Monday morning is my time to check my weight. Today, I was dreading it. I'd had a bad week. It wasn't good news. I've struggled with my weight since I was a teenager. It's in the family. My dad had a weight problem, as did his mother. …( read more )

It was just a few days before Christmas. "We need to go and buy a turkey," one said to the other. "I thought I saw a turkey in our freezer," said the other. Sure enough, deep down in the freezer, there was a turkey. And it had a date on …( 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 )

There have been times in my life when I have listened to the nudgings of the Holy Spirit, like in the early 1970s when we sponsored our first foster child, Marilou, from the Philippines. I was very faithful in writing letters and sending …( read more )

It's been just over a year since a very dear friend of ours passed away suddenly from cancer. Eight months ago, our daughter-in-law's father passed away within three weeks of finding out that he was ill. And now, another dear friend of …( read more )

Recently, my husband and a friend were outside cutting down trees on our property. The area where we live is surrounded by many maple trees and silver birches. Unfortunately, many of the birch trees are dead and need to be taken down. They …( read more )

Recently, we had a church picnic planned for a Sunday afternoon at a local conservation area. The weather forecast for the entire weekend wasn't good. Saturday was dull all day. The forecast for Sunday didn't look much better. Early …( read more )

Do you believe in miracles? Over the past few days, the entire world has been watching the discovery and rescue of a team of twelve Thai boys and their coach, who were trapped in a cave in Thailand. It was a miracle that they were even …( read more )

When my husband and I were asked to lead an Alpha small group at our church a few years ago, we were in the right place at the right time. Thus began many Bible studies and many special relationships with so many wonderful people in our …( read more )

You may remember that a few years ago, there was a plush toy, "Tickle Me Elmo", based on the Muppet character Elmo from the children's television show, Sesame Street. When Elmo's tummy was squeezed, he shook, vibrated, and giggled. …( read more )

Ever since I was a teenager, I haven't liked having my picture taken. I do, however, like taking pictures of nature — birds, flowers, scenery — and especially of my family. So, for many years, I was the official picture taker. The …( read more )

It's that time of year again: time to go through drawers and closets, sorting out, downsizing, and organizing. It's something that I like to do about this time each year, before the good weather comes when I would rather be outside …( read more )

Lately, I've been googling everything. If I need a recipe, I can google it. If I want to know how many calories or carbs are in a certain food, I can google it. If I want to find out where a restaurant is located in a city when I'm …( read more )

I'm a romantic. I love to read Christian romance books. I enjoy watching Hallmark movies. I love happy endings! The greatest love story ever written is God's love story. God is a good, good Father — it's who He is. How amazing is this …( read more )

Lost and found boxes never cease to amaze me. Scarves, hats, gloves, mittens, jackets, bathing suits, swim towels, umbrellas, and baseball gloves are some of the items that I've seen in these boxes in different locations. Such an …( read more )

One of my favourite things about moving to Sauble Beach, Ontario, Canada, would have to be the birds. No matter what the season, we enjoy the various ducks on the river, as well as the many birds that come and go at the four feeders at the …( read more )

In 1972, Kris Kristofferson wrote the song, "Why Me?", which included these lyrics: Why me Lord? What have I ever done To deserve even one Of the pleasures I've known? Tell me Lord What did I ever do That was worth loving You Or the …( read more )

Some days, I'm in a lot of pain. It seems that my whole body aches. Other days, it's like the pain moves from one place to another. It might be my legs or my feet or my knees or my hands. Oh, the joys of getting older and having arthritis! …( read more )

What a glorious day it was when I discovered the undo button on my computer! "Undo" is a command in many computer programs that allows us to undo almost anything that we have done. With a click on the button, I can undo my last action or …( read more )

Two Christmases ago, I wrote a devotional about a song that I had written ( Sing a Song of Praise ). Many of our readers responded, asking me if there was a tune for it. Unfortunately, I had a tune only in my head, and I had no idea …( read more )

For the past several summers, my husband and I and another couple have been attending mud volleyball tournaments to show our support for the youth and the counsellors at the summer church camp that we attend. Mud volleyball is played …( read more )

Our daughter is "horse crazy". She has been since she was ten years old, when she went with a friend to his riding lesson for the disabled, as they were both deaf. Shortly after that, she began taking riding lessons, too. Over the years, …( read more )

I've been reading a lot about grace lately, and the more I read, the more I realize how amazing God's grace really is. G – God's R – Riches A – At C – Christ's E – Expense Grace, grace, God's grace, Grace that will cleanse and pardon …( read more )

Another year has drawn to an end, and we anticipate a new year ahead of us — a brand new year — a time of new beginnings, new opportunities, a time to start over again. Whether or not we make any new year's resolutions, we can still …( read more )

It's that time of year again: winter — the time when I experience the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which I wrote about in a previous devotional: Light And Darkness . This year, I am trying faithfully to use my light …( read more )

I had to get a new driver's license with a new photo this year. After the new license arrived in the mail, as I was destroying the old one, with each new cut of the old card I kept thinking about the old being replaced by the new. As I …( read more )

In 2000, I wrote a devotional about our daughter's dog, Precious. When we had to have her put to sleep due to old age and a fall, it was a really difficult day for all of us. She had survived with skin cancer for over five years and had …( read more )

Last winter, my daughter and I set out for one of our mother/daughter days. She wanted to get some pictures of some of the local waterfalls that were completely frozen over. We had a lovely morning; she got some great pictures; and we …( read more )

We all like to receive gifts — on birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, and weddings. Sometimes we get gifts on Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, or Easter. When someone gives us a really thoughtful and meaningful gift, we may …( read more )

I recently bought a tablet computer. I use it mainly for reading, as it is becoming increasingly difficult for me to hold a book. I also use it for my email, and I have a Bible app that I really like because I can check different versions …( read more )

I'll never forget the days when our two children were born and then the day our grandson arrived. The birth of a child is always a very special occasion. But the birth of the Child Who came at Christmas is good news for each and every one …( read more )

One of God's greatest gifts to us is the gift of music and songs. Here are some quotes about the power of music: "Where words fail, music speaks." – Hans Christian Andersen "Music acts like a magic key, to which the most tightly …( read more )

Our daughter, who is deaf, has a special way with animals. She's had a variety of pets over the years: hamsters, ferrets, a rabbit, several dogs and cats, and two horses. While she was working on a horse farm, two stray cats were dumped …( read more )