After I retired from clinical nursing, my work has changed. My work revolves around home and church. Gardening is a pleasant task at home. I enjoy planting and nourishing the garden. It is fulfilling to pick the produce and share it with family and friends. It is interesting that the word, work, appears in the… Continue reading Fruit of the Garden
Our Country, the Bible and Families
As I listened to the band play the song for each branch of the army, I thought of my Dad. He had been a co-pilot during WWII, carrying out missions over Europe. He didn’t talk about it much until late in life. My son-in-law was playing the trumpet in a community band on the 4th… Continue reading Our Country, the Bible and Families
Praise and Thanksgiving
This morning in church we sang the hymn All Creatures of Our God and King. The words, originally by Francis of Assisi, were paraphrased by Thomas Ken (1637 – 1711) and translated by William H. Draper (1855 -1 933). Here are verses 1 & 3. All creatures of our God and King, lift your voices and… Continue reading Praise and Thanksgiving
Book Review: The Mitford Affair
The years between World War I and World War II offer thought provoking events and perspectives. Marie Benedict has written a historical novel, The Mitford Affair, published in 2023. The book looks at one family’s views and alignments during a confusing political time period. The Mitford family had six daughters and one son. Two of… Continue reading Book Review: The Mitford Affair
Beautiful U.P. and Wild Thimbleberries
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is a place of refreshment for me. I have lots of family memories. When I was a child, my family made a trip to the U.P. every summer, to visit my grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins. During a couple of these vacation trips, my Dad took my brother and I… Continue reading Beautiful U.P. and Wild Thimbleberries
Sunshine and Sunset
Recently my husband and I drove through the rolling hills of western Illinois. The sunshine fell softly on the farms and the cattle grazing on the green hills. It was a beautiful day, and we were on our way to a retreat with our church family. We had two and one-half days to study God’s… Continue reading Sunshine and Sunset
Miners, Pasties and Books
My grandfather was a copper miner in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He worked in the mines until he retired. Copper hidden deep in the earth was contained in rock that was blasted, brought to the surface and then processed to remove the copper concentrate. What was it like for my grandfather to spend 12… Continue reading Miners, Pasties and Books
Joy and Thanksgiving in June
The crocuses and tulips and lilacs have bloomed. Now the irises, lily of the valley and peonies are blooming in my yard. The roses have buds. Springtime and summer teem with new plant life and flowers, created by God. I have brought some inside to enjoy. Wednesday evening, I listened to a young adult on the… Continue reading Joy and Thanksgiving in June
Public, Private or Home School?
Throughout the past year I have thought about our education system. We pay taxes for public schools. What is the return for the money? I am grateful for the education that I received in the public school system in the 1950s and 60s. I had classes in art and music in addition to reading, writing… Continue reading Public, Private or Home School?
Six Women in the Book of John
Men and women are created by God, equal with different roles. How did Jesus treat women? He included women in his teaching, he healed them, he encouraged them. In the fourth chapter of John, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at the well. The encounter is unusual for several reasons. Jews avoided traveling through Samaria, but… Continue reading Six Women in the Book of John