When I think about the times in my life that I have felt the most hurt, disappointed or frustrated, they all have to do with unmet expectations. Someone did not do, say or behave in the way I anticipated ~ and they should have. I mean, it seemed like a…
Just Pray for Us Every once in a while you have the good fortune to meet someone who embodies the very spirit of Christmas giving. Last week my husband, Mark, was driving by a tree lot and spotted some lovely silver cypress trees that were just what we needed to…
I so believe this to be true – for better or worse. Whether they are words of kindness, anger, inspiration or bitterness. Whether they are meant to build up or put down. Whether spoken in person, text, email or on social media – our words are powerful beyond measure. Their…
“Lord of all to thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.” It was twenty years ago this week. It was a unique Thanksgiving for our family and one that I still recall with great fondness. Most years we had hosted Thanksgiving dinner for family and friends who…
It was one of those weekends. Part of me welcomed a reason to huddle up inside, make muffins, play games and watch old movies. Part of me waited with bated breath to see if the predictions would unfold, laid awake at night listening to the howling wind, and then watched…
On Behalf of a Grateful Nation In the Spring of 2010 I had the opportunity to stand in the Anzio War Cemetery near Anzio in southern Italy; a beautiful coastal town about 45 miles south of Rome. It was my first experience to stand on U.S. soil in a foreign…
A Life of Thanks-Living This week many of us will gather with family and friends to celebrate the abundance in our lives. It is a time to slow down, think about what we are grateful for, feel our gratitude and experience its heart-warming impact. For families facing the…
Comfortable in My Own Skin For as long as I can remember I’ve enjoyed being around older people. When I was in grade school I loved to visit my paternal grandmother in rural Minnesota on the weekends and a week or two in the summertime. There was always something…
What Does Love Mean? “You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.” ~ Jessica – age 8 In the next few days, the words “I love you” will be said, written and received a…
Deep Love in Action “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” ~ Lao-tzu To love and be loved deeply are among the greatest desires of the human heart and soul. They are the themes of timeless art and literature for a…