• Christmas - Faith - Family

    The Shepherds Came

    As we celebrate Christmas, the wonder of God’s plan still amazes. God sent his Son to a human family. God designed the family and He affirmed it. The angels announced the birth of a Savior to shepherds watching their flocks, and gave them a sign. The shepherds went to Bethlehem,…

  • Faith - Family

    The Ending is Good

    It has been a number of years since I sat in the Michigan stadium in Ann Arbor, but I still follow the football team of my alma mater. Last Saturday the game was tense. The Wolverines were losing to Illinois when I set the TV to record the remainder of…

  • Family - Health - Vaccines

    Repairing Our Communication

    This morning I went to the post office and the farmer’s market. The main road on my way is still under repair, being resurfaced. One lane is shut down and it slows down the flow of traffic. But the end result will be an improvement. My thoughts turn to communication…

  • Book Reviews - Family - Women

    Book Review: In a Far-off Land

    When I attended the Law and Life Summit at a conference center this summer, I discovered that the Catholic Writer’s Guild was also meeting. The Guild sessions were open to Law and Life attendees, so I joined a couple offerings. Stephanee Landsem was presenting at one of the sessions. I…

  • Berries - Family - Michigan - Nature

    Berry Picking in Northern Michigan

    The forests and fields in northern Michigan demonstrate the abundant creativity in nature, designed by God. There are trees—pine and deciduous—ferns, wildflowers and berries. My sister and I spent a week in the Upper Peninsula. We hiked. We picked apples and berries. Thimbleberries are abundant in the Keweenaw (the peak…

  • Children - Faith - Family - Grandparents

    The Church Clap at Camp

    The campers were hopping spinning and clapping. The bright colors of their tie-dyed shirts danced with their movements. They were performing the “church clap” for parents and grandparents at the closing ceremony of a week at camp. The energy of the preteens and teenagers was a joy to watch. My…

  • Faith - Family

    It’s Not By Chance

    This past week we read and discussed Psalm 139 in our women’s Bible Study. We marveled at God’s knowledge of us, our thoughts and actions. Whatever our circumstance, God is there! God knows our beginning. Our life is not by chance. For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me…

  • Berries - Family - Recipes

    Canning Berries: Memories of Mom

    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…

  • Faith - Family - Flowers - Marriage

    Aware and Giving Thanks

    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…