Dual Citizenship
On February 15, 2026 by Elle R.When Barry died, he traveled where I could not go yet. His passport was stamped Heaven, mine was stamped Heartbroken. I was thrust into a country I didn’t book reservations for. Each time I asked my GPS ( God Prayer Service) for a ticket to Life Before, the answer remained the same. No return flight.
A Year in Heaven
On January 25, 2026 by Elle R.A year has flown by in a merciful haze. One year ago, my husband had his final heartbeat on earth. But I am choosing joy today, not sadness, knowing that my (never late) late husband, Barry, has spent a year in his new home, (John 14:2-6) in his new body, ( Phil 3: 20-21) and
Recipe for Mashed Potatoes
On December 22, 2025 by Elle R.Years ago, my late husband Barry and I were treated to a long overdue honeymoon. We were ecstatic at the idea of a week of surf, sand and the rarest commodity known to parents – solitude. We issued a very stern, “Do not Disturb” order to the younger children before we left, leaving our eldest
The Best Christmas Card
On December 2, 2025 by Elle R.I wrote this a few years ago and found it tonight, thought I would share with you, dear reader. My husband and I were driving the other day and I said to him, “I wish addiction took a holiday.” It doesn’t though. The trials and tribulations of loving a child with addiction issues never takes
Sailor Take Warning
On November 24, 2025 by Elle R.Two days ago, I needed to take my teenage son to Boston for a necessary medical procedure that his doctor doesn’t perform locally. Boston is a little over an hour from my home and I was dreading the drive. My late husband, Barry, was always the chauffeur when we had to go to Boston for
The Best Boat Buddy
On November 7, 2025 by Elle R.On a very rainy November day in 1977, I was seven years old and my mom was unusually late picking me up from school. As students began to trickle out to their waiting buses or parents, I was left behind. Anxiety and fear started to gnaw at me. A fellow seven year old neighborhood playmate,
Good Grief
On October 20, 2025 by Elle R.I have been challenged this week by a dear friend and the Holy Spirit to examine my thoughts and I want to share what I have learned. There’s a beautiful story in the Marine Corps Times I have been pondering and I believe it’s worth sharing. In 1942, in response to the American amphibious landings
Thoughts on Healing
On October 12, 2025 by Elle R.Well-meaning family, friends or strangers tell me that I will heal or that God will heal me. As much as I believed that when my husband first died, now I have a much different perspective on healing. Allow me to share my thoughts. Recently my son Beck called me and said he was on his
The Noticer
On September 16, 2025 by Elle R.In June of 2017, Major League Baseball Umpire John Tumpane was walking across the Roberto Clemente Bridge in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was returning to his hotel after jogging and lunch, thoughts of umpiring the evening game in his mind. Suddenly he noticed a woman climbing over the railing of the 79-foot bridge. He asked other
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
On September 1, 2025 by Elle R.Recently some dear friends embarked on an extended road trip, and their itinerary took them through Cincinnati, Ohio. My curiosity was piqued and I decided to research the name Cincinnati to see if it was a Native American name. It was not, but the story behind it both surprised and warmed my heart. I relayed