As a writer and lover of words I consider myself a wordsmith, not a numbersmith. Well, I guess there's really not such a word as "numbersmith"! But I think you know what I mean: bankers, accountants, financial planners, scientists, engineers, and other people who like to think about numbers. However, I think I can blow … Continue reading What a Difference a Zero Can Make!
I have a few notes that my mother left behind that, at first glance, might not seem all that important: a hand-written list of foods she was going to prepare for a family holiday tucked among the pages of a church cookbook. And a thin strip of paper peeking out from the leaves of her … Continue reading Remembering My Mother’s Final Days
Resting on my writer's shelf are twelve manuscripts which I expect to turn into a children's picture book series. These books will be for little ones in the early stages of reading. As they decipher the mystery of the printed pages of my books, young readers will be introduced to wonderful visions of playing, learning, … Continue reading Changing Direction
The following quote is attributed to David Ben-Gurion, the first Prime Minister of the nation of Israel: "Ezekiel 37 has been fulfilled and the nation of Israel is hearing the footsteps of the Messiah." He was referring to the twentieth century nation of Israel formed on May 14, 1948 when Jewish people from around the globe … Continue reading Footsteps of Messiah
If I asked you to participate in the game of FIND THE MISFIT in the following list: The Three Kings, a Wise Guy with a Bow Tie, Wise Men from the East, and The Magi, what would you answer? Let’s examine a familiar Christmas carol, the Holy Bible, cultural history, and family tradition. Then let’s … Continue reading Wise Guy With A Bow Tie!
We seemingly live in a CULTURE OF EXTREME FATIGUE. It is evident from harried moms and dads with busy work and family responsibilities all the way down to our young school children. An example of this is a recent exchange my youngest grandchild had with the priest at her school. While my two granddaughters and … Continue reading Culture of Extreme Fatigue
In times of turmoil around us--hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, mass flooding, unparalleled fires--and within us--sickness, disease, death, accidents, addiction, poverty, crime--many individuals cry out, "Where is God?" Particularly anguished are families who lose innocent children. This is not a new question. And I'm sure I don't have new answers. I certainly will not have answers … Continue reading Where Are You?
In my family when we had pets they were always dogs. The first dog I remember had a shiny black coat and dark, dark eyes. He was actually my grandmother's, but since we lived with her from time to time, by extension he belonged to us all. His name was Sparky, and my older brother … Continue reading The Passing of General
My playful ditty BIONIC NONNY [pronounced NAH'nee} explores the wonderful age of medical miracles in which we live! What surgeons can repair in a broken or degenerate body is amazing! Surgery, hospitals, and rehabilitation facilities are certainly not what I think of when I contemplate a pleasant experience or a time of vacation. However, after … Continue reading Bionic Nonny!
When life gets rough some people blame God. They just cannot understand why God would let bad things happen to them. Them... of all people! They were brought up in church. They don't do anything really terrible. They pray. They do good deeds. And then when something overwhelming happens, they look to God as though … Continue reading In the Storm
Astronauts reach for the planets. Movie stars aim for the Oscars, and the Golden Globe Awards. Politicians stump for votes. Teachers have a loftier goal--they touch tomorrow, or in other words, they touch the future through their influence on students in their classrooms. Some years ago I walked into a school hallway and saw in … Continue reading Touching Tomorrow
Depression comes to us all at different times in our lives. For some, the despondency is so severe that thoughts of taking one's own life become a real possibility. Suicidal thoughts and actions occur to all ages and come to individuals of all socioeconomic strata. As we look from the outside upon those whom we … Continue reading Sunrise Hope . . .
No matter your spiritual, philosophical, or political persuasion, I think we can agree that our erratically beating hearts yearn to be filled with an inner calmness--one that might spill over into a mindful peace in our hectic daily lives, and a workable peace for our very divided world. So I welcome you with the greeting, … Continue reading A Greeting of Peace
Having been a mother of teens and teacher of teens, and now being a grandmother of teens, may I humbly share with you my reflections on how to reach out to the defiant adolescent in your home. Certainly there are no fool-proof prescriptions for dealing with children during the transitional years from childhood to adulthood. … Continue reading How to Reach Out to Your Rebellious Teen
As a writer and lover of words I consider myself a wordsmith, not a numbersmith. Well, I guess there's really not such a word as "numbersmith"! But I think you know what I mean: bankers, accountants, financial planners, scientists, engineers, and other people who like to think about numbers. However, I think I can blow … Continue reading What a Difference a Zero Can Make!
I have a few notes that my mother left behind that, at first glance, might not seem all that important: a hand-written list of foods she was going to prepare for a family holiday tucked among the pages of a church cookbook, and a thin strip of paper peeking out from the leaves of her … Continue reading Remembering My Mother’s Final Days
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