Giving Thanks, 2022

Recently Jerry and I were in the Twin Cities for our granddaughter’s birthday. One of the “family rules” is you can’t open another present until you write the Thank You for the present you just opened. Our granddaughter is upfront about saying she doesn’t like to write thank you notes, however, she does like to… Continue reading Giving Thanks, 2022

Wow, Thanks, Help

Some years ago, author Anne Lamott wrote a book titled, Help, Thanks, Wow. Anne is a contemporary author. Help, Thanks, Wow is probably her eighth or ninth book. Anne could probably be described as a quirky writer who after facing and dealing with her alcoholism, drug addiction, and poor choice of romantic partners, gradually surfaces from those years… Continue reading Wow, Thanks, Help

End of Summer Meanderings

A Smorgasbord of Life’s Little Moments as Savored, Summer 2022 Being of a certain age, I still think of summer ending Labor Day weekend. Below are some of the moments that spoke to me throughout the summer. A Day Filled with SunshineOne morning on my walk in the nearby park, I stepped aside as a… Continue reading End of Summer Meanderings

Finding Hope at the Track & Field Meet

As most of you know, I have been keeping an eye out for HOPE under every nook and cranny for over two years now. Just scoped out a Field of Hope. Our #1 son began doing hurdles when he was in high school, and at age 44 is still jumping and leaping. Of course, at… Continue reading Finding Hope at the Track & Field Meet

America the Beautiful

July 4, 2022 Grand Teton range in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming When I was in third grade, our teacher’s name was Miss Mary. I am not sure if Miss Mary had any professional credentials for teaching. But she lived across the street from our school with her parents. Her Dad was the school janitor,… Continue reading America the Beautiful

A Journey to Motherhood

By Marilyn Gates Our guest blogger for Mother’s Day, 2022 is Marilyn Gates. Marilyn lives with her family in the Twin Cities. I met Marilyn some years ago via our sons, Dave Gates and Francis Shen who were college buddies. When Francis and Sophie moved to the Twin Cities, Dave and family introduced them to… Continue reading A Journey to Motherhood

Watching My Tree for the Green to Appear

For those you who have some background in Christianity, you may be aware that we are currently in the liturgical season of Lent. The word, Lent, means a “lengthening.” The days are lengthening naturally, and helped along partially by Daylight Savings Time (DST) which began somewhere around 1908-1914, earlier in Canada and then more publicly… Continue reading Watching My Tree for the Green to Appear

Finding Hope in a World Tinged with Meanness and Hate

As a child I recall having a holy card with the Scripture quote, “Let the little children come to Me; for such is the kingdom of God.” Matthew 19:14 I was a child myself and I am not sure how I understood the passage, but it sounded good to me. Later when I was a… Continue reading Finding Hope in a World Tinged with Meanness and Hate

Warily and Wearily Walking into 2022

Welcome to 2022. I went back and read my blog entry for January 2021. “I look forward to a new beginning.” I said. Well, that was short lived. A very brief honeymoon before plunging back into the rancor, meanness, and just plain obstinacy and idiocy. Power grab and greed full steam ahead. I have been… Continue reading Warily and Wearily Walking into 2022