Author: Shirley Dobie

The Bible tells us not to discourage the young in their attempts at learning or doing things. We also need to see how excluded some older folk often feel. They are still necessary and are our greatest teachers. Twice a … Read more

Many relatives don't see each other for years on end. My maternal grandparents lived in the province of Manitoba, Canada, while we were two provinces away in Alberta. We did write letters on occasion, but I never really knew them. … Read more

Cherries are one of the sweetest of fruits. They are not as easy to grow as one would suspect. When one of my children moved to a fruit-growing area in southern British Columbia, Canada, we were thrilled to have her … Read more

Driving through strange cities usually keeps me on edge, since I have a poor sense of direction. Coming home through Quesnel, a small city in central British Columbia, Canada, I was watching for the familiar turn. A very clear voice … Read more

Colleen was past two years old and just didn't talk. We were beginning to worry, although she could say the usual "Mamma", "Daddy", etc. We had been to visit grandparents three hours away. Coming home through the dusk, we rounded … Read more

Gift giving is a favourite pastime at our house, and at Christmas, most of all. We enjoy choosing something appropriate and wrapping it with beautiful paper and ribbons. It is so much fun to change the appearance with an odd-shaped … Read more

Recently, I went on a trip to another city and looked forward to visiting an older couple I've known for a long time. They are the nicest people and don't feel they need God. We human beings prefer to do … Read more

Retiring must be hardest for those who have given their lives to serving others. Dad had a heart condition and was forced to retire from the ministry. He had been a carpenter as well. He had carpentry tools and the … Read more

Years of sewing left me with a wealth of scraps. Quilting sounded like a good idea, and the first one completed went to one of my children. He has been going through a challenging time lately; thus I called it … Read more

A pair of brand-name jogging shoes hung laced together over the telephone wire at a busy intersection by the lake. All summer long, traffic was non-stop every day until late at night. Finally, the first weekend of September was over, … Read more