Splash in the Rain Puddles

Recently, a podcast I was listening to, took me down memory lane.  I found myself in my childhood home remembering my mom coming into our rooms to wake us up on school mornings.  I don't remember using an alarm clock until I was older, but she would let us know what time it was, and then it was up to us to get up and moving.  Part of our weekday routine was listening to a radio show called Joni and Friends.   I can't remember the exact time it aired, but I distinctly remember that if mom yelled up the stairs, "Joni is on!", and I wasn't already downstairs...it was time to move faster.  I should have been at the counter, eating breakfast at that point.  I'm sure many of you are familiar with Joni Erikson Tada...and if you're not, look her up and prepare to be inspired.  I remember listening to her stories and songs...being so captivated...hearing her never-ending positivity in spite of a life altering accident that left her paralyzed from the neck ...

Another new year.  I'm entering this year with excitement as I do most years.  But it hits differently for sure. When your kids get to around middle school age, you start writing the graduation year of your student on school forms, surveys, and various other places where it is asked.  For awhile, I had to do the math because it was far away and not a time I really had planted in my head.  And then as high school begins, you start to get emails addressed to "The Class of 2026"....and you realize, yup...that's going to be a big year for my child.  And so here we are....already a month and a half into 2026.  Could we pump the brakes, please?! The start of this year has been full of basketball games, house projects, the daily hustle and bustle, and the coldest stretch of weather that I have experienced since living in this part of the country.  Thankfully, we were able to escape to the south for a few days and it was just what my soul needed.  Behold ...