Along with many other people, I grieve over families being separated at the border.  I know if I was in Mexico, living in fear of cartels, wanting a better life for my children, I’d be swimming with them across the Rio Grande or pushing them up over the walls.  We all long for freedom, security, opportunities to prosper. The U.S. takes in over 1 million people a year, legally (green cards) from around the world. Forty percent of the “illegal immigrants” came into the U.S. legally, but stayed after their visas expired.  The immigration rate (legal and illegal) is higher in the United States Continue Reading

The brain-stormers gathered in Coeur d’Alene again this year, and I’ve no doubt half a dozen books will come forth over the next twelve months and beyond.  One of our gals (Gayle DeSalles) did a devotional.  I always have my pen handy because I know she will dive deep and bring up thoughts and questions to ponder in the weeks and months ahead. She talked about how childhood events impact us throughout our lives.  Especially events that may not seem traumatic to an adult, but to a child are life changing. I had acute appendicitis at the age of eight, was sent by ambulance to the hospital Continue Reading

Not too long ago, our daughter informed us that our s-i-l had found a dream-job opportunity that would make him a very happy man.  Surprise!  The job is in another state.  Eighteen months ago, our daughter helped find our new home -- within five-minutes of she and her family.  We’ve been spoiled to have them so close. In fact, we’ve been spoiled having our three children within visiting range, though we’re all so busy, visits can be a couple times a year.  I have friends who have children scattered all over the country, some overseas serving in the military.  At least our daughter is only Continue Reading

Based on Matthew 14:22-33 The oars plunged back into the water, rowers silent as they strained against the unrelenting wind. Despite their effort, the boat seemed to stand still in the midst of the churning sea. Those without an oar bailed water as it sloshed over the sides of the boat, trying not to notice the seemingly endless waves that surrounded them. It had been a long night. What started as a day off had been anything but restful. The arms that now rowed and bailed in earnest had spent the afternoon waiting on thousands of hungry men, women, and children as they listened to Continue Reading

I love watching biographies, and the story of Hedy Lamarr caught my attention.  My father and father-in-law both thought Hedy Lamarr was “the cat’s meow”.  She was a beautiful woman, an actress who left Nazi-occupied Austria and came to America.  She was under the old star-system, a form of bondage.  Sadly, very few saw past the beautiful face to the extraordinary inventor she was. Hedy Kiesler Markey and George Anthiel (a musician) developed frequency hopping and offered it to the U.S. military to aid in the war effort.  Higher ups turned up their noses.  An actress coming up with a good Continue Reading

An electrician came to do some work in our home and said he’d just gotten back from Sacramento where he and his pastor had gone to speak against AB2943, a bill that will make sexual orientation reparative therapy illegal – even if requested.  They were concerned that the bill was an attempt to move toward outlawing the Bible.  Contemporary science recognizes just about anything as “part of the natural spectrum of human identity”.  The bill talks about the risks of reparative therapy causing depression, anxiety and self-destructive behavior.  Which made me wonder:  Why a patient would seek such Continue Reading

There are some days when the irony of the news astounds me.  Headline:  40 Arrested at Petaluma Farm.  Why?  For protesting the treatment of chickens.  They had trespassed on the property and were rescuing chickens.  There was a picture of several people in handcuffs.  Great front page story! Though I’m all for being proper stewards over the animal kingdom, it sure had me cackling. On I go and end up on the editorial page where the double column is dedicated to a diatribe about women’s health care at risk because the President may defund Planned Parenthood.  The editor said the organization Continue Reading

I’m taking some time off and going through family memorabilia that has been gathering dust far too long.  Letters, pictures, diaries – boxes of them.  I’ve found some surprises along the way. My paternal grandmother won a prize for an essay she wrote for a sugar beet company.  She liked poetry.  This is precious to me because I never had the opportunity to get to know her.  She died when I was barely six years old, and she and grandpa lived in Colorado, a three-day drive from California in the 50s. She had lots of friends from what I’ve gathered.  A dozen of more friends bought her a small Continue Reading

Scent brings back memories.  Hot sand and vineyards take me back to the weeks each summer I spent with my Grandma Wulff on her Livingston ranch. The verdant vines and almond orchard were places of adventure.  I remember the feel of hot sand between my toes and racing to the irrigation ditch for a cool dip. The scent of sawdust takes me home to Pleasanton where my father and mother worked late afternoons and week-ends building our house.  It took twelve years to finish, one room at a time as they could afford, and by then that smell of wood dust was in my veins.  I still love it. Pungent Continue Reading