The snow outside is bright white and glistening. The thermometer reads 0 degrees Fahrenheit, and yet I am able to take a hot shower in a warm house. It is a blessing! Everyday there are little and significant blessings in our lives when we pause to take notice. I am…
We were blessed to have all ten grandchildren with us to celebrate Christmas. It was noisy but full of family joy. On Christmas Eve we all went to church together–my daughters and their families, my son and his family. We listened to portions of Old Testament scripture pointing to the…
Thanksgiving is coming. As I shop and make plans for preparing special dishes (the cornbread dressing everyone loves), I’m giving thanks for . . . Sharing this post with the Five Minute Friday writing community .
Recently our granddaughter had a part in a children’s theater production. It was great fun to see her perform in The Music Man! Our grandson had a school concert. The second-grade students sang songs and played simple instruments. The music teacher explained how the children were learning skills that would…
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…
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…
In the weeks preparing to visit our new grandson I spent evenings knitting—first a blanket and then a lovey. Knitting is a calming activity. It requires me to stay focused on counting stitches while following a pattern. In the heavy season of worldwide troubles, my mind rests while I knit. …
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.…
It is good to pause and give thanks for God’s gifts. I am very blessed to have ten grandchildren. It is a joy to spend time with them, to attend games and concerts. I am also called to help them on a life of faith. Only take care, and keep your…
Family is a gift from God. My husband and I have been blessed with four children—one with the Lord, and three that are adults with their own children. We have nine grandchildren and one more on the way. As I spend time with the grandchildren, I see their individual strengths…