My jaw dropped in alarm as Joe slowly and painfully emerged from my husband's car. I inhaled deeply, seeking the courage to reach out and greet this unexpected Christmas houseguest. But it wasn't courage that came to me; it was the pungent odor of urine, wine, and cigarettes. I silently whined, Our perfect Christmas--Joe's going [...]
I thank you Veterans, on this day, for your service to our country. After living a year in India, I came home very willing to pay taxes. International travel is a superb teacher. I had become very appreciative of ordinary, everyday things like running water and federal inspection standards for meat. More recent experiences are [...]
The end of this life is a departure that most of us dread, but we can make our good-byes less painful when we’ve thoughtfully prepared for them and eternity as well. I share some of our alumni feedback from those who felt loved and comforted in that vulnerable time by such preparations. At the memorial [...]
If God is giving us the gift of long life, how are we using it? Recently, I spent an entire afternoon in the ER awaiting medical help for my strong husband. Although quite painful, his issue was not life-threatening. Even so, it was a reminder of our physical frailties and even our mortality. Both [...]
I treasure this Psalm of Thankfulness as it is a part of my faith heritage. These carefully chosen words express the heart of an artist, my paternal grandmother, Lucile Wilson Parsell. Since my grandfather was incapacitated with Parkinson's Disease when my dad was only thirteen, she supported their family thereafter. Thankfully, "Nana" was a graduate [...]
Long life is a tremendous gift of God, but the fourth quarter can be painful. Hebrews 12:1-2 offers encouragement in imagery that is quite symbolic of HERITAGE OF HOPE. HOH leadership sees this life as a race we are running to successfully pass the baton of faith to the next generation. THEREFORE WE ALSO, SINCE [...]
HISTORICALLY . . . Veterans' Day originated at the end of World War I when an armistice was declared between the Allied nations and Germany at the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month of 1918. Eighty-four years later, I toured Flanders Fields in Belgium. I was pleased to see our [...]
Become a FINISHER! Life is complicated and so is death. HERITAGE OF HOPE offers a thoughtful, loving way to help your people navigate the aftermath of your life as well as parts of the journey. We have prayerfully consulted experts, read books, and studied Scriptures to create the 6-part Checklist in a 6-part HERITAGE OF [...]
WHEN YOUR PARENT MOVES IN is written to adult children, the sandwich generation, who may be contemplating multigenerational living. However, it is also a profitable read for the older parent considering such a change in their living circumstances or even those already in the midst of adjusting to their new life living with an adult [...]
WHY MULTIGENERATIONAL? When retirees combine their housing needs with those of younger families, there can be multiple benefits. More than 100 examples of such interdependent living situations are the focus of Together Again: A Creative Guide to Successful Multigenerational Living. The oft-repeated advantage for the generation raising children is assistance with child care. The kiddos [...]
