One evening, as we were all going inside for the night, one of the baby goats let out a loud wail. My daughter went to investigate. Mulan, one of our young kids, was trapped on a bench in the barn. Mulan's left hoof and ankle had slipped … Read more

During the past summer, there's been a lot of bad news here in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. On July 9, a suspicious death at an Owen Sound rooming house, first thought to be a fentanyl overdose, is now being treated as a homicide. On … Read more

When I was a young child, I started to ask for a pony for my birthday. We lived in a town where there was a good-sized empty acreage across the road from our house. I thought that a pony could live there and that I could ride it every day. … Read more

My husband John grew up on a farm that was on a lake, but he never learned to swim. He stayed very close to the shore if he were anywhere near water. In time, our son Donald was born. We decided to give him swimming lessons when he was old … Read more

Both my son and my daughter left our home in California, USA, soon after high school graduation to join the navy. Eventually, my daughter settled in Ohio and my son in Virginia. Their life in California had a completely different … Read more

I moved to Nederland last year, and due to COVID-19, I did not celebrate any Christmas or New Year's Day festivals. This year, I found myself so excited about anticipating the coming of Sinterklaas, a legendary figure based on Saint … Read more

One beautiful fall day, as I peered over the railing of a small bridge, an interesting sight met my eyes — bright red fish with green heads: spawning salmon. By an inborn instinct, they were all heading the same way — upstream. If you … Read more

Behind a counter inside my local bank stands a huge vault. Behind the open door is another large door with steel bars and a large lock, and inside are walls covered with hundreds of tiny doors, each with a lock that has two spots for … Read more

This Scripture caught my attention recently. Herod and Pilate became friends! How extraordinary that Luke recorded this part of Jesus' trial. Two men who appeared to be enemies became friends to accomplish their goal: getting rid of … Read more

The word "love" is used a lot these days. I've noticed young people saying, "Love you!" when they leave or part company. Love is expressed by total strangers, at times through cards or letters. So, I was wondering, what is "love"? Here is … Read more

We live in scary times because of all the uncertainty that we're experiencing. We try to live our lives as normally as we can, but currently, there seem to be so many setbacks that none of us can find a "normal" routine. As creatures of … Read more

It was a sunny day, and I was finally on my own for a while. So, here I was, hiding from the sun in the garden under a new parasol. You must understand that it was just to test it out to see if it was functional, because when I had found … Read more

I am so blessed that God has gifted me a little beach retreat at a village in Saskatchewan, Canada, called Manitou Beach. While my renovation may never be complete, I feel so blessed here. I feel so close to God, enjoying His beautiful … Read more

At some point in our lives, many of us will invest money for our retirement. Those of us who are retired may be drawing an additional source of income from the investments that we made when we were younger. Some, however, may have seen … Read more

In March 1993, I had chest pains and periods of shortness of breath. I went to see the doctor, and he referred me to a specialist. After a number of tests, it was determined that my aortic valve was defective. It was leaking badly, and it … Read more

Did you notice the hidden miracle here? It's the conception of new life within Mary's womb. This, I say, is Advent's hidden miracle! Nobody witnessed this amazing overshadowing of the Spirit, not even Mary. Yet, what followed would be … Read more

I grew up in a family that had the funds for necessities, but nothing for extras. For our birthdays, we never received a gift; we had only a cake. Mother wrapped coins and placed them in between layers of the cake. Each of us always hoped … Read more

Our congregation consists of fifteen to eighteen worshippers, the majority seventy years and older. Two of our members, however, are only one and three years of age. They can be loud at times and somewhat disruptive, yet no one seems to … Read more

On top of an old wooden box telephone hanging on the wall in Mother Rowe's veranda, a robin built her nest. She faithfully set on the eggs and hatched all four. When the babies were just two days old, tragedy struck. A cat got the mother … Read more

I hobbled along, sore of foot, determined to make it around the block in good time. Just past the bend, I came upon a most bewildering sight. Stopping and startled, I tried to make sense of what was happening in front of me. A tall, older … Read more

One thing that we learned on the farm where we raised sheep was that at shearing time in the spring, dirt and burrs were hard to get out of the wool, and they would decrease the value of the fleece at market. John and I were very careful … Read more

My husband John and I farmed for many years. Each summer, we grew a huge garden. We had a small greenhouse to start some vegetables early. I loved to be out in the garden to weed and watch things grow. Seeds were planted and patience was … Read more

Whenever I feast on the wonder of a starlit sky, as daytime's sunset pulls down her blind and whispers goodnight, I cannot help but believe in God's handiwork. And though my eyesight has faded over time, and brilliant colours have lost … Read more

The aroma of horse hair overwhelmed me as I buried my face in Princess's mane. She grasped my ponytail scrunchie with her muzzle, slid it off, and waved it triumphantly. If a horse could laugh, she was doing it. This was a deliberate move … Read more

During recent extreme weather, when our temperatures dropped down to between -35 and -40 degrees Celsius, my old mare, Mama died, no longer able to withstand such temperatures. We do not know for sure how old she was, but after speaking … Read more

Over the years, you have probably walked over many welcome mats at people's front doors. You may even have one of your own. The mat serves a practical purpose: to clean our footwear. But if it has on it the word "Welcome", it makes a … Read more

I sat in my recliner admiring my Christmas gift. My children had bought me a tablet. I was intrigued that I could read my favourite book without turning a page. "Nanna," Matt called. I barely heard my son as I fiddled with the tablet. … Read more

By their example, my parents and grandparents taught my siblings and me the joy of being cheerful givers at home and in the community. We have great recollections of cheerful giving, not only at Christmas, but all year long. Watching … Read more

For every gift, there is usually both a donor and a recipient. Normally, the donor willingly gives a possession and welcomes a positive and grateful response. If the recipient makes good use of the gift, it pleases the donor. If the … Read more

Have you ever thought about how many "firsts" that we all experience in a lifetime? Some of those firsts we don't remember at all: our first breath, first step, first birthday, first tooth … . But the years tumble along, and we begin to … Read more

When God suggested that we move, I wanted a house that was new. After all, I had suggested to God, "This is what You should want for us, right?" God heard, but had different, better plans. It is an older bungalow with an attic which has … Read more

When our oldest son passed away due to illness, I wrote the song, "You're Still God". You can click here to listen to a recording of it. You're still God in the midst of the trembling quake You're still God even when our heart breaks … Read more

My first visit to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, was quite amazing to me, considering the level of development, with a good road network, street lighting, and a very clean environment. To me, it was just like a … Read more