I posed that question to the bank teller this week. She groaned, shook her head, and broke into a dismayed laugh. “I think I’ll fake the flu. I can take my time after the holiday and do it right.” Not the answer I expected. I asked the checker at the grocery store. “I’m ready for […]
Historical
Oh Christmas Tree!
Our Christmas festivities always begin with the arrival of the tree. It’s a ritual my family has honed to perfection (and exhaustion) over the years. But this year the tree hunters were met with a surprise. The lot from which they chose to buy had sold out. Its sister location across town had also disposed […]
Oldest, Coldest and Wet
The weatherman predicted a downpour here today for the 67th Springfield Oregon Christmas Parade, an event that boasts it is the oldest and coldest parade in the nation. But despite the warning, people flocked to the curbs along the streets and endured a mild drizzle for about a half hour before the rain gave it […]
Being Thankful
With Thanksgiving days away, I decided to stop and reflect on what I’m thankful for this season. Friends and family— It’s easy to take things like our family, friends and home for granted. They are everywhere present and with the familiarity comes a decreased awareness of how important they are to our lives. Yet if […]
- Historical
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Thwarting Determination
One morning earlier this week I squinted into the mist beyond my bedroom window, enjoying the colors of fall on my patio. Everything appeared as it should, the quiet of the day slowly rising at the sun’s beckon. My gaze strayed to the bird feeder hanging against the concrete block wall behind it. Except it […]
- General
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Smoke Detectors–Safety or Sanity?
The piercing whine coming from the hall could mean only one thing—something I cooked in the kitchen had set off the smoke detector. But what? The bigger surprise came in the when of it all. Our smoke detector had quit working a while ago. When had my husband installed a new one without my knowledge? […]
Book Pick–Author Lauraine Snelling
Few books that I read merit my attention to the point of me saying,“ I couldn’t put it down.” This week, though, I finished book one in the series Under Northern Skies by Lauraine Snelling, The Promise of Dawn. I have to say this story was one that kept me eager to sit and read […]
- Historical
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Book Pick #3- Author Karen Barnett
With summer winding down and fall gearing up its transition, you and your family would do well to spend some time at a national park before inclement weather and colder temperatures threaten to make the trip less appealing. The National Park Service is now one hundred years old and is considered one of our nation’s […]
After A Conference
This week I had the privilege of attending the Oregon Christian Writers conference at the Jantzen Beach Red Lion in Portland, Oregon. Featured speakers included Brian Bird who writes screenplays for the popular Hallmark Sunday night movie, When Calls the Heart and Francine Rivers, who is a best-selling, multi-published […]
Book Pick #2–Author LindaThompson
Part two of my August book line-ups My father served in the Army during World War II, but beyond his experience and the history I learned in school, I didn’t know much about the conflict. My husband, however, is a history enthusiast, and often will show me something new he’s found on the internet—usually live […]