Random Notes and Observations

*The leaves are now beginning to turn here in Southeastern Wisconsin. The red maples are starting, and within about 10 days or so they will be breathtaking. The leaves crunch under my feet on my walks. On Saturday, the sky was that deep, deep blue, and the air was absolutely still. A perfect autumn day.
*We [...]

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An Unusual Proposal

Four weeks ago, Tom and I went out for dinner, and afterwards, we happened to pass a jewelry store about 45 minutes before it was closing. Tom suggested we go in and look around. The manager, who was behind the counter with not much to do, turned out to be a Christian and a VCY [...]

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Pleasant Gifts

The following is from Morning Bells, a devotional for children by 19th Century writer and poet, Frances Ridley Havergal.
‘Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.’–1 Tim. 6.17
THINK a little this morning of God’s great kindness to you.  How very good He is to you!  I know one of His dear children who looks up [...]

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Friends Forever

Childhood friends and their impact on us as people can tell us a lot about our personalities and how we viewed the world back then. Those other lives that crossed ours at critical points in our development are often never forgotten.
Wendy was certainly one of a kind, and that is an understatement. I started [...]

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The Best Years of Our Lives…go too quickly

Will and Mary (Mimi) at the pumpkin patch

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Christopher & Banks Earns My Applause

OK, this may seem like a silly post, but it isn’t to me. I got a press release in my in box today, and I’m a happy camper. I shop often at Christopher & Banks. They have clothes for women like me. Translation: I don’t want to be cool and hip, but I still want [...]

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Why the Hope Blog?

I have gotten a number of new readers lately according to my stats, and I’m glad for all who have stopped by. New readers who came to this site through my news blog, SliceofLaodicea.com,  may not understand the sometimes banal stuff that I write about here like decorating disasters, first day of school reflections, childhood [...]

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Caught on Camera

Caught in the act. Since getting a digital camera a little while ago, I have admittedly become a picture taking maniac, and now I am startling completely innocent people with my paparazzi ways. The eye rolling of family members is becoming unsettling. Here I caught Tom off guard warming up before leaving on opening night [...]

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The Christmas Letter Syndrome and Reality

Do you remember back before Internet and blog days when every Christmas, a lot of families would send out Christmas letters, glowing with news of all the exciting accomplishments, achievements and vacations for the year? They still do now, I guess, but it’s usually in email form. They run something like this:
Dear Friends and Family,
Bob [...]

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A Special Emphasis in October

Following up on my series on domestic violence in Christian homes, I wanted to mention that October is National Domestic Abuse Awareness Month. A related press release I received today points out that men are far from the only aggressors. That is true. Some men have had nightmarish situations where their wives are physically and [...]

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