Gretchen Louise

Love

My Valentine

Ten years ago this September, I met a little boy in Yellowstone National Park. Our families became friends. We became friends. Six years ago, he started writing me letters. Last year, he asked my daddy for permission to court me. And on Valentine’s Day, he gave me a ring. That little boy is my man,…

Solitaire Blues

It’s that time of year when I always used to catch a bad case of the “Solitaire Blues.” I wrote the below in 2002. But little did I know I only had one more blue Valentine’s Day–the past two have been colored with sweet cards and phone calls. And this year, I’ve already received several…

Three Little Words

“I Love You.” Three little words, with only eight letters between them. Sometimes they seem so inadequate, don’t they? And yet, two years ago today, those three little words changed everything for me. My man whispered, “I do love you, very much,” and I was the happiest girl in the world. Our love has only…

Going Home

A week ago yesterday, two men named Richard went Home to Heaven.Richard “Everett” was 86, and went Home after a long bout with Parkinson’s. Uncle Dick was only 56, when a wreck on the drive home from work took him Home forever. When Everett could still come to church, I remember going over to ask…

Mail on Tuesday

My man and I have the postal delivery times down to a science. If I mail a letter today, he will get it day after tomorrow. If I mail a letter on a Friday, he will get it Monday. If I mail a letter before the noon pickup on Saturday, it will arrive at his…

Blue Christmas

Ever notice how all the Christmas songs are love songs? My man pointed that out to me on the phone last night. The thing about the holidays is that they are traditionally spent with loved ones. And so whether you have no one “special,” or your “special someone” is miles away, you still feel lonely….

It IS a Wonderful Life!

“It’s a Wonderful Life” brought me to tears tonight for the first time in a while.At a time of year when so many feel lonely and discouraged, it should be required holiday watching for everyone. It should be prescribed any time of the year for those feeling downtrodden and friendless.I don’t know of a more…

Photographing your life

While knitting this afternoon I read How to Photograph Your Life by Nick Kelsh. Anyone who owns a camera needs to read this book.Great photography is really built on such basic concepts. Anyone can learn the principles of spectacular photography, but almost everyone tends to neglect them. I’m really enjoying the easy to remember concepts…

September 30, 1996

Was it just nine years ago today, when the memories of us began? There we were, at Yellowstone National Park, waiting what seemed like forever for Riverside Geyser. Then, we saw him–or rather, his family. And my mom dared to ask that fateful question of complete strangers: “Are you homeschoolers?”As the geyser burst forth in…

The End.

The End.