My grade six students always exchanged a chocolate bar (so that the cost of the gift could be well controlled), but they could wrap their "gift" however they chose. Some would come in the traditionally small packaging, simply wrapped; … Read more

Summer means freedom to roam, travel, and spend quality time with family and friends. My mother always had the parlour ready to welcome guests. We children were not allowed to sit in that room, ever! Mama would get out her … Read more

I was told that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. However, as a young girl, I was not very domesticated, and the kitchen was an unexplored terrain that I did not desire to explore. That left … Read more

My husband and I often visit flea markets, yard sales, and "junk" shops, just looking to find something of special interest that someone else has discarded. The old saying, "One man's junk is another man's treasure", takes on a new … Read more

"Daddy, how much do you love me?" I would ask when Daddy would be leaving for work. He would stretch his arms out as wide as a six-foot-six-inch man could stretch and say, "I love you this much!" Then I … Read more

Some children are fearless when it comes to trying new challenges. They have the attitude, "I can do it!" We learn fear as we grow and realize that some things are more difficult than others, and we come to understand … Read more

The fresh snow on the small hill behind our home was a magnet drawing a group of children, sleds in tow, for some winter coasting. The sleds were of varying sizes and styles, but the children's sole purpose was to … Read more

Remember when grocery shopping was fun and the labels on the products actually told what to expect when you opened the package, bottle, or can? Dad and I would go grocery shopping every Friday evening. We carefully checked the list … Read more

When Post-it® notes came along, I was thrilled. I could get organized quickly by using only the minimal number of key words as reminders. No more wasting notebooks and reams of writing to keep me on track! Granted, my desk was … Read more

Ever feel like filler in the sandwich of life? There are days when everything seems to be scrunching me out of place, till I'm totally surrounded by the world's demands and am only trying to squeeze more into my time … Read more

Today is a brand new day — a clean slate — a road not travelled before. Where will we allow it to take us? Will we be bound to past mistakes, hurts, sorrows, and brokenness? Will we allow these to … Read more

We've all watched as a toddler struggles to his or her feet and then takes those first hesitant steps — wobbling and weaving uncertainly towards the goal. The arms are outstretched and the face is all aglow. Suddenly — thwump! … Read more

What a delightful season we are entering! Robins return home and tiny crocuses poke their little heads up through the warming earth, even amidst the last bit of clinging snow. Baby ducklings follow mama duck, curiously turning to and fro, … Read more

Looking through old recipes one day, I found the recipe for homemade bread that I had tried to make with Mom years ago. The sheet was folded twice and had yellowed with age. A smile crept across my face as … Read more

We often sing, "Fill my cup, Lord; I lift it up, Lord", and we fully expect that God will fill our souls to overflowing as we worship Him with expectation. Since our move to this "neck of the woods" in … Read more

We are constantly bombarded with news of disasters, destruction, and the erosion of human values. The world gives "fear" a name with the right to live amongst all of us everywhere we turn. But God's Word tells us we are … Read more

My grandfather always carried a notebook and a wee pencil in his shirt pocket to make notes to himself. I recall how we used to make dates to spend time together; he would write my name in his little notebook … Read more

The fall has arrived and a new school year has begun. For many, this is a year of new challenges, with a new grade, new friends, new surroundings, and an opportunity to make a new impression — a new beginning! … Read more

Do you remember when the automated teller machine (ATM) first came to your neighbourhood? What excitement! There were actually line-ups to try this new method of getting money without entering the bank. My dad and I went to town one … Read more

We live in a world where fear seems to be the motivator! Terrorism, bomb threats, super bugs — the list goes on. We are bombarded with fears in the news, the Internet, and the newspapers. No wonder there are days … Read more

I remember a song called Me and My Shadow. I was my father's shadow. Every Friday evening, we would go for groceries. Often we would have to walk because the car was not working yet again. We did the same … Read more

We used to live near a brook that was home to many ducks. One particularly blustery morning, my dog and I were walking by the brook and saw an unusual number of tiny ducklings in the icy water. At the … Read more

Driving is a passion of mine, so often, my husband and I find ourselves driving along little winding roads, just for the fun of it. One particularly sunny day, the road beckoned us, so off we went for a new … Read more