My Portfolio

When you ask, as I know you will, "What did you do with the gift of me?" I want to have an answer.

Remember the day, Mom, when we rounded up the ladies and little girls of the family, and gathered around the table in the back yard at Ron and Kathy's house? The guys thought we were addled, but we didn't care. This was the year when we were finally going to do...

October 25, 2003     I knew you’d want an explanation, so here you go. My intent, as I rolled out of bed this morning, was to make it to the ladies retreat. I really wanted to hear the speaker, Kathy Ferguson, share about her life journey. From my house to...

It was time for the annual Christian Women's Conference at Denver First Church of the Nazarene. Robin, along with her minister husband, were new to our church. She and I would be going together.       All my insecurities come to the surface when I meet new people. Robin and I had,...

I received a letter today from the gentleman largely responsible for my having revivedThe Billy Blanket Project.  He shared about giving his first blanket and I want to share his story with you.     While our emphasis is on pregnancy and early infant loss, a soft blanket is a nice expression of care for anyone experiencing...

Our son’s voice radiated excitement. “We’re getting a dog!”   How different from the voice on the phone a few weeks before when I answered to hear deep, guttural sobbing. Ken* choked out the terrible news: “Mary* has another tubal pregnancy.” That was their fifth loss in their 10 years of...

My daughter, Brynn Marie Davis, passed away of SIDS at seven months old.  Two days before what would have been her 8th birthday I received Ronda's story.  We wanted to do something special to remember Brynn as the 8th birthday is an important one in our religion, so to celebrate it...

  When Ronda Knuth learns of a grieving parent who has lost a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or early infant death, she gives them an unexpected gift—a baby blanket. Not just any blanket, but a soft crib blanket, one that should have snuggled a baby but instead comforts a mother with...

Your life entwined with mine For such a short span of time. The anticipation of you filled me with hope, With dreams, with pleasure. Then you were gone. Forever you will be part of The story of my life.—Ronda Knuth Pregnancy loss may come as a stillbirth, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or...

Delightfully hectic are words that sum up life at Sunrise Senior Living at Pinehurst in Denver, Colorado where I live out my love on a daily basis. Phone calls, scheduling appointments, baking cookies, popping popcorn, braiding hair, moderating life and managing forty-million to-do's constantly popping on the horizon - it keeps...

 F ebruary 12 Heaven readies another cradle in its nursery today. Baby Mirra Charrisse, Miraculous Grace , has come home. February 17 Five days ago Mirra left the safety of her mother's womb, to be cuddled in the arms of God. I don't understand this kind of sorrow. One mother carries...

You've decided to give a comfort blanket to someone who is grieving the loss of a baby through pregnancy or early infant loss.  It is very important that you walk with care into the arena of anothers sorrow.  Here's a to-do list that will aid you: 1. Choose a blanket to give...

March, 1997 I wish I'd been there when he crossed the finish line. As it was, we'd been gone only a short while. Maybe that's as it should be.  His was a victory that didn't come easily. Throughout the long, chilly night and into the early hours of the morning, we...

Given a choice, I would prefer to be named Ronda Peace instead of Ronda Jean. By nature, I am a bona-fide pleaser and died-in-the-wool caregiver. I like tranquility, not tumult. I most assuredly do NOT like conflict. In my youth, I took extreme measures to avoid clashes making me an inviting...

On the surface, one might think the residents of Sunrise Senior Living at Pinehurst as weary, time-worn citizens simply coasting through their latter years. Many are physically challenged, some struggle with dementia or Alzheimer disease, still others live at Sunrise because advancing age has rendered them incapable of living alone. But...

Like water to the thirsty is laughter to my soul. Without it I would shrivel and die. Life is heavy; times are hard. A hearty laugh lifts the spirit, lightens the load, breathes courage to a fainting heart. It\'s been said by some unidentified jolly soul that, "Laughter is a tranquilizer...

A Curious Lesson   "I don't like it here!" declares Dana*, her measured pacing keeping tempo with her anxious words, "I want to go back to the other place?" I'm confused. It's not unusual for Dana to feel restless toward the evening hours, but this is mid-afternoon. "What other place, Miss...

Love Them While You Can by Ronda Knuth "Help. Help! Help!!" Like fingernails on a chalkboard his cry unnerves me. It's unrelenting, insistent, demanding. It requires a response but I don't know what that response should be. From the desk where I answer phones and direct resident traffic I can see...

Something as Simple as Touch by Ronda Knuth At times the tyranny of the urgent bullies its way to the top of the daily to-do list extinguishing even the most rudimentary kindness. Indeed, in our desire to conquer our categorized index of mandatory responsibilities, we often leave little room for even...

Nellie Turnage died on April 4, 1937 when she was 29 1/2 years of age.  My father, Paul was 4 years, 8 months of age and his brother Jim Hunter was 7 years, 7 months of age.  Nellie wrote a letter to "Dodie" when my dad was about a month old.  When she...