This collection was certainly unplanned. Way back when, my brother and I gave grandma a ceramic chicken cookie jar. After she passed away, it became the property of my parents, who then gave it to me. Our children always checked … Read more
Author Archive
The Unexpected
Growing up in a family where grandpa, dad, and some uncles were carpenters, I was used to tools. My brother and I helped clean and oil things and get them ready for the cold winter in the tool shed. Watching … Read more
The Hanging
Recently in church, my eyes were drawn to a wall hanging about Christ's crucifixion, made by some of the talented quilters in our congregation. The ladies tell me that they were not aware of the symbolism while it was in … Read more
What's In A Name?
Colleen lives on the side of a mountain. When her children were both home, they begged for a pet. She reminded them that there was no one home all day. One spring, a kitten appeared at the door. She fed … Read more
Where Am I Going?
Last year, my son and I flew to a wedding in the United States. We are both living in the northern part of different provinces in Canada. We met in the airport in Calgary, Alberta, and proceeded from there. Upon … Read more
The License Plate
Some years ago, I got a "new to me" car; actually, it had so few miles that it was still new and shiny. In our province, we keep the same license plates and move them to each new vehicle. I'd … Read more
Never Judge
Some years ago, a co-worker and her daughter were having lunch with me at a coffee shop. We were discussing Christmas preparations. This would be my first Christmas in the empty nest, and I was finding it hard to get … Read more
Acceptance
Some years ago, one of my children sent me a cassette tape with a sermon he was sure I would appreciate. The sermon was good and appropriate for the time it was sent, but my favourite part was a song. … Read more
A Varied Mother's Day
It was Mother's Day, and my son was in first grade. He was very upset because his dad was away on a trip and it was Mother's Day. He said, "What good is Mother's Day if I can't buy you … Read more
The Whole Trip
Jeramie, my three-year-old grandson, watched as my teenaged daughter, at the end of a summer's babysitting for my son and his family, helped load the car. My parents had come along with me to Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada, to pick … Read more
Never Boring
Have you ever thought of the same old Bible stories as boring, since you've read them so often? Amazingly, after years of reading, I noticed two things in a recent reading about Jesus stilling the storm. The Bible tells it … Read more
A Matter Of Honour
Yorkie pups are so cute, but they must be trained not to bark at every moving thing. My daughter finally had the dogs trained not to bark when her husband came home in the night. The cockatoo couldn't stand that, … Read more
Sculptures
Today, I got an e-mail with beautiful pictures of ice sculptures. Earlier, I had one of sand sculptures, equally beautiful. Neither type is long-lasting and many people would wonder why one would spend time making such fleeting things. I could … Read more
Interpretation
My friend, Nomie, told me about her children. They were sixteen months apart, Lori being the older. One day, Lori's little brother was annoying her. When she complained to her mother, Nomie advised her, "Just ignore him." Later, when she … Read more
The Pine Beetle
It has been almost two years since I drove home through the mountain pass. In early September, the changing leaves were glorious. One mountain had colours so evenly divided with deep green, gold, lighter green, and orange, it appeared to … Read more
Snorkelling
When the children were at home, our garden was always monster-sized. Their help was needed to keep it up. On hot summer days when they helped me weed, I drove them to the man-made lake at the edge of town … Read more
My Time And Yours
Being late and holding people up are common occurrences. It can be very frustrating for the one left waiting. One of my childhood Sunday School teachers put a new slant on it. She said, "God has given each one of … Read more
Feeling Useless
The Bible tells us not to discourage the young in their attempts at learning or doing things. We also need to see how excluded some older folk often feel. They are still necessary and are our greatest teachers. Twice a … Read more
Being Poor
Many relatives don't see each other for years on end. My maternal grandparents lived in the province of Manitoba, Canada, while we were two provinces away in Alberta. We did write letters on occasion, but I never really knew them. … Read more
Choppers And Cherries
Cherries are one of the sweetest of fruits. They are not as easy to grow as one would suspect. When one of my children moved to a fruit-growing area in southern British Columbia, Canada, we were thrilled to have her … Read more
Many Voices
Driving through strange cities usually keeps me on edge, since I have a poor sense of direction. Coming home through Quesnel, a small city in central British Columbia, Canada, I was watching for the familiar turn. A very clear voice … Read more
The Perfect Gift
Gift giving is a favourite pastime at our house, and at Christmas, most of all. We enjoy choosing something appropriate and wrapping it with beautiful paper and ribbons. It is so much fun to change the appearance with an odd-shaped … Read more
Nice People
Recently, I went on a trip to another city and looked forward to visiting an older couple I've known for a long time. They are the nicest people and don't feel they need God. We human beings prefer to do … Read more
Retirement
Retiring must be hardest for those who have given their lives to serving others. Dad had a heart condition and was forced to retire from the ministry. He had been a carpenter as well. He had carpentry tools and the … Read more
Pretty Or Practical
Years of sewing left me with a wealth of scraps. Quilting sounded like a good idea, and the first one completed went to one of my children. He has been going through a challenging time lately; thus I called it … Read more
Letting Go
A pair of brand-name jogging shoes hung laced together over the telephone wire at a busy intersection by the lake. All summer long, traffic was non-stop every day until late at night. Finally, the first weekend of September was over, … Read more
Wagons Away
While in a local farm supply store, I noticed a brightly painted wagon. Wagons and "dad-made" wooden scooters were an integral part of my childhood. Both could be used as a means of transport. We had a wagon with a … Read more
The Mousetrap
One of my worst faults is "assuming". How easy it is, when one thinks one has all the facts. What I need is discernment, which God can give. There was a wonderful hardware store in the place where I lived … Read more
A New Body
Dolly just got loved to shreds. She had belonged to my daughter, and now her daughter loved her, but alas, she was falling apart. It was time for Grandma to put a new body on her, so she came for … Read more
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