Relationships & Family

Wedded to Service

admin — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:24:00 -0500

It's wedding season. After months of planning, couples are finally enjoying the results of their hard work. For Cheryl Mayfield and Bill Brown of Charlotte, North Carolina, the joy of their wedding day—the second for both of them—was nearly overtaken by all the preparations.

Winning Love

admin — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Mom and I turned off University Avenue and pulled into the potholed parking lot outside a large, rustic building. The neon sign blazed out the name Wild E. Coyote. It was September 1992, and line dancing was the big thing in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Mom had been after me to go with her for weeks. "It'll do you good to get out. A lot of your friends will be there," she said. "Some folks from church. And who knows, maybe you'll even meet someone."

Custom Made

admin — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 11:54:00 -0500

The holidays are full of traditions—about what we do, eat, say, pray, smell, wear, sing—handed down from years, even centuries ago. Some families go to church, others go caroling; some open gifts Christmas Eve, others Christmas Day; some use fresh cranberries, others use canned. As children, we adopted our parents' customs. But our adult lives sometimes require new rituals. You might need to adapt for a spouse who comes from a different faith or ethnic background, a new child, divorce or remarriage. Try these ideas for making new traditions rich in both meaning and joy.

Stepdad

admin — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:39:52 -0500

Our wedding was at our minister's house. A small group of friends crowded into the living room. All of them had told me they were happy for me because I'd finally found the woman of my dreams.

We made our vows and I fumbled for the ring to put on Kathy's finger. I almost dropped it because all I could think of was the boy standing next to me, Kathy's seven-year-old son, Jonathan.

End of a Secret War

admin — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:51:41 -0600

I cuddled with my two-year-old son on the living room sofa as the afternoon sun slanted through the apartment window. All day I had looked forward to this moment when just the two of us could be together. Then the doorbell buzzed, breaking the mood. Gently I patted Johnny, put down the book we were reading and went to glance out the window. A green checkered cab stood at the curb.

Roy! I thought with displeasure. Mom had mentioned that my stepfather might take a break from his driving sometime to visit with the baby. I didn't think he would.

A Taste for Tea

admin — Thu, 01 May 2008 11:53:00 -0500

I live in a rambling old Victorian house in the village of Cobbtown, Georgia (yes, it's as quaint as it sounds), population 325. The house has a broad porch, parlors decorated with period furnishings, original pine floors, tongue-and-groove walls and ceilings and a Chickering baby grand piano my daddy gave me when I was 10 years old. I like to think it's a warm and welcoming house. But I have to admit, there was a time that even in this special place, something was missing. My husband Peter had died a few years before.

The Simple "I Do"

admin — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 10:18:00 -0500

Three days before my wedding, and I stood beside my fiancé Dave—okay, more like hovered—feeling like a nervous wreck.

We had been engaged a year, and for just about that long Dave had been assuring me he was going to craft some very classy programs for the ceremony on his computer. His family ran a publishing business and he's quite good at graphic design. But he is not good at keeping track of time.

The Perfect Wife

admin — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 11:26:00 -0500

Carolyn Wright took her wheelchair outside from our assisted-living home almost every day.

From my window I could look down and see her, lifting her face to the sunshine—even on a cold day like today—with a bright blanket over her lap and the breeze blowing through her hair.

Winter Wonder

admin — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:54:15 -0600

My dad loved finding ways to make Christmas special for us kids. He and Mom bought a ski lodge so we southern Californians could have a white Christmas every year. After my parents divorced and Dad married Mavis, he decided to rent a mountain cabin for the holidays instead. I was uncomfortable with the situation and tried to beg off. "Give Mavis a chance," Dad pleaded. "You have a lot in common, you know. She really likes the snow—just like you."

Finders, Keepers

admin — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 13:03:00 -0500

Red ruled the roost in our house. This cat, a red-orange color like marmalade, wanted to be part of everything. Red saw me pack a suitcase early that morning. He knew I was going away. He sat on the bathroom counter watching me fix my face. Then he scooted off. I didn't know where until I found him snuggled into a sweater in my bag. "You can't go with me," I said, picking him up. "It's just an overnight business trip. I'll be back soon." I was touched by Red's attention. I wish Roger wanted to be with me that much, I thought.