I am so glad that my dad had the idea some years back and asked me to do it --  to record my mother’s stories. It was a wonderful task, spending time with Mom and organizing some 40 stories into a beautiful blue book titled “Counting It All Joy.” It is one of the treasures … Continue reading “Counting It All Joy” →

I love Thanksgiving.  I love the focus on special foods, friends, and family and I love thinking back on Thanksgivings Past. I’ve enjoyed various Thanksgivings in Texas, Montreat (I love the traditional morning gathering at church and taking an afternoon walk), Bolivia (letting the kids play hooky from school so we could keep our traditions), … Continue reading My Dubai Thanksgiving →

I only needed margarine that day. As my little daughter and I walked into the grocery store, we both saw him: a raggedy-patched man, sitting on the cold sidewalk, leaning against the brick wall. My four-year-old could not read words but she was good at reading faces.  “Mommy, why is that man sitting there?” When … Continue reading Cookies and Harriet →

I wrote the following 20 years ago, but it is still true.   April, 1998 We have just returned from our spring break vacation in Florida, but it was not a fun holiday for me. The first weekend we visited Jake’s dad in the Grand Court Nursing Home. The second part we spent in my … Continue reading Longings and Love →

We all know that Halloween is not what it used to be. I hate the scary stuff and the gloomy graveyard decor but there are some fun parts. I got a kick out of seeing all the librarians dressed up as Scooby-doo folks, and I love seeing little superheroes and princesses around town. Every Halloween, … Continue reading Blessings-and-treat →

Inspiration.  I love this word because I love to be inspired, to be, like the dictionary describes, “mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative. To have a sudden creative, brilliant, or timely idea.” When I feel inspired, I know it is God.  It is Divine Guidance and I crave being … Continue reading Reassurance Markers →

I'm gonna be upfront with you, dear readers.  The following story is for my grandchildren. If you want to read it (i.e. 'eavesdrop'), fine. But you don’t have to. Hey, kids. Isn't that a beautiful picture?  That is the Cirque of the Towers in the Wind River Mountains in Wyoming. The tall mountain on the … Continue reading Pingora →