While visiting the St Croix River Valley we found the site of the first commercial sawmill in what became the state of Minnesota.  Two lumbermen from Marine Illinois, David Hone and Lewis Judd, finding the area’s abundant white pine, decided to build a sawmill here.  They named the spot Marine after their hometown in Illinois.  […]

In Christian circles we use the word “worship” to often refer to the twenty or so minutes we spend on Sunday morning singing songs. Depending on the church you attend the music may be very formal with hymn books, organ and perhaps a choir.  It may consist of words projected overhead on a screen with […]

When I wrote this post I was only thinking about downsizing to make life a little easier. I had no idea that it would really pay off when we moved several months later – not just to a new home, but to a new state. I recently read statistics compiled by The SpareFoot Storage Beat […]

In the book of Genesis when the Lord spoke to Moses out of the burning bush instructing him to go to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of bondage, Moses asked his name. The reply was “I am that I am.” The Hebrew words are ehyeh asher ehyeh. Many Bible scholars believe this could be translated […]

For those of you who follow my blog you know my husband and I are scrabble addicts.  In the summer we play several times a month, but when Old Man Winter comes we play almost every day.  We are very competitive keeping a record of our games now for 10 years. In the ten years […]

We take for granted our freedom to pick up our Bible, head to our car on Sunday morning and walk into church without any fear of being killed, or hauled off to prison.  Everywhere I look in my town I also see Jewish centers, Muslim mosques and even Hindu temples.  On their religious days, there […]

This Sunday I had to miss church. It is the second Sunday I have missed because I have been sick. Recovering now, but I so hate to miss church. Somehow the week is just not the same when I have not been able to meet with my church family and join in praise of God […]

This past weekend my husband and I visited a local cemetery.  I felt a little strange as we drove in the main entrance because we were going to inspect our own tombstones. While we are not ready to “kick the bucket” yet, we are at an age where we realize that we are not going […]

In Boston there is a Women’s Memorial that honors three women from our country’s early beginnings. By Ingfbruno – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27653635 One of the statutes anyone familiar with American history would recognize. She is Abigail Adams, wife of our second president, John Adams, and mother of our sixth president, John Quincy […]

Life is good for me.  Retired with time to do what I want to do.  Good husband who is my best friend.  Children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren to love. Still, like all of us, difficult times do come. Right now I am facing health issues.  I see the doctor tomorrow to review MRI results […]

Interesting that this celebration conducted by former slaves honoring the Union soldiers who died for their freedom has been buried in history and credit for this day of remembrance goes to others. I would never have known of this Memorial Day celebration had we not walked in that park so full of history Grandma’s Ramblings […]

The last part of March is full of memories for me. It was March 29 I married my first sweetheart. Lonnie had just come home from a journey of duty as a Marine in Vietnam. We were married and quickly headed out to the USMC base in Quantico, Virginia. We were blessed with almost thirteen […]

On one of our trips south we visited the College of the Ozarks. This Christian, liberal arts college is located near Branson, Missouri. Presbyterian minister, Rev. James Forsythe, founded the school in 1906. Called The School of the Ozarks, it was first a high school and became a junior college in 1956. Nine years later […]

Now celebrating 16 years cancer free.  Every October as we observe Breast Cancer Awareness I still thank God that He heard my plea and has given me all these additional years. Grandma’s Ramblings Laughing at how much I look like my Dad with my bald head! This month I celebrate 12 years cancer free!  As I […]