Category Archives: Grace

Happy Birthday, Mother

Posted on January 3, 2017 by Carol Boley

Today is my mother’s 92nd birthday, the first one since her death four months ago. Today I am acutely reminded of my loss. I will be glad to get through this day, to have checked off one more “first” without her. … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Bible, change, Christian Living, Death and Dying, Faith, Faithfulness, Family Life, Grace, Grief, Jesus, Mom | 4 Comments

Today I am Sad…But Not Without Hope

Posted on September 6, 2016 by Carol Boley

I am very sad. I know it will not always be so, but today, I am very sad. My mother died one month ago. I miss her. She lived with us the last 20 years of her life. I was … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Alzheimer's, Bible, Caregiving, Christian Living, Death and Dying, Faith, Family Life, Family Stories, Forgivness, Gifts, Grace, Grief, Hope, Jesus, Kindness, Legacy, Life, Life Transitions, Love, Mom, Parenting, Regrets, rest, Teaching, Trust in God's promises | Tagged children, faith, family stories, forgiveness, grief, Jesus, Life Transitions, love, memoir, thankfulness | 22 Comments

When You Long to Escape

Posted on July 5, 2016 by Carol Boley

Some days I dream about escaping. I picture myself at the Hotel del Coronado (“the Del”) on the southern California coast for three days. By myself. The dream is most vivid seconds before I open the door for the first … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Alzheimer's, Being still before God, Bible, Caregiving, Christian Living, Confession, Dreams, facial, Faith, Family Life, Finding solutions, Frustrations, Gifts, Grace, Grief, Health and Beauty, Honor, Hope, Jesus, Kindness, Life Transitions, Love, massage, Mom, ocean, peace, Perserverance, Prayer, Remembering, rest, spa treatments, Trust in God's promises, When life seems too much | Tagged despair, Doing Life Together, faith, family stories, grief, Jesus, Life Transitions, love, Prayer, sharing life | 12 Comments

Honoring People You Don’t Respect

Posted on June 17, 2016 by Linda Carlblom

You may wonder, Why would I want to honor someone I don’t respect? If I don’t respect them, do they really deserve my honor? Chances are, you don’t want to honor that difficult person in your life. And no, they probably don’t deserve … Continue reading →

Posted in Doing Life Together, Faith, Grace, Honor, Image of God, Kindness, Legacy, Life, Respect, Uncategorized | Tagged difficult people, Honor, Image of God, peace, Respect | 2 Comments

Experiencing Grace

Posted on April 5, 2016 by Carol Boley

My mother speaks in scripts now. She bears the look of the very old. Clouded eyes and clouded mind. Alzheimer’s? The doctor said sometimes it’s impossible to know until an autopsy. I am my mother’s keeper. I see her daily … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Alzheimer's, Caregiving, Faith, Family Life, Grace, Kindness, Life Transitions, Mom, Uncategorized | Tagged Alzheimer's, blessing, Caregiving, Dementia, Grace, grace is sufficient, John 6:40, mother | 21 Comments

Always Reason to Celebrate

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Carol Boley

December first–one of my favorite days of the year! The beginning of the most celebrated month. School programs, cookie exchanges, church festivities, baking, shopping, decorating…busy, busy, busy. It’s become such a big deal that whole books have been written on … Continue reading →

Posted in Celebrations, Christian Living, Christmas, Faith, Fathers, Forgivness, Grace, Greatest love ever, Grief, Holiday, Hope, loneliness on holidays, Love, Remembering, traditions, Uncategorized | Tagged baby Jesus, birth, change, Christmas, decorating, Disappointment, food, forgiveness, God, Jesus, love, loved, presents, reason to celebrate, righteousness, tradition | 3 Comments

Be at Rest

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Carol Boley

I crave the Word of God more and more these days. Not so much for its comfort, although that is surely there, and welcome in these days…these days of terror, disease, disaster. Not so much for its promise of eternal … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christian Living, Elections, Faith, Fear, Finding solutions, Forgivness, Freeway shootings, Frustrations, Grace, Greatest love ever, Hope, Jesus, Love, Overcoming Fear, peace, Politics, rest, Terrorism, War | Tagged facts, faith, fear, peace, politics, rest, uncertainty | 7 Comments

Tapes…by Carol Boley

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Carol Boley

I heard my grandfather’s voice for the first time in 30 years. It sounded just as I remembered it. My eyes misted and I smiled as I heard his gentle Southern drawl right in the middle of a story I … Continue reading →