Writer, Speaker, Editor, Blogger
In recent months, I’ve read numerous novels set in World War II and learned a great deal about Adolph Hitler’s reign of terror, the hallmarks of which were fear, uncertainty, control, and loss of freedoms. Hitler’s totalitarian dictatorship from 1933-1945, systematically created an atmosphere of fear and hatred, while invading other countries and taking away […]
Several weeks ago, I heard a loud commotion in our side yard. I followed the sound and discovered two arched-backed, neighborhood cats facing each other. With intermittent yowls, and an occasional swat, they challenged each other over a patch of real estate that didn’t belong to either of them. Eventually, they gave up the fight […]
My father was a builder, so I grew up watching houses under construction. I learned several things: a sturdy house requires a firm foundation, and the “footprint” of a house can be deceptive (during early construction the house looks smaller than it really is). Constructing a solid reputation by the example you set is somewhat […]
Have you learned to appreciate simple gifts? The well-known Shaker song “Simple Gifts,” written in 1846 by Joseph Brackett, puts forth the ideal of simplicity, which was evident in the Shaker lifestyle. Shaker furniture styles are synonymous with high-quality, clean-lined, simple craftsmanship that is as popular today as it was decades ago. Deep within, we […]
Have you ever been the beneficiary of generosity? I have. People respond differently to an act of generosity. Some graciously accept; others are hesitant, feeling that which is bestowed on them obligates them for future payback. It’s not always easy to be generous. In fact, we live in a “me first” society that screams “get […]
Last week, my husband had surgery. The anticipated overnight stay post-surgery evolved into three nights. On the day of discharge, the process dragged on for hours, making us arrive home late. A few complications landed us in the ER the next night. Unexpected. Several people special to me recently received cancer diagnoses. Unexpected. I know […]
Do you have giants in your life you can’t seem to overcome? Right now, the giant we are facing is my husband’s upcoming surgery. Unknowns exist. Some aspects are a little scary, especially since the surgeon gave him a backout opportunity at the pre-op appointment. But we are going ahead, with faith, and trusting God […]
This week, I closed on the sale of my aunt’s house. Getting to this point has been a 10-month process. At times, I felt I would never come to this day because the task of cleaning out the house felt like a mountain too high to scale. But like many things in life, reaching this […]
For weeks, my mother’s eyes were closed. On the rare occasions when she opened them, they were clouded with confusion, not recognizing me as her daughter. But one day, she turned her head toward me and opened her eyes. The brown irises, speckled with green, were clear and comprehending, “Thank you for being so […]
Several weeks ago, my husband and I attended Italian Renaissance Alive at Biltmore in Asheville, NC. It was a multi-sensory, immersive experience. The main room included smells of the time period and brightly-colored paintings on the walls and floor. Some of the paintings also included motion, which added a new dimension. It was interesting to […]