We began our journey on the day of our visit at 5:30 in the morning as we walked/prayed through the Via Dolorosa (the actual stations of the cross.) It was early dawn, before the markets were open. We were there during the Muslim holiday of Ramadan, so in old Jerusalem, we walked underneath lights strung for […]
Walking the Via Dolorosa Read More »
It was a Monday. I was getting ready for work, when six-year-old Allison, after overhearing a conversation the night before, asked me a question. “Grandma, why is Grandma Bobbi scared?” (Those darn kiddos, they hear everything, even when you think they aren’t paying attention.) “She was scared, baby, because she couldn’t breathe. And when you
A Monday Kind of Metamorphosis- Part 1 Read More »
Hurricane Katrina was the deadliest and most destructive Atlantic hurricane of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. It was the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes in the history of the United States. In February 2007, 18 months later, HIMSS, the Healthcare and Information Management Systems Organization held a conference
A Life Changing Visit Read More »
When Allison was a toddler, we used to hold her up to the wall where all our family photos were displayed and play “Who’s that?” You have probably played this with your own kids. “Who’s that?” we would ask. “Grampa Briese,” Allison would reply. This was a way for Allison to know her great extended family,
Toilet Paper, Stickers, and The Great Helper Read More »
I had a doozie of a secret I was keeping from my husband. I am not sure really how it started; an oversight perhaps, a simple mistake, maybe I genuinely needed help (gasp). But once this simple little error was born, I conceived in my mind that it was something I could “fix” later. No
The Valentine Gift Read More »
One Sunday morning after Mass, I was having a conversation with the priest, and somehow the subject turned to community. “You do not have community here,” he stated. I asked him why he felt that way and he replied, “People are here for Mass and they put on their “Mass” face. After Mass, they leave
As an extremely goal oriented person, New Year’s is a great time for me. I love the idea that the New Year is a blank page and I can write whatever I want on my page. So for years, I would take the entire month to come up with my goals. At one point I
He was just eight years old the first time he was incarcerated. A baby really, a sweet innocent boy whose worst crime was being born to parents who couldn’t figure out their own lives. A typical youngest child, he was the family clown. Always sporting a bright smile, always wanting to please, he was adored by
A Prisoner’s Story- The Story of Jim Read More »
In 2008 I was so blessed to be able to go to the Holy Land. I wrote the following during Christmas that year, as a letter to Father Lopez. I now share it with you. It was Christmas Day, and we planned to attend the 10:30 Mass. At 9:45 we were in our bedroom
Unexpected Christmas Gifts Read More »
It was a Monday morning like every other, and I was very focused on getting everything “ready” for the busy week ahead. Get Alli’s breakfast ready, get ready for work, prep food for dinner, make sure the house is picked up before I leave. “Alli, are you ready to go?” I called. “Grandma.” “Yes, Alli,”
Father, Will You Hold Me? Read More »
