I cannot function before my morning coffee, so when the phone rang early one day a month ago, awakening me from sleep, I was groggy and confused. It was my youngest niece speaking quickly and with great excitement. "You know those rings … Read more

Last summer, my wife's sister and her husband were here to visit us for a family reunion. They live in a small town in the state of Michigan, USA, and when it was time to depart for their six-hour drive home, we discussed the best way to … Read more

Some people put their foot in their mouth, but seem to enjoy the taste. Some people rub us the wrong way, but act like it's the right way. Some people know how to push our buttons, and we detest that they can have so much negative impact … Read more

When my husband and I visited one of the Caribbean islands, our plane landed in the evening. Along with other arrivals, we were met and shuttled to the resort where we had reservations, paid in advance. After checking in and being shown … Read more

Stop the roller coaster! I want to get off. Since I don't like heights, I've never liked roller coasters. However, one summer at Canada's Wonderland, when our daughter was about six years old, I decided to go on one of the tamer roller … Read more

Grandma's peacock displayed its fan of majestic colours in the sunshine. Light danced off the crystal-shaped feather fibres and shimmered with iridescent greens and blues. Head held high, strutting around the ranch, he appeared to be … Read more

Like everyone else, I experience loneliness from time to time. It's an odd feeling, especially when it occurs in a crowded room or when I'm with a small company of friends. I get lost in my own thoughts and feel isolated from everything … Read more

Each year at this time, my husband and I go to my dad's grave and clean out the old summer foliage around the headstone. We dig up the soil a bit and insert the foot prongs of a green wreath with a few seasonal decorations for the winter. … Read more

"Thank You, Lord, for whoever invented electric blankets." I sigh in pleasure as I slip into the warm bed. "Thank You, Lord, for whoever invented Excedrin®." It's the perfect pill for a pounding headache. "Thank You, Lord, for my … Read more

At this holiday time of the year, the word "family" often seems to come up. Thanksgiving is observed in Canada in October and in the United States in November. Next month there will again be times of holiday celebrations, especially at … Read more

Thanking God in every circumstance is challenging — some might say impossible. I'm a nostalgic kind of guy. In my mind's eye, I can imagine myself sitting at a table with the early Pilgrims and their Indian neighbours who had shown them … Read more

A man on a ladder across the street was cleaning out the eavestroughs of a small apartment complex. "Would you do mine when you're finished?" I called out. "Sure," he said. He came over about half an hour later, did a decent job on my … Read more

The first time I saw the mother grizzly and her three cubs, I remember thinking what a privilege it was to see such a wonder of nature. The next time I heard about them, I had very different thoughts. This time, they were not out in the … Read more

It always amazes me how, out of nowhere, God softly tells us to do something, and then, I am amazed at the results that He sends. For example, I have always wanted to have painting classes here in Pico. The other day, I debated whether … Read more

"Please, will you ask her?" I pleaded with my older sister for the umpteenth time. Katrise lived next door. She was my older sister's best friend and was having her Sweet Sixteen birthday party in a few days. I wasn't invited; I was only … Read more

Throughout my career, I was involved in many projects. Some were small, lasting a few hours or days, involving few people, and having little financial impact. Some were enormous, lasting months or years, involving large teams of people, … Read more

The sound of the violent wind roaring around the house was terrifying. As I peered nervously out into my backyard, I could see the wildly swinging branches of the trees tearing at my eavestrough as they whipped back and forth along the … Read more

A week or so ago, I went to the bank on my way to work to take out some cash using the automatic teller. I wanted to take out $280. I'd done so on numerous occasions before, so I wasn't paying a lot of attention to what I was doing. This … Read more

In 1894, the United States mint in San Francisco made twenty-four coins. That's not many. The superintendent, John Dagget, knew how valuable that they would be some day. So, he gave three of the dimes to his daughter, Hallie. "Hold on to … Read more

Having a strong interest in the First World War, I've read a great number of books on the subject, some written by historians and others being first-hand accounts. Of the two, I like the soldiers' stories the best, as they are written … Read more

My grandfather served as a US Army foot soldier during World War I in France in 1917. During that time, he used a weapon called brass knuckles. He used them in hand-to-hand combat, to defend himself while in foxholes and trenches. When he … Read more

Forgiving each other is not always easy. In the movie, The Crown, Queen Elizabeth II, a sincere believer, discovers that her uncle, the exiled Edward VIII, had plotted with Hitler in an attempt to betray England, and she finds that she … Read more

The older I get, the more I understand my need for introversion. The world has become a frenzied, noisy, and greedy place that I find difficult to embrace or accept. I cherish quiet places and people, solitary moments and tranquil times … Read more

I work with a ministry that provides chapel services for seniors, aged 55 and older, who come to Arizona's White Mountains to escape the summer heat and who live in one of five recreational vehicle parks. Last week, I visited one of our … Read more

One of the benefits of living in my lovely new residence is the privilege of meeting many people. I discovered that a woman who recently arrived had been a nurse at the hospital in Collingwood, Ontario, during the time that my son was … Read more

When I took Denver, our youngest puppy, up to the veterinarian for his final vaccinations, it was an extremely cold and bitter day. As I had several hours of errands to complete while I was in the city, I decided to board Denver at the … Read more

I once counted up the times that I have moved through my life — a total of 35. That meant moving everything — pets, books, dishes, furniture — sometimes to another country, city, province, or state — changing mailing addresses and … Read more

Having recently retired from being a Professor of Biology, I find the transition strange. No longer Professor, I am Professor Emeritus, and have the privilege of carrying on what I have been doing over the last couple of decades: on the … Read more

"I remember when you used to…" Any time I hear my wife say these words, I know that they will be followed by something that I once did but don't do anymore — things like opening the door for her when she's getting in the car or … Read more

My grandparents were wonderful people, and they had thirteen children! When I was a child, they lived within walking distance, and every day, I loved going to their house. They always found time for me and always made me feel so loved … Read more