced some mighty fine musicians, with many of the big-time stars giving credit to their religious roots for introducing them to the basics of music. But it doesn’t matter how many Grammys these stars have won, nor how many thousands of screaming fans their…
Read MoreCornbread with a side of love
This story can be found in my book, “The Majorettes are Back in Town.” It wasn’t the flowers, candy or twirling me across the kitchen floor that earned my husband a gold star on his romance chart. Instead, his most romantic move was when he scared the bejibbers out of our son. First of all,…
Read MoreYour will be done . . .
I’m still recovering from a super busy week, so while I get organized again, here’s a story for you about how I’m NOT a control freak (wink-wink). Hope you have a happy Monday! For the past 19 years, I’ve prayed for one young lady in particular, then 16 years ago, I started praying for…
Read MoreThe not-so-caring care package
Generally speaking, I’m a good Mom. My children have always been well fed, clothed and somewhat protected from the elements, at least while I was watching. I only lost one of them once, but in the end, he was found at an elderly neighbor’s house watching cartoons and eating Jell-O, so the police forgave…
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