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    Family

    “Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family.” –Anthony Brandt

    Thanksgiving exists because the early settlers survived in spite of horrific circumstances. Famine, unknown disease, and fear of the natives were only a few of the obstacles they faced. When the Mayflower anchored at Plymouth Rock there were no hospitals, grocery stores, or hotels. Imagine how thankful they were just to see another day! That […]

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    I have a confession. After dreaming and scheming over what to do with a 10-acre property we purchased last year, we gave up hope of figuring out a decent plan. I even wondered if I should be put out to pasture.   What kind of investment or farming venture could we come up with that […]

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      Several years have passed since I’ve been able to go home. Not the one I sleep in every night with my family. I’m talking about the one I came home from the hospital to, and got on the school bus in front of, and ate my mother’s home cookin’ inside. And yes, it is […]

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      Now that the grip of the pandemic is loosening, we are getting on with life the way we once did. As with any great interruption in life, we can experience lingering effects of that season. But there is one topic we tend to bury and struggle to resolve on our own. Grief.   Current […]

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      As we pass between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day it’s natural to reflect on your own experience as a child and at the same time ponder our own parenting approach. Many of us worry and agonize over the decisions we make for our children and the methods we use to teach them values and […]

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      After the past year, we are pacing ourselves through a period of re-boot. Most people are cautiously optimistic that society will march forward and growth will take root. The definition of growth can mean something different to each of us. Can growth be quantified by our possessions? One mystifying part of our human nature […]

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    There is no way to describe the feelings that churned inside as I walked toward a beautifully sculpted park in Berlin last year. Scouring the corner, I tried to visualize her image. It had been years since my German daughter, Franka, said goodbye to me at the airport, tears budding in our eyes. We both […]

    Blankets of rain and wind assaulted the seaweed riddled beach in Cancun, Mexico all week, transforming our long-awaited vacation into a staycation. I shook my head, giving my husband, Patrick that look. The brilliant sun sparkled through the open archways taunting us as we waited for the van that would take us closer to home. […]

    Once my mother became a widow, she shocked me. She had always been a humble woman who wore house dresses and toiled on the farm, devoting her life to church. This quiet little lady learned to drive, despite my serious concerns, then went on to travel all over the country and on to Egypt, Africa, […]

    Gardening – Could there be more to it than food fare and pleasant scents? When I moved into the college dorm room I brought along my favorite clothes, posters, and my battered tennis racket. Just before leaving me to fend for myself, my mother waltzed in with something strange. A cactus plant. I eyed the […]

    The last car turned out of the drive, leaving a puff of dust in its wake. I turned to my husband with a weary smile. “Another family night in the books.” We strolled along the pebbled walkway toward the open grill, passing through the smoky scent of hamburgers and brats that trickle through the gentle […]

    Is your child anxious about returning to school? The better question is; why wouldn’t you be anxious? First of all, every typically developing human experiences anxiety on a regular basis. The surge of adrenaline, oxygen, and hormones that accompanies anything beyond the mundane routine of daily life is familiar to us all. If fact, our […]

    Do you have a favorite memory of a farm visit or love animals? You may be able to relate to these pastimes and find a way to create your own relationships with a cute creature.

    Zero in on what matters this season. Capturing each moment and soaking in the atmosphere of your smaller world can be every bit as special as your imagination can muster.

    Do you feel confused at times about the nature of love in this crazy world? Take 3 minutes to read your Valentine's message from me to you in our cozy corner of encouragement.

      If this topic raises your eyebrows, I assure you I thought twice before writing this. No one wants to have children who grow up to have narcissism or an air of superiority. Yet, somehow it is happening. Children between the ages of 7 and 11 begin to develop their self-esteem through evaluations of themselves […]

      Since 1970, Americans have been recognizing Earth Day along with a growing number of countries. Today, more than 200 countries around the globe celebrate our planet and consider how we can show it some love.   While our beloved planet groans and cries out in the midst of our human presence, we continue to […]

      After the past year, we are pacing ourselves through a period of re-boot. Most people are cautiously optimistic that society will march forward and growth will take root. The definition of growth can mean something different to each of us. Can growth be quantified by our possessions? One mystifying part of our human nature […]

      As we pass between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day it’s natural to reflect on your own experience as a child and at the same time ponder our own parenting approach. Many of us worry and agonize over the decisions we make for our children and the methods we use to teach them values and […]

      Now that the grip of the pandemic is loosening, we are getting on with life the way we once did. As with any great interruption in life, we can experience lingering effects of that season. But there is one topic we tend to bury and struggle to resolve on our own. Grief.   Current […]

      Several years have passed since I’ve been able to go home. Not the one I sleep in every night with my family. I’m talking about the one I came home from the hospital to, and got on the school bus in front of, and ate my mother’s home cookin’ inside. And yes, it is […]

    I have a confession. After dreaming and scheming over what to do with a 10-acre property we purchased last year, we gave up hope of figuring out a decent plan. I even wondered if I should be put out to pasture.   What kind of investment or farming venture could we come up with that […]

    Thanksgiving exists because the early settlers survived in spite of horrific circumstances. Famine, unknown disease, and fear of the natives were only a few of the obstacles they faced. When the Mayflower anchored at Plymouth Rock there were no hospitals, grocery stores, or hotels. Imagine how thankful they were just to see another day! That […]

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