In the early morning, I went outside to get the newspaper that had been thrown across the driveway. It was a perfect summer day. The dew was sparkling on the lawn that my husband had freshly mowed the afternoon before. … Read more

The storm clouds were raging all across our state! For most of the afternoon, one of the network channels had suspended regular programming to broadcast information about the inclement weather. Over and over, we watched the radar light up in … Read more

Who could believe the summer had slipped away so quickly? Less time would now be spent on the swing set and riding bicycles in the neighbourhood. The swimming pool was being covered until the next year. The new school year … Read more

Gone are the fierce storms of last evening. All day, the meteorologists warned us of the impending danger of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. About dusk, black clouds, with a hint of that strange green hue which normally means hail, rolled … Read more

For several weeks, my ninety-one-year-old mother-in-law has been adjusting to her new life in a long-term care facility. She soon became involved in the daily activities around her. Being a "people person" herself, she enjoys the interaction with staff and … Read more

It was Dedication Day for our new building in the church where my family and I have been members for many years. Over seven years before, the church voted to relocate from the downtown location occupied for more than half … Read more

"Grandma, I have my coupons. Can we go eat pizza?" It was my seven-year-old granddaughter, Brooke, with a handful of coupons in her purse. I couldn't keep from smiling. Many times in her young life, Brooke had seen me presenting … Read more

For our ninth-grade granddaughter, Faith, homecoming was an exciting time. Her long, beautiful, red hair mingled well with the green and gold colours of her cheerleading uniform. Excitement exuded from the school student body at their afternoon pep rally. That … Read more

Twenty-seven-month-old Mary Kathryn and I were running errands. My hand held tightly to the wheel as I manoeuvred us through the traffic. Mary Kathryn sat in the rear securely buckled in her car seat. There was no need for conversation … Read more

For several days, the weather channel had been predicting snow for our area of the state. Since snow is something we seldom see, the grandchildren were very excited. At last the day arrived! That long-awaited snowfall was to be here. … Read more

It was Christmas and a joyful time in our home. Our girls both have families of their own and we must share them and the grandchildren with their extended families. Our time with all of them together was to be … Read more

When I peered out the window early in the morning, I discovered God had sent us snow in all its lovely whiteness. It would be a beautiful snow-glistening day. A couple of inches of the white frozen flakes covered the … Read more

Fall, in all its glorious opulence, is what we experienced as we drove through the mountains of northern California. The orange and gold colours of the aspens and maples were breathtaking. We took scenic drives through forests of evergreens. There, … Read more

All summer, we watched tiny, exquisite, awe-inspiring hummingbirds feed from the tasty sugar water that my husband so generously supplied to them. They circled the feeder, suspended themselves in mid-air for a few seconds, and then dove straight to the … Read more

For many days, Hurricane Isabel churned up winds and waves far out in the ocean. Labelled a catastrophic, Category 5 storm, she aimed her seemingly undiluted fury toward the east coast of the United States. Simultaneously, pandemonium became the order … Read more

For two days we received rain as an expression of God's grace. On many days during the hot summer, temperatures had skyrocketed to the century mark (on the Fahrenheit scale) in the middle of the country where I live. The … Read more

"Call 911! Call 911!" Eight-year-old Levi was scrambling to get help for his mother, Julia, who had slipped and fallen on the wet tile floor in their kitchen. Gasping from the pain as her knee buckled under her, she instructed … Read more

Brooke, our five year-old granddaughter loves the swing. "Higher, Grandma, swing me higher," she called out as I sent her flying in the air. "Hold on tight, Brooke, hold on tight," I yelled back. She giggled that happy voice I … Read more

Two of our grandchildren, Faith and Mary Kathryn, have gone out of state for a few days to visit some of their family. My husband and I are finding it a very lonely time. Daily those two girls bring sunshine … Read more

My husband loves digging in the dirt. When the first breeze of warm air blows in the springtime, his thoughts turn to growing something. Tools to till the soil are brought out of storage, and his lawn mower is readied … Read more

All sorts of small animals visit our yard during beautiful spring days. They run and play in the warm sun and the freshly-mown grass. We spend much time watching from our kitchen window. We began to notice that a squirrel … Read more

The sun is shining brightly. Soft, gentle winds are blowing through the trees. Tulips are popping out in brilliant reds and yellows. I drive down a street near our house where there are dozens of pear trees all adorned in … Read more

My husband took our ten-year-old granddaughter, Mary Kathryn, fishing one morning. It was a beautiful summer day. The temperature was in the upper 70s and the humidity was way down — quite a contrast to recent days. The lake at … Read more

I have always loved the mountains. Precious memories still linger from the two years my family lived near the peak of a mountain many years ago. I have loved the various trips we have taken across our nation when we … Read more

The trees were still barren from their winter dormancy. Leaves that had drifted down in the fall were scattered across the lawn. Some had embedded themselves between rocks and logs that encircled flower beds. Then one morning, we looked out … Read more

It was a wonderful evening! We had delicious food and Christian fellowship with several of our friends before we went to see the Passion Play at a large church about seventy-five miles from our home. It was, however, a roller-coaster … Read more