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This is an unusual topic, one many of you have probably not heard of, but, perhaps, there is something to be gained from the remembrance. “On New Year’s Eve in India, our church would hold a service that began about 10:30 p.m. and ended about 1:30 a.m.,” said our friend and guest speaker Solomon. ImmediatelyContinue reading “Watch Night”

“The child’s father and mother were full of wonder at what was being said about him” (NEB Luke 2: 33).  The KJV uses the verb “marvelled” to show what the parents were thinking, and William Barclay, in his commentary, translates the verb as “amazed.” It doesn’t matter what version of scripture you read, Luke’s wordsContinue reading “The Amazement of Mary and Joseph–and Me”

What if I can’t do this right? What if the lighter won’t catch hold? What if the candle goes out the minute I light it? Why did I agree to do this? Of course, why wouldn’t I? I’m a 38-year-old woman with a couple of degrees, three children, and a decent job. Surely, I canContinue reading “Christmas light: an Advent Memory”

Perhaps we all need the diversion of this lighthearted post: Leaving the airport in our rental car, with our Garmin installed on the front dash, we merrily headed north towards our first farm bed and breakfast in England. We had the address, we had directions, we had the Garmin. What could go wrong? Nothing, right?Continue reading “Hadrian’s Wall Earrings”

“Today is the beginning of the rest of your life.” That phrase rattles around in our brains every once in a while. “Red letter days” those “todays” might be:  a wedding day, the birth of a child, the death of a parent, the decision to change jobs, an unwanted diagnosis. Yesterday was such a dayContinue reading “What a Day May Bring”

“How would you like to be roommates at Olivet this year? I thought it might be nice to know a person to room with rather than take our chances with the unknown,” said Donna, as she stood in the doorway of our summer church camp dormitory room. The idea was novel to me. On myContinue reading “A Personal Tribute to Donna Sexton Gunnoe”

“I’ve always had fat legs. I guess that goes with the rest of me,” my one sister said. I chimed in, “I’ve always had fat legs—and fat ankles. When I was pregnant the first time, I didn’t even have ankles: the fat ankles became elephant stumps!” “Well, I don’t know, I’ve always thought I hadContinue reading “Genetics: a tribute to family”

I grabbed one end of the pull toy and she latched on to the other with her strong teeth. Both of us shook the toy back and forth, which made her whole head move. It might have seemed like I had the upper hand, but not so. In no time at all, this wonderful 80-poundContinue reading “Good Dog”

“I don’t know why I don’t just die now. I have no real reason to live any longer. I’m old and not good for much,” said my sister Ramona, as she sat in my sister Judy’s living room. “I know. I’ve never wanted to live very long. And I’m tired. I’d just as soon dieContinue reading “Macabre death stories, a kind of reality”

My mother was born on October 28, 1909. She died in 2002. On this, her special day, I want to honor her by this random list of life lessons learned from her. I hope that some of them will resonate with you when you think of someone special in your life who has influenced you.Continue reading “28 Lessons Learned from Someone Born on October 28”