As I canned cherries and gooseberries this summer, I thought of my mother. She had stimulated my interest in canning. We had made and canned thimbleberry jam together. It was a family project to pick and clean the wild berries. Gooseberries have stems and “pig tales” (the remainder of the…
God is so good. He created a wonderful world with flowers, fruit and vegetables. The first home for humans was a garden. And the Lord planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. Genesis 2:8 God designed the family. Therefore a…
Almost every year, beginning in my childhood, I have spent time in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan—usually in summer or fall. It is a beautiful place! I have memories of fishing with my Dad and my brother. The fish were cleaned and served for dinner or sometimes breakfast. Over the…
Edith Pargeter (pen name is Ellis Peters) wrote a series of mysteries that look back on the history of England. The novels are set during the period of civil war, 1135 to 1154. King Steven was being challenged by Empress Maud for the throne. The main character, Brother Cadfael, is…
My son wasn’t healed—not physically. Steven was treated for leukemia, first with chemotherapy and then with a bone marrow transplant. He relapsed, and we were informed that he was terminally ill. In the last weeks of his life, my faith was threatened. Did I still believe? Did I trust God’s…
Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts is a well-researched historical novel. It is a story about family and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. I have seen the movie but have never read L. Frank Baum’s book, which is a central narrative in the novel. Letts’ novel features Matilda Joslyn Gage, heavily…
Our world, our country is changing at a fast pace. Many of the boundaries for healthy living are being discarded. It more important than ever to keep God’s word fresh in our mind, to teach it to our children and grandchildren. God’s desire for us is good but we must…
In 2016 I wrote a blog post commemorating our anniversary (and our morning coffee). I was brought back six years as I read the post. Since then changes have taken place. My mother and brother have both passed away. I am no longer travelling to Michigan every other month. They are…
This post was originally posted in 2017. As women in the United States we can give thanks for the progress that has been made in women’s rights and opportunities. My maternal grandmother and paternal great-grandmothers immigrated to Michigan from Finland. With great effort they raised families while managing subsistence farms.…
Each day I look forward to the mail. It is a blessing and joy to receive Christmas cards and letters. Sometimes it is a photo card and I marvel how the children in the family have grown. Other times it is a pretty card with a letter. The cards and…