• Faith - Flowers - Nature

    Celebrating Springtime

    Green is the color of spring time. The snow is melting and snowdrops are raising their white petals to the sun. I am looking forward to tulips and daffodils. I give thanks for the seasons and all that God has created in nature. In the soil, below the surface, plants…

  • Faith - Marriage

    A Path of Peace and Joy

    My husband and I are committed to reading through the Bible in one year. We have a schedule of texts that our pastor provided. We read out loud to each other, two selections in the morning and two selections in the evening. Currently we are reading a chapter from Exodus…

  • Children - Faith - Family

    We Need to Sing

    Prayer and Bible study are ways to be observant of our faith. Singing hymns is another way. On Christmas Eve we could not attend an indoor church service. Our family—our children and grandchildren—met in a church parking lot with others. We were standing outside, and it was freezing cold. We…

  • Children - Faith - Prayer

    Any Truth in Fairy Tales?

    Many fairy tales begin with once upon a time. It is interesting that these children’s stories can include suffering and waiting.  Cinderella was treated harshly by her stepmother and stepsisters. When the fairy godmother makes a way for her to go to the Prince’s ball, she has to leave at…

  • Health - Herbs - Recipes

    Herbs in My Bay Window

    During the summer I have a bounty of fresh herbs. Sage, chives, oregano, mint, lavender and lemon balm are perennials in my yard. Sometimes thyme survives the winter and it comes back for a second or third season. Each summer I plant dill and basil. I am fortunate to have…

  • Faith

    Sunrise and Refreshed Faith

    The first chapter of Luke provides the only details about Elizabeth and Zechariah, the parents of John the Baptist. They are described as righteous and blameless. Elizabeth is barren. The angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah in the temple and astonishes him with the announcement that he will have a son. Because he is…

  • Faith - Prayer

    A Divided Country: How Do We Fix it?

    We can’t fix ourselves. We know that. The Bible explains our situation and our nature. My husband and I are following a plan to read through the Bible in a year. We are reading about the faith and failures of people. The problem of sin. God promises to send a…

  • Childbirth - Parenting

    Beginning in Detroit

    There is benefit in having fresh perspectives. I want to be a life-long learner, seeking truth. Many years ago, I started my nursing career at a Detroit hospital. I worked in the labor/delivery unit, learning the medical aspects of childbearing. When I was expecting my first baby, I was introduced…