My favorite joke

When I was a cub reporter at The Macon Telegraph back in the early 1990s, copy editor Randy Waters once gave me a backhanded compliment that has stuck with me: "Lance, you're the funniest guy I know who can't tell a joke." Randy was right. I've never been good at remembering jokes, but as a … Continue reading My favorite joke →

A life-changing trip from a life-stealing catastrophe

The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami 18 years ago this week led to one of the most life-changing experiences of my life. On December 26, 2004, a 9.3 magnitude earthquake struck in the Indian Ocean creating a tsunami that killed 227,898 people in 14 countries. The epicenter was just off the coast of Banda … Continue reading A life-changing trip from a life-stealing catastrophe →

The Official Wallace Family Christmas Letter 2022

People have been sending Christmas cards at least since 1611 and the custom expanded to include family Christmas letters over the years since. The family Christmas letter has been much maligned because of its blatant glossing over negative events and exaggeration of family members’ accomplishments. Seeing as how I am in public relations, that describes … Continue reading The Official Wallace Family Christmas Letter 2022 →

Simple pleasures

For me the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a re-evaluation of life’s big questions. One of my discoveries is how the simple pleasures contribute to my quality of life. Here are the little things that have come to mean a lot to me: Laughter around the table is a simple pleasure that happens frequently when we play … Continue reading Simple pleasures →

Things I can’t live without

Survival depends on very little – food, water, shelter, clothing. Fulfillment requires healthy relationships, meaningful work and serving others. Convenience is more complicated. Reflecting on what I cannot live without is an examination of convenience. Everything on this list contributes to my comfort, productivity, or entertainment, but it isn’t necessary for survival. That said, this … Continue reading Things I can’t live without →

Christmas traditions

We have to be careful when we plan something special for our family because if we do it once, the boys will insist on making it a tradition. This is especially true of Christmas. We begin the season by decorating our home the weekend after Thanksgiving, often getting a jump by hauling the bins of … Continue reading Christmas traditions →

Thankful for great memories

Memories are fleeting. They come and go on their own timetable. I treasure my children and different memories of them flash into mind at seemingly random moments. Here are memories I cherish and hope revisit me often as the boys grow into adulthood: Barron Parents know the least with their firstborn, and we didn’t even … Continue reading Thankful for great memories →

Origins of a passion for writing

I have been drawn to writing as a creative activity since childhood. It started by inventing stories in my head. It grew into imitation when in the 7th grade I read William Faulkner’s 1942 short story “The Bear,” and I wrote my own story of a bear hunt gone awry. In the 8th grade, my … Continue reading Origins of a passion for writing →

So glad she was born

(In honor of Carla's birthday on Nov. 13, here's a reflection on our introduction and courtship.) My deepest and most profound season of happiness came in January of 1996. One Sunday night after church, I was introduced to a young woman who worked with the children in the nursery. The Sunday night crowd was always … Continue reading So glad she was born →

Who inspires me

I am blessed by a number of people in my life who inspire me. Jesus inspires me to love. I start each day before everyone rises to spend time alone in prayer and with the scriptures. The words and example of Jesus comfort and challenge me. Jesus not only commanded me to love God and … Continue reading Who inspires me →