Our new home has a pool. Rick has always wanted one, and we tell ourselves it will be great for low-impact exercising our aging, aching bodies. The previous owner didn’t swim and saw no reason to clean the pool or maintain the equipment. Cha-ching. Upside is wildlife enjoyed the scuzzy-looking pond, including a river otter …
A missionary friend shared her airport experience in Harare, Zimbabwe. Everyone was checked into the flight, luggage on board. People filed onto the plane in an orderly manner, stowed their carry-ons and took their seats. The stewardess closed the airplane doors and set the locks. People buckled up, ready to go. And then they sat. …
Not long ago, we had a tree specialist come in to trim our redwoods, which look sparse and sick. We thought they were suffering from the drought, but were shocked to find out they are suffocating and starving to death. Previous owners laid black plastic around them to prevent weeds and then added a thick …
Over the years, I’ve read the Bible many times and studied through classes as well as on my own. I am not a scholar, but I know without doubt God meets us where we are and His Word is living and applicable to our everyday life. Even if I read through the Scriptures every year …
My father’s birthday was on the Ides of March. He had heart problems from childhood due to rheumatic fever, but ended up dying of liver cancer when he was 71 years old. That seemed young to me when it happened, even more so now that I’m approaching 70. I thought I’d have more time with …
We moved into a smaller house and turned one bedroom into an office with two work stations, one for me and one for Rick. I’ve been organizing and reorganizing since we moved in. We have a storage unit just for files; Rivers Aviation Services files, tax files with back-up receipts on everything, and my research …
I’m coming to the end of my current WIP and find myself feeling a little blue. It’s taken me months to get to know these characters. They might still have more to say and do, or could, if I had the time and imagination to continue to live vicariously through their trials and triumphs. It’s …
I love movies, primarily movies that make me want to stand up and cheer. I’m especially moved by those based on real life people who rise above great trials. Here are some of the movies I’ve collected and still enjoy: Rudy October Sky Remember the Titans Gifted Hands McFarland, USA Race When the Game Stands …
There has been a lot of talk about putting up a wall along our southern border. The idea didn’t start with the new administration. It goes way back. “There’s nothing new under the sun,” as King Solomon said. Mankind has been building walls for centuries; around cities and castles, along borders. We have plenty of …
Everyone seems to be angry these days: protesters on the march, cowards in black using crowd-cover to cause chaos; incendiary columnists on all sides, hysterical letters to the editor, people unfriending life-long friends because they have different political views. And name-calling didn’t end when the campaign was over. Both sides are grouping and categorizing people. …