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 […]

November  4, 2002 – Call from doctor – biopsy shows I have cancer. November 14, 2002 – Surgeon tells me after surgery that the cancer was very advanced and I will definitely need chemo and radiation. November 27, 2002 – Doctor tells me the odds are not in my favor.  He says chances are slim […]

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 hear a lot from Christians about “the joy of the Lord.”  Often a verse from Nehemiah is quoted when speaking of joy. The joy of the Lord is my strength. But I wonder what does that mean?  What is the joy of the Lord and how does it give me strength?  I have found […]

The young people from Bethel Assembly of God standing with their barrels with funds raised for BGMC this past Sunday! Boys and Girls Missions Club (BGMC) is the missions program my church uses to teach the children to love the world – not just our own country – and to do what they can to make a […]

My daughters “Shadow” and “Giggles” with their beloved Grandpa I remember his big hands.  They were very large, yet always gentle. I remember the love and care he gave my daughters after their father was killed in an accident. I remember the nick names he gave to both of them.  My oldest daughter was “Giggles” […]

Tomorrow I will have an angiogram.  After several weeks of chest pain, shortness of breath and extreme fatigue, my doctor did a stress test last week.  The test indicates there may be some blockage in the lower part of my heart. Maybe – maybe not. So tomorrow I go in and if there is blockage […]

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 […]

I have been “death cleaning” but did not realize it! Over the years I have watched my friends fret as they anticipated turning 30, 40, 50 or 60.  I never understood why they got so up tight.  To me those milestones were just another birthday. But this spring I turn 70 and that is a […]

Today we put our house on the market.  It has been  a busy few months as we began the process of downsizing preparing to move from a nine-room house to something much smaller. My experience in this process of deciding what to keep and what to sell, give away or throw out has been an […]

A dear friend died this week.  My husband and I had watched him battle cancer (two different kinds) for over two years.  It was hard to see him slowly lose the battle.  He fought hard and he never lost his courage or his great sense of humor. His family asked my husband to do the […]

So – school was cancelled and we have our littlest granddaughter for an a couple of days.  I listed some ideas we could do on a cold winter day. What To Do On a Cold Winter Day Well baby it is cold outside! Right now at 6:00 pm it is -7 with a windchill of […]

We all love a winner! We hold parades, parties, all kinds of celebrations when our team becomes state champion.  Coming in second in a state-wide contest leaves people feeling so dejected.  They seem to forget that being second means they have beat out many other teams. In the Olympics, athletics say they are going for […]

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 […]