Writer, Speaker, Editor, Blogger
This week, I attended a charcuterie board class. I’ve created charcuterie boards before, but usually just placed items willy-nilly, not realizing there was a plan to how it should be done. I didn’t know you start by placing items in a diagonal line and build from there. I’d never thought about color and height when […]
Last week, my husband and I went to the mountains for several days, an early celebration of our 43rd anniversary. On the way, I mentioned that this fall has been a season of brown, a hot, late fall with scant color. Sometimes life feels brown, times when everything seems drab and colorless, without vitality or […]
How do you handle living in a world that seems to be in a constant state of unrest? We can exist on the edge of fear and panic, or move forward with our lives, savoring each day as a gift. Uncertainty at Home and Abroad Last week, a man killed 18 people in a shooting […]
While on our trip to Italy, Turkey, and Greece, we visited many ancient sites and viewed everyday items archeologists managed to unearth and piece together. As I looked at these items, I realized these broken vessels are our window to the past, a snapshot of the life and times of those who lived long before […]
Last week, I did a major clean out of three closets. As I worked, I was surprised to discover clothes in a little-used closet that dated back to my college years, almost five decades ago! Although I’m still not finished, I am happy with my progress. Cleaning out isn’t limited to clothing or household items. […]
Last weekend, we spent time with our grandchildren. As I watched them run and play, I was reminded of an incident on our beach trip. We arrived late in the day, but they wanted to swim in the ocean, so my son and I went with them. Our youngest had on his life vest while […]
While on our Mediterranean trip, I made an effort to adjust my perspective beyond what was immediately visible. When we visited historical sites, I made sure I looked below and above. Often, we see only what is right in front of us and lose perspective because we don’t grasp the full picture. Following are thoughts […]
Are you in the middle of a difficult life situation? Last week, I saw one of my children’s former art teachers. We hadn’t seen each other in years, so took a few minutes to catch up on each other’s lives. This sweet man talked to me about some of his struggles caring for his 96-year-old […]
My husband and I just returned from an amazing trip to Italy, Turkey, and Greece, following the missionary journeys of the apostle Paul. The majority of our trip was a cruise, with numerous port stops along the way. Twice, we had a little card on our bed that said, “We are time traveling,” with instructions […]
I once met a man who hadn’t spoken to his brother in a decade or longer. I was surprised to learn his brother lived just up the street from the man. When I asked what precipitated their estrangement, he said, “I don’t even remember what made us stop talking to each other.” How sad these […]