At five years of age, our eldest granddaughter is tiny, wiry, and very, very agile in both mind and physical abilities. She could climb out of her crib, up the counters, and over the back of the couch from an … Read more

I sat at the computer reading an article about health, and suddenly, I thought, "Could they be talking about me?" The heading of the article read, "No one knows your parents as well as you do, and no one cares … Read more

The whale had followed a delectable small fish called a capelin into the inlet. The lighthouse keeper told us that he was "beached" in shallow water until something led him back out to sea. Our tour group stood watching the … Read more

We live in a relatively new housing and retail development in our city. As the homes are built, we watch people move in and work on the landscaping and fencing. Then up go the sheds (or storage places) in their … Read more

We were having a neighbourhood barbecue. The event was arranged through our church. The food and drinks were supplied. All I had to do was go to pick them up. This was a church-wide event, so the announcement was made … Read more

I have a good friend who is a counsellor, and he has a great saying: "Our secrets make us sick." We all carry secrets in our hearts of moments when we made mistakes that we later regret. The burden of … Read more

After the service concluded and I sat to listen to the postlude, a tap came on my shoulder, and I was asked about how things were going. I proceeded to talk with this person, along with another. Then at what … Read more

Along my way to work one recent day, I rejoiced in God as my Saviour. I was happy. Maybe it was because I love my wife and family? Maybe it was because I have a long-awaited holiday around the corner … Read more

My grandmother, Rachel Stuart, whom we all called "Grandma", was a great wee person. She looked like Dorothy's mother, Sophia, from the television show "The Golden Girls". She raised a large family of seven and had umpteen grandchildren and great-grandchildren. … Read more

Recently, we went to the airport to pick up some friends who were arriving. It was a beautiful day — the sky was so blue, and there were no clouds to be seen. As we travelled towards the airport, we … Read more

Forgiving is an easy thing to talk about, but a hard thing to do. I've known people, including myself, to be shackled to the chains of unforgiveness, which can paralyze emotions, diminish relationships, and destroy love. The bane of bitterness … Read more

The television commercial blasted forth the excellence of some cooking pans. One line really caught my attention: "If you don't have the tools, you can never do the job!" Whew! I took another look at those things! Maybe I needed … Read more

I still have my Presto pressure cooker sitting on a shelf in the basement, unused for many years. The pressure cooker works by taking very little water and creating steam under pressure, and so reducing the cooking time. There is … Read more

Last summer, we were having a neighbourhood barbecue in our backyard. The weather was cool, and it started to rain. We had finished eating, but some of us wanted to visit some more. We decided to carry a few things … Read more

If we are willing to walk or drive through our towns and cities with open eyes, we are sure to see people who are homeless. How easy it can be for us to pass judgement on other people. I recently … Read more

At the top of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland, there is a tall building in which resides the famous Camera Obscura. Thousands of people each year walk up the lofty stairs to the tower to gather in a small, … Read more

I have noticed broken glass on the tarmac where I ride my bike. I guess it is from broken wine bottles or beer glasses discarded by revellers. I had to repair a puncture to my wheel the other day from … Read more

When the children were young, I used to love going camping. They enjoyed it so much. The freedom to run and play was exhilarating — for them, as well as for us, the parents who were watching close by. Often, … Read more

A no-good potato? I must admit I have never seen a potato I didn't like. After looking at the one I had brought up from the fruit cellar, though, I found it was soft and had sprouted about five or … Read more

I am sure we all have them or have had them at some time in our lives: "comfort clothes" — that shirt that one's spouse has tried to throw out or that pair of shoes that fits like no other. … Read more

In recent weeks, the residents of my town, Mission, British Columbia, Canada, were very proud that one of our own, Carly Rae Jepsen, had made it into the top three in the Canadian Idol singing competition on Canadian television. I … Read more

We have had a few worm days in our life recently. Hubby has been taking chemotherapy. Fear raised its head in our house for a while, and made us feel quite worm-like. I thought that meant small, insignificant, cowering, and … Read more

Last summer, we were camping with a group of family and friends. One morning, one fellow came out of his camper, only to meet face-to-face with a bear — yes, a real, live black bear — which was sitting and … Read more

There is something about the coolness of fall — the rain, or in this case, wet snow — that causes me to feel the need to tidy up some drawers that over the summer have accumulated more than they should … Read more

He was barely seven when he arrived one recent morning at the building site (a project of our church to build a home for a needy family). He had his little tool box in hand, a bottle of water, a … Read more

It was four o'clock in the morning on a moonless, muggy night — just the way I wanted it. With 240 pounds of bulging blubber and mushy muscles on a five-foot, eleven-inch frame, I wanted no one to see me … Read more

There's an old joke from Scotland about a wee boy who comes back from his first day of school. His mom asks him how it went, and he answers: "It was okay, but I don't need to go back. The … Read more

My husband works with wood; he does all kinds of woodworking. He has renovated our home; he makes tables for others; he builds shelves or walls where needed at work. Furniture is the thing that he likes to build. He … Read more

Several years ago, I was in the city hospital, far from home. My family were far away, too, and those who came to visit could only spare a day, because of travel time. One day, I heard a nurse ask … Read more

A woman in one of my congregations had numerous sayings, one of which was, "My mother used to say, 'I know you're busy, Isabel, but is it a good busyness?'" That is a good question for us to ponder. We … Read more