Somebody said being a mother is what you do in your spare time; somebody doesn’t know that when you are a mother, you are a mother ALL the time. (more…)

When we think of a mother’s heart most of us think of love; love for her children, her spouse, her family and friends.  Mothers’ hearts should be about love. (more…)

Man sees your actions, but God your motives. Thomas à Kempis (more…)

Life is precious. Not because it is unchangeable, like a diamond, but because it is vulnerable, like a little bird. To love life means to love its vulnerability. Henri Nouwen (more…)

During this Christmas season the focus of course is gifts.  Even Jesus was a gift given to us by God.   Gifts can come in various sizes and shapes but not all gifts are wrapped in a box and covered with paper and ribbons.  (more…)

Every year during Advent we await with anticipation the celebration of Jesus’s birth with renewed hope that maybe this year His message of love and peace in our world will happen.    (more…)

The weather in Ohio right now is very nice – wish winter could remain this way all winter long.

Yesterday my seven year old granddaughter, Amira, joined me in decorating my tree. It has been a long time since just the two of us have done something together. When we finished we played games and we also took a walk because the day was delectably warm – well warm for Ohio.  While we were walking, I asked my granddaughter what she would like for Christmas and with excitement in her voice came the word – snow!!! augh!! How can I pray for this kind of weather when I have a seven year old praying for cold? Who will deny a child?!?!!?

She continued her excitement by telling me the fun stuff about snow – making snowmen, snow angels, snowball fights, sledding and just playing in the white stuff. I on the other hand had to let go of my present thoughts of what I call inclement weather, icy streets, scraping of car windows and warming the car – along with freezing my _____ off and become the child she is and remind myself that yes, snow can be fun – if you become a child again!

Copyright 2009 Susan Handle Terbay

This weekend I spent a lot of time with the youngest in our family.  At the age of three he of course is the one who holds everyone’s heart in his little hands. (more…)

Below is an excerpt from a book I have written about Mary and my motherhood. As I continue to find myself ‘speaking out’ when in fact I wish to remain silent and alone, it is because I believe Mary was very much the same way. (more…)

Maxine is my furry companion these past three years.  She is a mixture of daschund and Heinz 57.  Don’t know if the mother was the daschund or the dad but safe to say – lot of mix breeding going on. (more…)

I will be doing a presentation in Dayton at the end of this month and the title of it is based on a book I have begun to write: Bridging the Gap Between Loss and Living. (more…)

Whenever we think of motherhood we often envision our own mothers or our friends’ mothers and even who we are or like to be as mothers.  (more…)

Where I work at the university in Campus Minister in the Center for Social Concern, our goal is uniting our faith with action.  By doing so we hope that our students are given a good example of faith in action. (more…)

This past week our team of 30+ staff and graduate students in Campus Ministry spent two days on retreat.   We go to one of my most favorite places on this earth – a place where God’s whispers can be heard away from the sounds and noises of every day living.

While my columns speak of my motherhood and my children, today I speak of a moment in time in my childhood.  As a mother I often wonder what my children will take with them to cherish when a moment, a sound, a scent happens and they are drawn back to their childhood.  I hope they have at least one such warm memory stored away that I experienced and wish to share:

The day is overcast, the air muggy with anticipation of storms, the ground wet from previous storms.  There is a quiet solitude in this type of day.  Birds fly without making a sound, no chattering, no squabbling over territorial rights.  Small land critters go about their daily foraging without encountering opposition.  Even a cat at a distance mulls around as if looking but not expecting to catch anything.  I walk with the same attitude of solitude – encountering no one and just looking not expecting anything to catch my attention.  Then I turn to walk between two buildings.  My sense of smell is hit with memories of a past childhood and suddenly I’m at a different place and time.

It isn’t the fragrance of budding flowers or blossoming bushes.  It isn’t the smell of fresh cut grass after a rain shower.  It is the smell of motor oil, a tinge of gasoline and wet wood.  It certainly isn’t the smell of a typical summer day for most people, but it brings back a memory of a little girl hanging out in her father’s workshop.

A smile comes across my face and I’m almost back in time as I find myself playing, riding my bike, coasting in my wagon, hanging around with my dad as he worked on some project.

Then, I’m at my grandparent’s home inside their big garage playing hide and seek with my cousins and the smells of the old cars parked inside permeating the air.

I’ve read that our senses can be connectors to memories past and for me it is so very true this day. It is like the smell of fresh baked bread that filled our home on baking days and the smell of soap on wash days.  There is something reassuring about such aromas.  It speaks of a time of innocence and child play; a time when the world was very small and very safe.

God whispered a memory and I heard it.

Copyright 2009 Susan Handle Terbay

Who are “the least of my children?” or the “poorest of the poor?” Oftentimes the vision of the poor, the least in society comes to mind are those suffering in Africa or South America. (more…)

As I sit on the hillside peering out over the valley and observing the changing colors of the trees I decided that I am in the mid-summer of my life. (more…)

Earlier in the week we were experiencing some hot humid weather here in Ohio.  My one granddaughter age five was spending the day with me so I decided it would be a good day to wash my car and she was excited about the idea of helping me. (more…)

I’m Starting With The Man In The Mirror
I’m Asking Him To Change His Ways
And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place (more…)

During the summer months I’m a wedding coordinator for the chapel on campus.  I’m just about to leave for the wedding that is happening today.   It is an absolutely gorgeous day.  The sun is shining and it is in the low 70’s with no humidity. (more…)

Last evening as my daughter and I were out shopping we came upon an accident.  Only this accident did not involve two cars – it involved a car and a child. (more…)