Every time I go to our gym, I start out on the stationary bicycle. It's not just a boring bicycle ride; it's like watching me bicycling along, passing other cyclists — like a video game with 30 different tours and topography from real … Read more

Three years ago, I took my mom, then 90, to a nursing home to visit her even more elderly friend, Winnie, who was basically not "with it" anymore. I was in awe of my mother, who despite her own dementia, really "cared" for Winnie. It was … Read more

I'm trying to grow my fingernails. I've been trying all of my life to do this. But when there is the least little bit of stress, I fiddle with my nails and pick at edges that stick out, and before I know it, I've ripped off the end of a … Read more

When I am kayaking out on the ocean, sometimes it is glassy calm. At other times, there are waves — lots and lots of waves. When I'm paddling with the wind, I find it exhilarating to surf the big waves, … Read more

I had the most amazing experience only hours after a sermon on the theme, "Following Jesus Christ". The context for the sermon and my experience is my struggle with depression. I can find myself feeling down and not being able … Read more

Recently, I went to a women's retreat. One of the exercises was to take a particular seven-verse Scripture passage and to meditate on those verses. The valuable lesson that I learned, and will never forget, was not about what the … Read more

One of my housecleaning clients gave me a potted plant that should have been planted outside. This was very nice of her, and I appreciated it. However, the timing was poor. The next day, I took the plant with me … Read more

Several weeks ago, my friend, Wendy, a divorced mom with three kids, told me that her microwave had died. She was really sad about this turn of events and wondered how she could possibly afford another one. A week or … Read more

A couple of days after Christmas, I went skating at the ice rink. Around and around I went. Suddenly, I envisioned my father skating with me. What pleasure that brought me! My father and I used to go skating when … Read more

I try to walk my dog every day, rain or shine. It seems that the rainy season has finally hit, and so recently, I had to walk in a torrential downpour. I was the only person silly enough to be … Read more

Recently, I spent a weekend cooking for 45 very hungry young adults at a camp. I had three helpers who were wonderful. On one of the days, I was making cinnamon buns. I wanted them to be awesome. Unfortunately, in … Read more

My mother has a number of African violets blooming and looking healthy. Recently, she went away for a month on vacation. When she got back, she was saddened to see that her violets were dry and very, very thirsty. They … Read more

I volunteer at our local Bibles For Missions store once or twice a week. I enjoy the social aspect, as well as being able to help with what needs doing. The one thing I enjoy the most is going through … Read more

We have a six-month-old puppy, named Sandi, who is just learning to heel and stay close to me as I walk along. Unfortunately, there are many distractions along the path, like "p-mail", you know, what other dogs leave as their … Read more

My husband and I have been going for Sunday afternoon walks. Recently, as we passed all the houses, I thought about how bare and dark they looked because their Christmas lights weren't turned on yet. A figure of Frosty the … Read more

My ten-year-old daughter looks forward to the end of each month with great anticipation. She gets her allowance. By the time her allowance arrives, most of her money from the previous month has been spent. Recently, several days after she … Read more

Our family has been struggling for years with conflict, friction, heartache, and personal jabs at my daughter's self-esteem, mostly by her older brother. Family life has been a real struggle. How could we have children that are so mean to … Read more

When I was out for my walk today, I suddenly remembered that the last time I went down that street, there was a dog that had tried to attack my dog. He followed us and repeatedly snapped at my dog. … Read more

In October, I started working in a greenhouse. We planted very small plugs of primulas or primroses into larger pots. There were 120,000 of these plants and, needless to say, we were planting for a couple of weeks! Thereafter, I … Read more

During the summer, I thought I had my life all together for the fall. I was tutoring three days after school, I had a greenhouse job at which I could work whatever hours I wanted, and life seemed all set. … Read more

Our son turned twelve and, at his request, we decided to register him for hockey for the first time. He desperately needed to learn how to skate effectively, so we had registered him in a hockey camp. When we got … Read more

When I was growing up I always had a hard time in school with problems, numbers and just basic Mathematics. I struggled and struggled. My wonderful mother, although I didn't think so at the time, would tutor me all year … Read more

I had an astounding and touching thing happen to me. I arrived at school at lunch and ended up talking to Sandy. I don't know why, but I decided to share my innermost thoughts and feelings with her. This is … Read more

The other night, I had been crying for several minutes, totally depressed and sad about my friend, Susan, moving away, back to Ontario, 2600 miles away. Then I decided to pick up a devotional book which this same friend had … Read more