Some people wish they lived in "simpler times." They picture themselves reclining on couches or sitting on cool wraparound porches, sipping cool lemonade. It must have been idyllic, they tell themselves. But was it? Maybe not. Years ago our family visited a museum where I picked up a small souvenir parchment, an exact copy of one pioneer mother's laundry instructions to her soon-to-be-married daughter. Mama's Wash Receipt 1. Bild a fire in back yard to heet kettle of rain rater.... Continue reading

Moms and dads don't need to sign up for personal growth classes because our "education" goes on and on. On the other hand, some don't quite get it. Right? Picture the scene: the Misses Clothing department of a large suburban store. I was looking through a sale rack when a nicely-dressed, thirtyish woman in stiletto heels came up. She was pushing a stroller at a leisurely pace, in which sat a boy, maybe age 2 1/2. He was in mid-meltdown.... Continue reading

Have you ever looked up to the ceiling of a room and spotted a flyspeck you never noticed before? Right away it's as if the rest of the room didn't matter because that FLYSPECK blotted out everything else. Think of that "flyspeck" as an example of how a small concern easily can become the only thing one can think about. Learning along the way I wasted years fighting the tendency to get hung up on small annoyances and faults I... Continue reading

A lot of people believe the very idea of keeping love alive--and thriving--over the years is an impossible dream. Not true. From what I've observed over the years what's needed most is that each marriage partner does their best to keep their marriage Priority One. How does that play out in practical terms? Something like this: 1. Check how you look at life Because you two are building a life and a future together, think "we" instead of "me." Abandon... Continue reading

It's surprising, but the true basics of making life better often sound too simple. I found that to be true back when I was a young mother trying to hold it all together. No matter how hectic the day, I never missed one syndicated column in our daily newspaper: "The Worry Clinic," written by a Dr. George Crane. All I knew about "Dr. Crane" was what the tiny blurb at the bottom stated, that he was a licensed, professional counselor.... Continue reading

When you look into a mirror who looks back at you? Is it you as you really are or is it the person you think you should be? This may seem a silly question, especially since it's a given that every one of us keeps growing and changing all through our lives--until one considers how many people rate their self-worth on the number of "likes" they get on social media. It's as if one's value as a person depends on... Continue reading

The first word stops us, doesn't it? Everyday struggles. Life is full of things (and people) that get in the way of easy days and a trouble-free life. What matters most is how we label our experiences--in the moment or years later--and that's up to us. Take hardship, for example. At any age or stage of life, hardship is real--and it's hard. Some who experienced it seem unable to move past an inability to cope with the ordinary ups and... Continue reading

Some of us assume what's being taught in the schools needn't concern us unless we have children still attending. Are you sure? Today's schoolkids will be tomorrow's adults. Tomorrow's leaders in every community and in every level of government. What these children learn in school and adopt as their personal values today will determine how they will live--and lead--tomorrow. That kid on the corner who "drives you crazy" today may grow up to be President tomorrow. (And you may still... Continue reading

Sometimes a slight twist of our perspective leads to major changes. That happened to my husband and me the week our entire family went to summer camp on the shore of Lake Michigan. At the time we lived on and operated a dairy and grain farm, with all the constant responsibility that implies, plus we had four lively children. Between cows and crops and kids, both of us were running on fumes by July and needed a break. Needed time.... Continue reading

What an odd mixture of Easter symbols we have in America...and probably all over the world. Bunnies, butterflies, baby chicks, eggs, flowers and green grass, chocolates in foil wrappings. And once in awhile, a picture of a man hanging on a wooden cross. But hey, isn't Easter really all about Spring and everything greening up, blooming, growing? No, not really. The deeper meaning of Easter Easter traces back to the life and death of a man called Jesus, who was... Continue reading

Have you ever considered the influence other people--real or imagined--have on how you think and how you live? It's worth thinking about because such individuals easily become our role models. After that comes trying to measure up to them. What we forget is that most of the time what we see is a carefully staged image. We already know that's true with celebrities, but we may not factor that in once we get on social media. Even when we don't... Continue reading

They're all around us, the people who drag us down and leave us mired in their words. Or attitudes. Some of us call them turkeys--and don't ask me why. It might be a neighbor or friend who harps on the same gripes, time after time. Or it could might be someone seated beside you and for whatever reason, you can't escape. It could even be (gasp!) someone in your family. A number of turkeys have their own talk shows, either... Continue reading

What are your thoughts when you see a flag flying, whether outside a home or at any public place? It seems that many consider the flag a visual offense, wherever it is--just by being there. And they're not all young, not all "radical," or whatever convenient label might come to mind. An area realtor told of a recent experience with an older married couple who were looking for a house. Both were Caucasian and judging by their clothing and their... Continue reading

Fathers come in all shapes and sizes and all personalities. One thing is common to all: Even the best of them have--or had--flaws because, well, they're human beings. Some dads provide for their family and are physically present, but they remain detached emotionally. Others live with one goal: Provide for their family and give them what they need, plus surround them with love. Perhaps the man who reared you and did his best to love you wasn't your "natural father,"... Continue reading

Many of us aren't sure about the answer. You know the kind of questions I mean. "Okay, if there really is a God, why would I think he cares about me?" "From what I know of God, he is more about Dos and Don'ts than about caring for ordinary people like me." "Don't talk to me about God. Not when innocent people get shot while walking down the street or riding their bikes. Not with little kids getting abused and... Continue reading

Have you ever identified with a fable or an old folk tale and been surprised by a flash of insight into your life? I have. I think this might be one of those. The story goes that somehow an eagle's egg got mixed in with the chicken eggs in a nest. The mama hen seemed not to notice. To her an egg was an egg. Period. So she sat contentedly on her nest, waiting for THE day her eggs would... Continue reading

Have you "had it up to here" with all things connected with the Covid 19 pandemic? Most of us would shout, "Yes!" Collectively and individually, we need a lift. Something like a catchy song that gets us all singing along and tapping our feet to its rhythm would help. That's what Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer gave our Nation in 1944. Exhausted Americans were scraping bottom. World War II had dragged on since the December 7, 1941, surprise bombing raid... Continue reading

We're grieving the loss of what we believed America is all about. That a mob would batter their way into our U.S. Capitol building makes us heartsick. "This is America!" we want to scream. "That does not happen here! Except it did. On January 6, 2021. Many of the folks in that mob no doubt considered themselves "good people," who were upholding truth, justice and what is right. Reportedly, many were Christians. Yet everyone with even a smidgen of Bible... Continue reading