My car stalled. I had just dropped off a library book and purchased a copy of Elizabeth Edwards’ Resilience: Reflections on the Burdens and Gifts of Facing Life’s Adversities for fifty cents, and then stopped to fill my tank with gas. Starting the car wasn’t a problem, but it stalled and I was going nowhere.Continue reading “With Resilient Eyes”
Category Archives: Blog
When Glass Shatters
I recently had to have the front passenger-side window of my car replaced. I had come back to my car one evening after choir rehearsal to find it shattered. Mine was among five cars in the church parking lot that were broken into, and it took me a few seconds to realize what I wasContinue reading “When Glass Shatters”
Closing the Jeff File
Part 7 of The Boy We Loved, Once Upon a Time – posts about my nephew, Jeff, who died of cancer 25 years ago this week. This is my seventh, and final, post in this series focusing on Jeff (Technically, there are eight, but one of them crept in unexpectedly… like flowers being delivered toContinue reading “Closing the Jeff File”
Steal the Rhythm While You Can
One of Jeff’s best friends reached out to Kris, wondering if I’d like to include any thoughts from friends of his back in the day. Would I like to offer another view of Jeff’s World? Obviously. First, meet Zach Jones, center of the group, in the “featured image” for this post. A lot has beenContinue reading “Steal the Rhythm While You Can”
Elegy and Ode to Jeff, the Boy We Love
Part 6 of The Boy We Loved, Once Upon a Time – posts about my nephew, Jeff, who died of cancer 25 years ago this week. In the opening sequence of Forrest Gump, a feather floats and swoops, and lands at Forrest’s feet. He bends down, plucks it up and puts it in his suitcase.Continue reading “Elegy and Ode to Jeff, the Boy We Love”
Love Letter from the Family
I’ve shared my thoughts, feelings and memories about Jeff this week. Now, it’s the rest of the family’s turn. Part 5 of The Boy We Loved, Once Upon a Time – posts about my nephew, Jeff, who died of cancer 25 years ago this week. Grandpa & Grandma K Some time after Jeff’s death, IContinue reading “Love Letter from the Family”
The Boy I Thought I Knew
Part 4 of The Boy We Loved, Once Upon a Time – posts about my nephew, Jeff, who died of cancer 25 years ago this week. My nephew Jeff liked a good roller coaster. The anticipation of the climb uphill, the dizzying heights, the breakneck speed, the swooping freefalls down. He knew what to expectContinue reading “The Boy I Thought I Knew”
Asking the Tough Questions
Part 3 of The Boy We Loved, Once Upon a Time – Posts about my nephew, Jeff, who died of cancer 25 years ago this week. During the year that Jeff had cancer, I found myself wrestling with God about His will, His silence, His purpose in allowing such hardship and suffering to strike anContinue reading “Asking the Tough Questions”
Meeting Bart Simpson on Super Bowl Sunday
Part 2 of The Boy We Loved, Once Upon a Time – posts about my nephew, Jeff, who died of cancer 25 years ago this week. In 1996, Super Bowl Sunday was on January 28. I had just flown back to Texas to spend time with Tom, Kris, Jeff and Lisa, for what would beContinue reading “Meeting Bart Simpson on Super Bowl Sunday”
The Boy We Loved, Once Upon a Time
On February 11, 2021, it will be 25 years since my only nephew, Jeff, died of cancer. He was 13 years old and had been diagnosed with a brain tumor a little more than one year before that. It’s hard to know what he would be like at 38. He was bright, clever, loving andContinue reading “The Boy We Loved, Once Upon a Time”
Karna Eastlund Haugen 