It was time to renew my passport. New photos taken, check; references obtained and verified, check; and forms filled out, check. I determined that the quickest way to obtain a passport would be to visit the local Service Canada office. … Read more

Another season was upon us. Moving. The word sends prickly shivers up my spine. I've done it so often. Either Dad was moving our family when I was young, or I was moving myself as I followed in his footsteps as a minister. Some moves, I … Read more

Every few weeks, I go to our local library and peruse their book sale tables. Recently, I found 1,000 places to see before you die, by Patricia Schultz. A much-travelled freelance writer, she compiled a list of places that would "impress … Read more

My friend and I had a ritual when I went to visit. Since she had severe arthritis in her hands, I would always wind her grandmother clock — which was shorter than a longcase grandfather clock. It was one of those thirty-day clocks, and … Read more

It is normal to anticipate something that may or may not happen. That happening may be something that we want or something that we dread. There is a famous quotation, attributed to Benjamin Franklin in 1789: "In this life, nothing is … Read more

One of the great fascinations of visiting my grandparents was the wonder of listening each morning to their budgie sing! Then — a miracle to us kids — the budgie would very clearly say, "Six o'clock, time to get up!" Even we kids found … Read more

My family has issues with eyesight. All of us wear glasses or contact lenses of some sort, and some have had cataract surgery. My mother has glaucoma and other eye issues, which makes life difficult, although she manages to get around by … Read more

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time … Read more

On several occasions after one of my devotionals has been published, people have let me know, "I knew it was one of yours as soon as I started to read it." This was mostly because of something that I had written about my experiences at the … Read more

On the seventh of June, I went to a funeral of a lady whom I have known for about seventy years. She had just celebrated her 105th birthday. In the order of service, there was a card with a poem written on it in her own handwriting. Her … Read more

In the ordinary, do you ever find the extraordinary? Our dog needed surgery, so we had to watch him closely. I wrapped his foot, snapped on his leash, then took him outside. He stopped on the deck, not wanting to go further. Through … Read more

Inside her roughly built pioneer cabin were treasures. Carefully folded deep inside an old trunk, my great-grandmother's homemade blue Victorian wedding dress rested. Beside it sat her high button black leather shoes and her Bible. I … Read more

Grandma's peacock displayed its fan of majestic colours in the sunshine. Light danced off the crystal-shaped feather fibres and shimmered with iridescent greens and blues. Head held high, strutting around the ranch, he appeared to be … Read more

I have lived in Canada for fifty years, and I still don't enjoy winter. It seems like a waste of time to me because I don't like going outside. I find snow not just dangerous but boring. There it is, every day for months — dismal and … Read more

Seasons in life are just as real as seasons in nature. Yes, some seasons are quick, while some are much longer, and at times, we wish that they would just move on. For me, the season was fall, with winter looming in the not-too-distant … Read more

Three of my neighbours moved away this week into seniors' residences. It seemed rather sudden, but it likely won't affect me since I never knew them very well. However, when I got a call yesterday from a very dear friend telling me that … Read more

On June 15th, 2015, one of my two remaining sisters, three years my junior, was admitted to the hospital. At that time, she was suffering from an undisclosed intestinal problem. She was unable to eat properly, and she was dehydrated. The … Read more

I find myself putting in the time sitting on my recliner knitting more dolls. Even though I see double at times, each doll forms out properly — it is all from old know-how and memory. I noticed that the clock on the wall was out of sync … Read more

Absence can make the heart grow fonder; it can also cause it to grow callous. Deployed soldiers know this well. Tours of duty seem forever. Years pass without seeing their loved ones. Letters and the occasional phone call are the best that … Read more

Computers and I get along to a point. The trouble begins, however, when I don't know how or where to find something within a specific program. As most of my readers probably know, computers have lots of hidden features, but unless I know … Read more

Spring is in the air! The snow is melting, squirrels are running to and fro, chasing each other up and down the trees in my front yard, and I saw a robin, a sure sign that spring is finally here. This winter season seemed to hang around … Read more

For the first time in thirty-five years, we will not be celebrating Christmas in our cozy house on our four acres of lawn and forest with the creek at the back, the place which has been our home for all those many years. That house is … Read more

As I was walking along the trail with my dog, I was deep in thought. For a long time, I had been praying about speaking to a close friend of mine about the need to accept Jesus in her life. I knew that it would be tricky because she was … Read more

"In Loving Memory of …" was printed on the inside of the pamphlets, along with pictures of the deceased, as well as the month, day, and year that they were born and the month, day, and year that they passed … Read more

I am — or rather, was — a walker. I guess I got into it when I started timber cruising (topographic and timber quantitative surveying) for various logging companies on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, during summers in my high … Read more

I have a sweet friend who always makes negative, unkind comments about herself. I look at her, smile, and respond, "Don't say bad things about my friend!" How many times do you hear someone making negative, disparaging comments about the … Read more

I know that you are just as busy as I am. Do you ever not get to your prayer time or your time to be with the Lord daily? Although I know that if I start my day with my … Read more

Besides looking at old family photos, I sometimes enjoy listening to the voices recorded on an old fashioned reel-to-reel tape player. These familiar voices of my past brought back many childhood memories I had since forgotten. I heard a six-year-old … Read more

Because I'm intolerant of wasted time, in the past, I didn't handle well being let down in agreed arrangements or any other time-broken promises, especially those without any prior notice. It's the wasted waiting time that I objected to most. … Read more

Living in New Brunswick, Canada, we are certainly well acquainted with the seasons. Every season brings with it its own unique beauty. While I may complain about the cold winter weather (more so since getting older) and scooping the snow, … Read more

Because God's Word is absolutely clear that there is a time and season for everything, I began, years ago, to feel guilty whenever I used the old clichés, "I haven't got time," or "I haven't had … Read more

August had approached the midway point, and I had noted that the robins which bathed in the birdbath were gone. Yes, they had all taken flight and headed for a warmer climate; some who were very young were migrating for … Read more

I think I must have conducted about 750 funerals over my twenty-three years in ministry. When I was a pastor in Scotland, I looked after two parishes, and on average, I officiated at about two funerals a week. I can … Read more