In our continuing exploration of Michigan, today my husband and I visited Old Town in Lansing, Michigan. In 1825 a surveying crew stopped along the Grand River next to what is now Lansing and plotted land that would someday be called Old Town. James Seymour and Jacob Cooley from New York purchased the land from […]
My husband and I recently visited Holland Michigan on our first trip checking out the lighthouses in Michigan. While we enjoyed seeing “Big Red” the real treat was enjoying all the beautiful tulips around town. The weekend before had been their annual Tulip Time Festival. For almost 90 years this annual event has featured over […]
My husband and I love to travel without any agenda other than heading in one direction. As we travel we often get off the main highway and just follow a road wondering where it leads. Or, we will pull off the interstate into what looks like just a “spot in the road” kind of place. […]
So excited! As a lover of American history – both its good and its bad history – I have found that there is a wealth of history on the Underground Railroad in the state where I recently became a resident. I recently wrote a couple of blogs about statues of African-Americans in the USA. Crispus […]
Edgewood, Illinois. Just the mention of that town brings back bad memories. About three months into my sixth grade school year, we moved from Mason to Edgewood (both small towns about 10 miles apart). For me, they were opposite sides of the universe. Mason Grade School was one of my happiest times in school. I […]
I recently read a book recommended by one of my daughters, “Affluence with Abundance,” by James Suzman. The author did an intensive study of the vanishing world of the bushmen in southern Africa. Viewed by the western world as a society lacking all the great benefits of our modern culture, the author notes: “…hunters-gatherers appeared […]
I remember the moment I held my daughter in my arms. It was overwhelming to realize I was a mother, personally responsible for this tiny baby. Looking at her, I whispered that we were going to be the best of friends. I shared with her my hopes and dreams of the hours we would spend […]
My little seven-year-old granddaughter spent the night with me. She has a stuffed character from Dr. Seuss that always joins us for games. When she was very little we bought this character for her. I named him Willie, gave him a voice and she began interacting with him. As time has passed Willie has become […]
Planning for Christmas For weeks we have been planning for Christmas. Looking for bargains, some even gave up their Thanksgiving evening to fight the crowds on “Black Friday.” Family recipes were pulled out of the drawer, decorations out of the basement or attic. Children were excited as they made out their Christmas wish list. Churches were busy […]
It’s that time of year! All over the country mothers and grandmothers are busy in the kitchen baking cookies with their kids and grandkids. On Facebook I see post after post of beautifully decorated cookies and smiling faces of children with their mother as they happily put their special touch on the cookies made to […]
We often look at all the problems in the world and feel overwhelmed and think: Certainly we cannot save all the world, feed all the hungry, clothe all the needy. Matthew 25:31-46 (NLT) “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my […]
I posted this list last year – but would like to share again – as you are shopping don’t forget those who are less fortunate than you! For everyone concerned about “keeping Christ in Christmas” instead of worrying rather some pagan says “Merry Christmas” let’s really “keep Christ in Christmas” by what we do rather […]
My husband and I love flowers! We have over 200 different hostas in our back yard with roses, day lilies and more. When we first purchased our home 13 years ago there were no flowers or trees on the property. A year after we moved in, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and given little […]
Growing up in a typical Protestant home, I heard over and over how the crowds cried out in praise as Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey on Palm Sunday. Often we would wave palm branches while singing, “Hosanna!” This was all based on the familiar verses in the Gospels. And the multitudes that went […]
