family

“A Couch that Speaks”

| Laura Lee Bonde

breathing
peace
sounds from the couch
what’s God doing to my heart

breathing
asleep
restful break from the park
a home to feel comfortable in

breathing
snoring
in clean clothes with a shave
another night spent in warmth

breathing
serenity
being accepted as-is
being loved and spoiled with food

breathing
resting
once a boy, now old man
a son and a father to others

breathing
coughing
life’s taken its toll
health that seems to be weak

breathing
waking
to realize time’s passed
the park awaits his presence

breathing
peace
sounds from the couch
what’s God doing to my heart

Wanting to Be a Mother

| Laura Lee Bonde

This morning, I was remembering things from childhood, and as I remembered how I wanted to be a mother, I wept. This was around 5:30 am. I had a time in my mind to work on flags at 5:30 am, but when I wept about wanting to be a mother, a desire rose in me to write about it. I tried to ignore it, but I can’t, so flags will have to wait. Continue reading →

Friends, Not Idols

| Laura Lee Bonde

Okay, guess what I did yesterday? I cried, but it was a good thing.

Yesterday morning, as I was packing a lunch for me and possibly Lee, I realized I needed to go shopping, which I did last night, but I totally ended up taking a “snack-lunch” (instead of a “sack” lunch (ha ha)): watermelon, popcorn, chips, pretzels, and hard boiled eggs, but it was so good, and I didn’t have to eat alone. Continue reading →

A Weekend Getaway

| Laura Lee Bonde

Guess who spent the weekend with us?

Lee.

Last week, God put it on my heart to invite Lee over to relax, to feel normal, to be involved in family life…to just “be,” so on Saturday, after Nathan and Kyle’s flag football game, I drove to Balboa Park to pick him up. I was to meet him at our usual spot, where we hang out during lunch times, and when I drove up, he was sitting there waiting, already showered.

It was very important for Lee to shower BEFORE he met the kids. He said, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” Continue reading →

Being Watched

| Laura Lee Bonde

Yesterday, during my lunch, I took some time to talk to my mommy. It was so good to talk with her. As the time went on, we began to talk about my friend, Lee. She knew of him from Facebook and totally understood when I said good-bye to her to share with him a quick hello, which turned out to be an amazing fifteen minutes.

A few people have asked me how he became homeless. When I thought of why, I realized it wasn’t in my head anywhere, so I doubted if I’d ever asked him, so I had planned to ask him yesterday. Continue reading →

Surprise of the Heart

| Laura Lee Bonde

Yesterday morning, I went to Crosspointe Life Church to worship with flags alongside Henry and the gang. Before that day, I was told that there was a certain area on the stage for those who worship with flags, so I was excited to be able to join them. When I arrived, I went to the front to ask about where to go and who to join, and I found out that they had made it possible for me to flag on stage alone. I was in awe!

Before I went up, I was on my knees, spending time with God…letting Him know I wanted nothing to get in the way of my worship to Him…no distractions. Continue reading →