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Remembering the past and getting excited about the present
Saturday evening Mim and I went to a fancy Italian restaurant for dinner. We celebrated forty years of living together. Part of our Bible Study Group.Yes, that’s really Mim on the left and me on the...
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Attitude
In today’s reading of “The Monastic Way” Joan Chittister, OSB, said, “The attitude we bring to every day will determine the character and quality of that day.” For me, that’s a timely statement to read...
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A Time to Change Plans
Yesterday afternoon I wrote a blurb for the back cover of my new book on hospitality, COME, LORD JESUS, BE OUR GUEST. I plan to submit my edited manuscript along with cover suggestions to my publisher,...
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The Three Big Questions in Life
What a walk! Sunday afternoon was a time for spring fever. Bright blue sky. Snow-covered fields. Temperatures in the upper 30’s. And no wind. Mim, Abbey, and I walked down country roads for well over...
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The 4 Best Books I’ve Read Recently
I’m sitting with three books and my Kindle on my desk right now. Within the past few weeks I’ve finished reading the three books. The fourth book is on my Kindle. All four books are excellent, and I...
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Your Gift to the World
Grandma’s Flower Garden Quilt Grandma and Grandpa. The little girl scowling on the right is my mom. The happy little boy is Uncle Helmer. My grandma (Mom’s mother) used to make quilts. At some point...
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What Best Friends Talk About
One of the nice things about living with your best friend for forty years, is that you’re comfortable with regularly sharing your thoughts with each other. Mim is an avid reader, and almost every day...
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Do This in Remembrance of Me
I think I was four years old the first time I wondered about what was going on in church when my mom and dad left Danny and me in the pew with strict instructions to “sit still” while they walked up to...
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What’s in a Name?
I guess it’s a good thing I never had any kids. I have a really hard time coming up with names for anything. I don’t know how I would have chosen names for my own kids. And then I’m pretty sure I would...
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Spring Cleaning
Part of my mom’s set of nut cups. When I was a little girl, I really liked the week every year that my mom set aside for spring cleaning. The best time was the day we took all the beautiful things out...
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Love One Another – Reflections from Jail
One of the Bible readings in church yesterday was from the book of John. Jesus said, I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one...
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When Bad Things Happen to Good Birds
Phyllis and Fred H. Finch.Photo from http://www.allaboutbirds.org This morning I overheard a conversation between Phyllis and Fred H. Finch in our back yard. I actually was listening for them...
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A Peek at my Second Book
My goal for this week is to finish reviewing the proofs for my second book, Come, Lord Jesus, Be Our Guest: Adventures in Hospitality . (My real goal was to finish this task last week, but lots of...
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The Magic of Books
Welcoming guests during our B&B years Three years and three and a half months ago I started writing a book on hospitality. Last Wednesday, 1200 days after starting the project, I signed off on...
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Angels Among Us
The past three weeks have been quite strenuous for all of us at Country Comforts Assisted Living. One of our residents was living through his last days in this life. Abbey is always a really big...
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Maria’s Story
Abbey is a good listener. “Hey, Abbey. Can you come here a minute? I need to talk, and I need someone to just listen.” “OK, Mom. You know I’m always ready to just sit beside you and listen. What’s up?”...
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Maria’s Story – Part 2
Another conversation with Abbey When I came home from playing the piano for the Women’s Worship Service at the county jail last Thursday, Abbey met me at the door. “Did you see Maria?” she asked. “Did...
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My Brother Danny
My brother and me a long time ago I have a brother who is two years older than me. He’ll be 67 on September 11. (His birthday is the event I prefer to associate with that date.) To me, and to most of...
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I should have known better …
Last Tuesday I did something really dumb. As a 65-year-old, I should have known better. The day started out fine. I spent the morning working on my computer in my home office. I was working on a...
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Fluffy Clouds, Still Goldfinches, and Dirty Windows
Up in heaven, a new angel must have been assigned to weather control for southern Wisconsin last week. As a newbie, he’s not quite sure how to maneuver all the clouds and keep the seasons in line....
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