Loretta Gjeltema Home

Protected. Secure. Loved. Those are the feelings I remember. My earliest memory of my father is being carried down the street in his arms. He was wearing the suede coat he only wore in cold weather. But I was not cold. I was the treasured daughter of my father. I do not remember where we […]

I don’t look like my father, but I look like my father’s mother. Often, we can be placed into a family by our physical appearance. I have a half-sister who looks more like me than either of my sisters with whom I share both parents. Our heavenly father wants us to look like him too! So […]

I’ve been thinking about gifts. This is something I do not do well. My friend Valerie is a master at choosing gifts. She knows just the right thing at the right time. She once sent me a purple robot watch necklace. If that sounds like a crazy gift, it’s because you don’t know me like […]

I loved my father and felt certain of his love. Sure, we had our disagreements and there were even times he hurt me deeply, but I know he did the best for me he could within the resources he had available. There were times I felt very distant from my father too. You see my […]

The more history you have with someone, the easier it is to trust them. I’m not one to trust quickly. I think it comes from a lifetime of being hurt and let down. Oh, I know I’m not the only one with that type of past, but I am one of those who throws up […]

I watched the child stomp its foot and shout “No!” I smiled, for two reasons. First, because I’m not the parent of that strong-willed child. Secondly, because I saw a glimpse of myself. I really dislike correction. I hate having to even admit I’m wrong. Yes, I realize that shows my stubborn streak. But, even though I […]

I love walking on the beach. It’s beautiful and relaxing for me for about the first five minutes, then my body protests from the sinking sand under each step. My knees start to protest and eventually the waddle down the beach can get downright ugly! Well OK, maybe I love the idea of walking on […]

My phone rang as I was driving to the grocery. I could see it was a friend who rarely calls. I knew something was up so I answered. (Glad my car is equipped for hands free.) She poured out a tough new reality in her life. As I wheeled into a parking space I said, “would you […]

Are you thirsty? Does your spirit feel as dry as your throat after a long dusty walk? Are you dragging one foot in front of the other through a desert of one sort or another? It’s been a long stretch for me. I’m desperately in need of a deep, cold drink of spiritual water. Life hits us […]

There are many ways to learn, one of the best ways we learn is by example. Another, is by investing our time. I don’t think my mother liked to cook. I never asked her, but I don’t remember her happily spending time in the kitchen. I did not learn to enjoy cooking from her, nor […]