Heaven Help Us
By Corrie Lynne Player
01-23-10
            I’ve spent the past few months in the company of my grandkids, grandnieces and grandnephews, most of whom range in age from newborn to early teen. I also vividly remember parenting my own young children.

Heaven Help Us
By Corrie Lynne Player
12-23-09
            Holidays are hard for those of us who face them, for the first time, without the presence of a precious loved one who has passed away. My mama slipped from this world on Sept. 5 after an agonizing, long illness. She lived with my husband and me for six years–I was her Mama-Baby. As I wrote my December column, I struggled to get into the Christmas spirit. Tears were close to the surface, spilling over when I least expected.

Heaven Help Us
By Corrie Lynne Player
11-18-09
            As we celebrate Thanksgiving Day 2009, I want to challenge you (and myself) to celebrate Thanksgiving more deeply and more meaningfully. Instead of focusing on what we will serve and what we will eat, let’s relegate feasting on food to a secondary position and feast on gratitude. Gratitude will feed our spirits and soothe our souls in these dark, troubled times. The peaceful feelings will linger long after turkey, ham or eggnog are gone.

Heaven Help Us
By Corrie Lynne Player
10-28-09
            I’ve spent the last two months gradually becoming less numb to the reality that Mama is no longer living as part of my household. I no longer have to worry about whether she’s safe, fed and sheltered.

Heaven Help Us
By Corrie Lynne Player
9-30-09
            I wrote the following column September 1.
            As most of you know, my mother has lived with me for many years. I’ve written about the special challenges and rewards of “parenting” my parent. This week, I want to share my feelings about going through this final, wonderful time in Mama’s life. Yes, it’s wonderful—and joyful. I cry a lot, but the tears are part of the experience. Mostly, I tend Mama, with Arlene, my sister-in-law, at my side, and my daughter who lives nearby here several hours a day.

Heaven Help Us
By Corrie Lynne Player
09-02-09

            “How do you do it?”
            “I’d go crazy!”
            When people learned that my brother, his wife and their seven children lived with my family for awhile, their comments reflected just how different American living standards are from the rest of the world. In some countries, 15 people live in half the square footage we shared for two months.

Patriotism is needed now more than ever
By Corrie Lynne Player
07-09-08
            Since we just celebrated the Fourth of July—Independence Day and our country’s Birthday—I think it’s fitting that I talk about the greatest challenge we face: defending ourselves against enemies both within and outside our great country.

Heaven Help Us
By Corrie Lynne Player
06-10-09
            Goodness, I just looked at my calendar and realized that 2009 is almost half over! Although time is moving swiftly, challenges just seem to grow bigger, don’t they? I don’t even like to watch the news much any more. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to leave our problems in the dust?

React Positively to negative situations
05-13-09
            On a particular day many years ago, all my kids were late for school, nobody started their chores (let alone finished any) and my two-year-old erupted into a tantrum. I stood there, my raging toddler at my feet, and realized my life wouldn’t get any better until I stopped throwing my own adult version of a tantrum.