Liz and Ron welcomed little Ethan into the world at 12:13 am this morning. I was lucky enough to be present for the labor and birth of my fourth grandchild. Mom and Ethan are both healthy. Liz was an absolute champ during the labor and delivery, and Ron was right there offering love and support….
Author: lenleatherwood
I am a native Texan who has lived for the past 30 years in Southern California. I am a published author of both short memoir and fiction, a two-time Pushcart nominee, a nationally award-winning writing coach, an editor, as well as a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas. In addition, I am the mother of three grown daughters of whom I am extremely proud, a grandmother of four darling children and the wife of a man I still love after 44 years.
Nightly Prayers When I Was Growing Up
When I was a little girl, my mother came every night into my room before bedtime so we could say our prayers. She would sit on the edge of my twin bed and I would be lying under the covers with my head on my pillow. “Our Father, who art in heaven,” she would start…
A Visit to South Pasadena
This afternoon, Ray and I visited Sarah, Gregorio, Luna, Nico, and Lyla in South Pasadena. We ate, talked, laughed, and decorated turkey cookies for Christmas (or should that have been for Thanksgiving?). We also discussed the imminent arrival of Luna, Nico, and Lyla’s little cousin, who is due tomorrow or Tuesday. I also played catch,…
Naan Pizza for Dinner
NAAN PIZZA Tonight we are making naan pizza. It’s fast, it’s easy, and it’s delicious. Here’s the recipe for those of you craving quick and easy pizza. I have also included photos. INGREDIENTS INSTRUCTIONS
Happy Birthday to My Late Brother Jim
Today is my older brother Jim’s birthday. He died in 1995 from AIDS at a time when getting an AIDS diagnosis was a death sentence. Jim is the reason we came to Los Angeles in the first place. He loved living here and we came to visit. It wasn’t long before we felt drawn to…
Rest in Peace, Helen Slayton-Hughes
Long-time St. Thomas the Apostle, Hollywood parishioner, Helen Slayton-Hughes, died today at the age of 92. She was a community theater and non-equity actress for forty years before moving to Tinsel Town at 70 to pursue her television and film career. Over the past 22 years, Helen has had several good runs on television series…
The Gift of My Students
I found myself with back-to back students today. An older mother working on her personal statement for graduate school; a high school girl applying to college for the first time; three community college kids each writing essays for transfers to top four- year universities; a student at one of those top universities needing help with…
The Brave
I wrote this flash fiction story a while back but came across it tonight. I wanted to share it because I wrote this story using the prompt: Take three objects in the room and mention all three in a story. My prompts were a ticker tape machine, a dragonfly stained-glass lamp, and a framed picture…
If I’d Known You Were Coming
If I’d known you were coming, I might have… -emptied the compost and wiped down my kitchen counter. -picked out something decent to wear instead of standing there in my stained shirt and faded jeans. -reviewed how you told me that I talked too much and wasn’t a good listener. -come up with some witty…
Liz and Ron’s Baby Shower Today
Today we celebrated Ron and Liz’s baby shower. We decorated, had great food, laughed, talked, and opened presents. It was a wonderful gathering of people who care about Ron and Liz and who were there to wish their growing family well. I didn’t add photos of everyone because there were too many to include….
20 Minutes a Day 