Consistent and Persistent
I have an adorable beagle named Jojo. Most days I am faithful to take her for a walk around our neighborhood, (barring any inclement weather). We often walk past a house with a tiny and loud chihuahua. A chain-link fence surrounds the yard. No matter which direction Jojo and I approach, he starts barking at us on one side, and then as we pass the house, he quickly runs to the other side to bark at us some more—and often with more gusto. For such a miniature dog he sure has mu
Jul 233 min read
Are You Allergic?
These days people seem to have many food-related allergies. I can relate as I have a mild reaction to gluten. More often than not, I respond with digestive issues I would rather not talk about. It’s unfortunate because I love artisan breads, pasta, and donuts. Thankfully, there are more and more gluten-free alternatives available in grocery stores and in many mainstream restaurants. Some of these substitutions are quite tasty and some … are not. Often, when I am in a restaura
Jul 92 min read
Restless for Home
I grew up in the 1970s and 80s, and one of my favorite television shows from childhood was Little House on the Prairie. Each week, I would look forward to watching the adventures of the Ingalls family, especially Laura, whom I paralleled in age. I loved the drama between her and her nemesis, Nelly Olsen. I also cherished the book series by the real Laura Ingalls Wilder and faithfully read each of them to my daughters over the years. I was such a fan of the stories and TV show
Jun 182 min read
The Ostrich
I am fascinated by the thousands of bird species God put on this earth. Many are incredibly beautiful and the graceful way they take to the skies is breathtaking. Scripture is filled with verses about birds (nearly 300), with doves being mentioned t he most. One such bird that is indicated–and not in a favorable light—is the ostrich. What a fascinating bird! Ostriches are very large, flightless birds with strong legs, long necks, and huge eyes. Contrary to popular belief, th
May 134 min read
Sunlight Through the Trees
I have a very vivid memory of elementary art class. I must have been around six or seven years old. We were tasked with drawing a nature scene or landscape and then coloring it with crayons. Now reminiscing, I realize we must have been learning about point of view in art. Drawing is not my forte, and I suspect I have issues with spatial awareness and depth perception as well. In my head, I pictured beautiful rays of sunlight shining through a canopy of trees, as if I were o
Apr 153 min read
Before & After
I am amazed how much the Christmas season is such a big deal–not only here in America, but all around the world. From decorations, parties and gifts, to music, movies and an all around general sense of good cheer, Christmas has become a phenomenon. And whether people choose to acknowledge this fact or not, it all started with a tiny baby born in a stable over two thousand years ago. Jesus’ birth was so significant that it literally divided our human timeline in half: B.C. an
Dec 18, 20252 min read
A Lesson from Whoville
Christmas time was magical when I was a child. I remember playing seasonal vinyls on my parents’ old massive stereo in the living room and dancing under the warm glow of the Christmas tree lights. Christmas morning was filled with presents, laughter and sweets–all treasured memories I am very grateful for. Another nostalgic memory I loved were the Christmas specials that came on network television. I would anticipate watching old favorites like A Charlie Brown Christmas , Rud
Dec 12, 20253 min read
