During the trip that my sister and I made to Italy in October, we travelled by train five or six times. The second day, we left our hotel in Rome, on our way to Naples. At the train station, the elevator was broken, so to get to the train … Read more

I began training my retriever cross, Sophie, to be a helper from the time she was a pup. We often hiked the trails together in our mountain home and I felt that it was important that she could help me if I were to trip and fall or have an … Read more

Some 21 years ago now, the deadline for income tax returns to be postmarked was just a few days away. On this particular evening, my husband Marcelo decided that it would be best to drive to the post office and drop the return into the … Read more

Paige was not alone on the 18th day of December, 1987, eight days before Christmas. This was the day when the angel of the Lord arrived unseen at Paige's bedside. Paige suffered a severe neck injury at home, after falling and fracturing … Read more

When I was a young child, each Sunday morning my grandmother made sure that I was ready for Sunday School, nicely dressed in my one and only Sunday best. I remember very vividly my little white socks trimmed with lace and my feet planted … Read more

Recently, I was sitting in my van at Elliot Lake looking out over the water. Being retired allows one to take time to enjoy nature and learn the lessons that God wants to teach His children. At the water's edge, I had gingerly parked the … Read more

No one needed to tell those five baby robins to open wide their mouths. It was instinct! And what a sight that was! My husband had connected a television screen to a video camera pointing at a robin's nest built under the eve next door. … Read more

"Thank You for … the terror of trust … ." I have lost the source of this written prayer, but not its impact. There's wisdom in this paradox: Trustful faith is forged through those terrifying experiences when we feel utterly vulnerable … Read more

"Don't forget your umbrellas," mother would call out on blustery days, prompting my brothers and me to pick up our paces, for it was a long walk to school whenever we missed our bus. Then, with a final once-over, mother would kiss us … Read more

A most difficult thing for me to deeply comprehend is that a loving God allows troubles into my life. He tells us to be prepared at all times by faith, knowing that He has a plan for each of us, and that includes both easy and difficult … Read more

A dear friend once told me that a butterfly can still take to the air even if it had lost 75 percent of its wingspan. What a miracle, and yet society would most likely categorize such a disfigured insect as being disabled. Surely, our … Read more

Spring is coming, and track season is just around the corner. This means that I'll soon be spending many hours in the bleachers watching my grandson Ryan's high school track meets as he runs sprints, relays, and hurdles. Runners wear … Read more

In Alaska, my father and my grandfather were prospectors, an occupation that required a lot of shoveling. I grew up accustomed to all the attitudes and language that go with this frustrating, hole-digging, way of life, especially when … Read more

The police gave my brother a choice — either join the navy or go to jail. He was just sixteen, but he'd fallen in with the wrong crowd and had been the wheelman when they were stealing speakers from a drive-in movie theatre. My father … Read more

When this comforting verse was emailed to me, it came illustrated with a charming picture of a medieval castle set in a forested landscape. It readily conveyed the image of a strong, protecting God. Yet centuries ago, this was possibly … Read more

Summertime presented great fun in the timberland. Sleeping outside was one of those activities. A day spent gathering twigs, branches, and boughs of broken fir and redwood trees produced our finished rounded, mounded shelter. Weary but … Read more

I was fifteen when I went out to work at a farm, far from home, cleaning and cooking for the harvest crews in the wheat fields. I had no knowledge of the facts of life, nor could I have known that the farmer was used to taking advantage … Read more

Have you ever wondered how you escaped a car accident with only a scratch, whereas it could have been so much worse? I have, on many occasions. There were times, while driving my car, when I changed the radio station or inserted a music … Read more

Anakin Nibbles, our guinea pig, was out in the garden again today. It was one of the warmer days of early spring, so I thought that he could do with the exercise. So, I put his house down on some new grass, and with him inside, moved his … Read more

This past summer, my three goats, Marshall, Lilly, and Aggie, went on a holiday of sorts. The community greenhouse project willingly accommodated them, as they had large areas of lush grass and other growth to be cleared, and the goats … Read more

It was during the winter, when we had accumulated a lot of snow on the roof, that I noticed a leak in the room where my computer was set up. I called our handyman right away to come and shovel our roof. After he was finished, I noticed … Read more

A few weeks ago, my husband and I saw two adorable fledglings in our neighbour's back yard. Their nest was built on top of a ladder that was located under his grapevine trellis. While we were admiring the baby birds, two robins, not far … Read more

"Arrrgh!" I gasped, as my body gave the impression of being turned into a statue! I clung to the buggy, and was mesmerized by what I had witnessed. Outside the primary school where Zoë attends, there is a major road. A mother, buggy, … Read more

Whenever I hear of the description "wise men" given to the magi, I immediately think of a very elderly Christian gentleman who attended my church and who had printed in large letters on his small suitcase the words, "Wise men are still … Read more

The sound of the rain began as a welcome, gentle trickle, bouncing off the maroon-coloured leaves of the bushes just outside of our porch. I sat protected from the rain, and watched as the rain rapidly grew into a ferocious downpour, … Read more

It was a very warm day in the desert southwest of the United States. My friend and I had just finished lunch after attending church. There we stood in the restaurant parking lot, dressed in our best Sunday clothes, with the engine lid … Read more

A couple of years ago during Advent, I became fascinated with the angels in the Christmas story. It's no accident that angels have become a popular Christmas decoration. Here is a summary of what I found in the scriptural reports of angels … Read more

Have you considered what "the secret place of the Most High" could be?

Last year a colleague gave me a copy of the little book, The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence, who was a seventeenth-century French Carmelite … Read more

Yesterday was a glorious fall day. It was the kind of day that invigorated one's senses, a day that caused one to marvel at God's handiwork. The maple tree on our front lawn stood like a torch, its mighty flame of vibrant, orange leaves … Read more

Every morning when I take my dog for a walk, I stroll down a street that is lined on both sides with a variety of tall maple trees. Their top branches bend gracefully over from each side to touch one … Read more

Think with me what it's like to ride with someone who knows all the back roads — the "easy" roads, the "secret" way to get places. Yet we also know the truth — they're not really "secret". They're just not … Read more

I live on Maui. It's beautiful and temperate most of the time. When the trade winds stop, however, it can become unbearably hot. If I'm on a hike or working outside, I long for shade. When the heat is on, … Read more

My brother and I were having a great time playing ball. He was batting and I was catching. We always batted towards the road, as we had already broken too many windows batting toward the house. Seeing as I was … Read more