Sounds of Hope

I’m waiting for a copy of my divorce decree.  Now, before you get upset, I’m still happily married to my husband of 33 years.  Divorce just isn’t an option for me.  It actually never has been.  Yet, I am waiting for a copy of my decree from 33 years ago. Last time I asked for a copy of it I was pursuing back child support payments from the father of my three oldest children.  I still haven’t gotten all the back child support but I’ve not let that go.  I won’t let that go.  Sooner or later justice and fairness have to prevail.  I’ve never made any bones about receiving welfare or feeding my children with food stamps.  I had no choice.  The state of Missouri has been reimbursed from the absent father for all the money they gave me when he neglected his responsibilities.  Now it is my turn to be reimbursed. At the request of someone else, I contact the Boone County court house for a copy of the divorce decree.  They said they n...

Maybe I am just noticing it more, but it seems that snow is on the increase everywhere.   One is tempted to joke about global warming.   The other day someone asked where Al Gore was with all these frigid temperatures and snow.   I replied maybe he was hiding in a pile of snow.   Truth is, I don’t understand the whole global warming thing and take a very simple approach to these things.   As the song says Que Sera Sera, whatever will be, will be.   I do my part to reduce, reuse, and recycle.   That’s about all any one individual can do.   I have at least two “hometowns.”   One, of course, is my beloved Brooklyn.   The other is Columbia, Missouri.   I love them both but in different ways.   Both have some wonderful memories as well as some pretty sad and awful ones.   I have snow memories from both hometowns as well.   I’ve written about Brooklyn snow and you can find it here . I am thinking about Columbia snow today...

July 2, 1968 wearing a white satin princess cut dress with bows on the shoulders attached to a six-foot long white train, I walked down the aisle at First Assembly of God in Columbia Missouri.  So long ago, I almost can’t remember the details of the day. I am sure much of the memories of those hopes, dreams and anticipation has been erased by the pain and abuse that followed. I have five daughters. I have looked at them when they passed through their 16 th year and wondered how my mother could have ever allowed me to get married at 16. She had to give permission. It was the law. Even the law knew that a 16 year old shouldn’t be making such decisions on their own. In fairness to her, I am sure she thought she was doing what I wanted. Alvin was a good church going guy at the time. We believed in a theology of redemption and individualism. His parents, his upbringing, even past sins could not stop the grace of God and the work of the Holy Spirit in one’s life.  I spent time in...