"You can come in and see him now, Mr. Stanley. Right this way."
"Thank you." Miles followed the nurse down the hall. Once she had left him with his grandfather he sat down on the edge of the bed, and gently took the wrinkled hand in his own.
"Well now, who is this?" Angus's voice was as creased as his hand, but it was laced with love.
Miles chuckled gently. "Take a guess, Pops."
The older man sighed with contentment. Although his bandaged eyes couldn't show it, you could still sense the loving pride in them. "Batman, you've finally come. I knew you would."

Jules was up bright and early Monday morning. She sang while she made waffles and homemade syrup. The sun was shining brightly through the windows. The first buds of spring would soon be making their appearance in the rose bushes in the backyard.
"Jules?"
"Follow your nose!"
"Mm, I thought I smelled something delicious. How sweet of you to get up early and make me breakfast, Chickadee." He patted her on the cheek.
"My pleasure, Grandad. I set the breakfast table already, and I only have two or three waffles left before I'm finished."

The day my dogs I chose
I was all in a riot
An empty stomach was my diet
Our home was full of disquiet
My dogs were sweet, dare I deny it?

They are still now and quiet
Where the red fern grows.

My grief on me bestows
A sense of failed endeavor
To save my dogs, so clever
I know I’d do whatever—
Now I will see them never!

Will they lie there forever,
Where the red fern grows?

Today I finish up the second week of grad school. For the first time of my life I am living away from home, ostensibly independent concerning my social, academic, and spiritual life, and even making a little of my own money (small though it may be). By the grace of God I was settled into the home of a remarkably charming and generous couple, complete with two delightful Australian Shepherds that remind me of my own two dogs I left back home. From there I can step out the front door and walk – to a literally colorful village on the ocean or a private, cliff-locked beach.

We lived in California until that summer, from down south. We didn’t want to move. Least ways, Mammie and Mama and Papa were reluctant. We kids were as excited as you would be if you heard the news you were going to ‘paradise’, where the rain fell, where there was no drought, and where we would have a place of our own—with air conditioning for summer, and heaters for the winter.

Johann Sebastian Bach and Claud Debussy were two of the most influential musicians in the world. They published songs they wrote, played instruments, and were brilliant when it came to music. Yet both their lives and their styles differ vastly, from the wild life of one to the disciplined way of the other; from one’s greed and self-interest to the other’s humility and hope in God. How did both come to play such a big part in the development of music in such different ways?

1. summer

I didn’t expect my first
slice of independence to mean
a futon bed & eating peanut butter and jelly
for
every
meal

who didn’t teach me to make chicken?

I didn’t expect to become
a grandma overnight
everyone is ready to party and
my bedtime is 11pm

but
I like it
my cozy little
3-windowed bedroom
I have adjusted to
my rock hard futon
and I may still
have not unpacked
but I am good
where I am

2. committed

His thoughts were racing; reliving every single second, overthinking every spoken word. The fire grew bigger, and the screams intensified. He ran to the window, shattering the glass with the butt of his gun. Sparks were flying, and bits of the roof were already falling down. He was just about to dive through the flaming window when he felt arms around his shoulders, and he was being pulled back to safety.

Byron settled into his seat in the cafeteria. The cheerful hum of conversation filled the room, spreading a joy through Byron as he looked around at his teammates.

"Thanks, fellas. I really-" he smacked his forehead. "Oh, shucks, I can't believe that! I'll catch y'all later."

"What's up?"

"Dude! You haven't even touched your food."

"Already, Fitch?"

"Guys! It just occurred to me that I know that girl. I gotta find her."

"What girl?"

"You crazy? C'mon, man!"

"I'll explain it to y'all later. Save me two seats tomorrow, Breck?"

Captain Aurelius Cassian held his breath. He prayed to Juno for a son for months after he was told of the pregnancy, and he sent incense to Jupiter for a princely fellow, Venus and Cupid for a boy of comely appearance, and Mars for a suitable warrior of Rome. He begged the gods for an heir.
Now, he waited for the result of his prayers.