This is a quote and a text from Sophy in May, when I had not heard from her...
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It all started with my adult daughter’s comment that if my husband and I should leave this world at...
Actor Dean Winters… You may not recognize his name but you most likely would recognize his face—he’s the “Mayhem”...
It is no wonder that we are all just a little bit on the wonky side of “keep on,...
I was talking with a friend the other day, who had inadvertently hurt me. (Hurts are usually inadvertent: Who...
For a whole year and a half, I have tried to attract birds to my garden. I put up...
I don’t know where it came from or how old it is; it has just “always been.”. “It” is...
Easter. Rebirth. Resurrection. Spring. It is also the time when we celebrate the Resurrection. Or, if you’re like me,...
Every month, as I sit down to write my blog, I think, “This will be my last post. It’s...
For many years (40? 50?) no holiday celebration in our family has been complete without the family favorite: Polish...
Today I saw a fox pattering along the edge of the forest, nose down, intent on its journey to...
Sixteen years ago I prayed to God to bring me a Relationship, the companion of my heart. I...
This is a story of how lovingly our needs are met. It’s also about an angel, but mostly about...
Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance. Where there is patience and humility, there...
Dear Janine, If there is one benefit to this coronavirus isolation, it’s giving us the luxury of time. It’s...
In December 1982, a Mel Gibson film entitled “The Year of Living Dangerously “was released. We are only a...
Dear Janine, The coronavirus seems to be the only topic of conversation these days, assuming you can even find...
The accompanying photo is from a correspondent, Pam Urquidi-Wilson, who sees angels in the clouds. On crutches, with...
A few weeks ago I “pulled a muscle.” You’d think at my age that I would know better...
Here we are in January. The new year. This time the new Decade. January is the month when we...
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those...
Christmas is a time of giving. What we don’t always remember is that it’s also a time of receiving,...
Thanksgiving is not my favorite holiday. For one thing, it’s become so commercial, with its orange plastic turkeys and...
“Just be yourself. Everyone else is taken!” Oscar Wilde In this day and age where we all have to...
“…lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white unto harvest…” John 4:35 KJV I’m...
“Writing is a form of therapy: sometimes I wonder how all those who do not write, compose or paint...
“Look, the trees are turning,” she said, glancing out the picture window toward the New Hampshire woods, and everything...
My faith journey began on Great Grandmother’s farm in the Hemet Valley of southern California. The Valley lay at...
By Sophy Burnham ——–While working in the garden, I began to muse on how humans are the only animals...
“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole...
Summertime, and the living is easy. Our cultural memories are rich with summertime: the slap of a screen door...
I normally write my own posts each month on FaithShapes, but this month I’m turning my space over to...
There is a saying in the 12-step Alcoholic Anonymous program that “You will not regret the past, nor wish...
If you get lost in life, put your ear to the ground and listen to its pounding heart. ...
Maundy Thursday: The word “Maundy” comes to us as an Anglo-French word derived from the Latin “mandatum,” which means...
I can recall hearing my grandmother say that sometimes before a social event or having guests in her home,...
The month of March is said to come in like a lion and out like a lamb, and as...
1 onion, chopped 1 T. butter 3 (14 oz. cans) chicken broth 1 (32 oz.) frozen hash browns...
A couple of nights ago I had this interesting dream of a couple of hanging pots with beautiful clover...
“It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to...
In dark December, when everyone was talking about harking to angels, and the birth of the Baby and the...
We are already well into a new year; in fact, I’m posting this on January 25th, and that means...
Not long ago a Canadian wrote me about a mysterious encounter he’d had with a homeless man, Helmut, who...
Ingredients: 1 Cup of sugar 1/4 Cup flour 1/8 tsp. nutmeg 1/2 Cup butter (1 stick) 1 recipe for...
Winter comes with gloomy, cold, rainy, snowy days. A fireplace for centuries was used to provide heat and cook...
Our precious cat, Miss Ellie, passed last week just 3 months shy of her 20th birthday…yes, I said “20th”!!! ...
This is the season for harkening to angel songs, believing—even joyfully—the warmth, comfort, healing and optimism offered by the...
It is Thanksgiving week, and I am late with offering my few words before the T-Day feast of gladness...
2 pkg. Frozen chopped spinach 1 large pkg. Cream cheese (8 oz.) 1 stick of margarine, divided in half...
Every October, with its falling leaves and brilliant colors, I’m reminded of my father’s death: October 30 the...
“Choose this day whom you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua...
This is an all-time family favorite! Just use a deep dish pyrex or other oven-safe pie plate. 1 pie...
The gemstone for September is sapphire, who knows why? (For that matter who made up the order of any...
Have you ever noticed how many songs have the word “blue” in their titles? Moody Blue, Blue Eyes Crying...
These are great cookies to start the fall season, not too heavy but the right amount of spice to...
I know that it is September when the leaves begin to turn brown, or I find them in little...
How quickly my opinions change. One moment I am sneering at Michael Cohen, the President’s long-time lawyer and...
The phrase “green with envy” can be traced back to the ancient Greeks. And years later, William Shakespeare wrote...
A favorite character of The Muppets is Kermit, the Frog. He has a long term relationship with Miss Piggy....
You can use almost any kind of summer fruit for these shortcakes, whatever you can find that is fresh!...
Perhaps because of my name and its derivation (philo-sophy: the love of wisdom), I have a special relationship with...
My childhood years were spent in a rural farming community—not a lot of folks. Amidst that small population I...
Make a half of a cup of simple syrup. Let it cool to room temperature. Use 1/2 cup water...
Proverbs 2:6 (NIV) For the Lord gives wisdom, from His mouth comes knowledge and...
July is one of our family birthday months. Ruby is the “birthstone” for that month. I never see a...
As the earth swings in its elliptical arc around the sun and approaches the July 4 aphelion, its farthest...
No matter what the calendar may say, I think Summer officially begins the day I see my first firefly...
Walking on the beach Sounds of the ocean Finding a patch of thick green moss in the woods and...
This is a recipe for two 8″ cakes for one tier of cake.To make a 6″ tier half the...
Lou is my very dear, elderly friend who is almost like a second mother to me. She is now...
When I automatically set the table for dinner, it never occurs to me that I have to prepare not...
This month I defer to another author, Vanessa, from “At The Picket Fence” blog. I confess that I avoided blogs...
I was seated on the bride’s side of a large church sanctuary awaiting the beginning of a wedding. Prelude music...
The picture accompanying this article was made in front of our house next to our entry porch. If I...
Springtime is my favorite time of the year; I adore all the gorgeous flowers and the bright greens of...
March is upon us, and when I think of March I always think of St. Patrick’s Day and all...
“…be ye holy; for I am holy.” I Peter 1:16 (AKJV) The American Heart Association has designated February 5,...
I have a magazine addiction; I may as well just go ahead and admit it right here and right...
“Also take salvation as our helmet and the word of God as the sword that the Spirit supplies.” Ephesians...
“I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you.” John 14:18 (KJV) Just about any magazine you...
“Welcome sweet Springtime, we greet thee in song. Murmurs of gladness, fall on the ear…” Michael Watson, composer, 1884/lyricist...
“Lord, let the grace of your blessing come upon these eggs, that they be healthful food for your faithful...
Lessons in Loving Family Exodus 20:12: “Honor your father and your mother…” (NET) Recently, I have experienced something new...
“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 (NIV) Trying to define the word...
“The first fall of snow is not only an event, but it is a magical event. You go to...
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you….” Matthew 7:12 (NIV) I gave...
…I will answer their prayers and take care of them. Like an evergreen tree I will shelter them. I...
“For He shall give His angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways.” Psalm 91:11 KJV...
One of our family’s favorite places to visit is the beach, and we visit multiple times per year. On...
“Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—how good God is. Blessed are you who run to...
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1New International Version (NIV)...
“….I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Joshua 1:5 KJV I am one of those folks who doesn’t embrace...
“…let the wise listen and add to their learning.” Proverbs 1:5 (NIV) I am a “reader” — I love...
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord...
Like many families who live near the mountains, our family vision of peace includes snow-covered lawns, ice covered trees,...
“Joy to the world; the Lord is come…” My friend and co-worker, Kathy, has the most fabulous last...
The True Meaning of Joy As a teacher educator, I see most of life through the eyes of...
Holidays are most certainly for family. We share gifts, food, stories of long past events, and most importantly time...
“There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some that face reality; and then...
Summer is officially here! School is out, and we can take a break from work obligations. It is time...
“It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for...
“But Jesus withdrew himself with His disciples to the sea…” Mark 6:7 (KJV) Summer is a time for family. ...
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. ...
St. Patrick is one of the world’s most popular saints with his feast day, March 17, being celebrated all...
…”this is my name (LORD) forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation. Exodus...
“On the other hand the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and...
Blessed are those who have discovered wisdom, those who have acquired understanding! Gaining her is more rewarding than silver,...