This is the season for harkening to angel songs, believing—even joyfully—the warmth, comfort, healing and optimism offered by the angels, the sense that everything is goingto be all right, and that with all our doubts, inadequacies and fears we, too, are all right. We are perfect just the way...
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It is Thanksgiving week, and I am late with offering my few words before the T-Day feast of gladness that we are called to, because in the last weeks it feels as if all I’ve done is attend memorial services (three in three days; others earlier). Each service took...
2 pkg. Frozen chopped spinach 1 large pkg. Cream cheese (8 oz.) 1 stick of margarine, divided in half grated rind of one lemon Pepperidge Farm dressing crumbs (herb seasoned) Blend cream cheese, ¼ stick of margarine and lemon rind. Cook spinach according to directions. Drain well. Squeeze out...
Every October, with its falling leaves and brilliant colors, I’m reminded of my father’s death: October 30 the night before Halloween. My mother had died three years earlier, leaving our father, stroke-ridden, in our house. What was curious, whenever I visited Daddy, I could feel my mother in...
“Choose this day whom you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 The American Gem Society website (www.americangemsociety.com) says that those folks born in October get to choose between two birthstones—tourmaline or opal. Each gem unveils nearly limitless possibilities offering a...
This is an all-time family favorite! Just use a deep dish pyrex or other oven-safe pie plate. 1 pie dish (or aluminum pie pan) Pie Crust (from Pillsbury’s “All-ready Pie Crust”) 2 heaping tablespoons flour 1 pkg.(2 or 3 cups) Of grated, mixed cheese (colby-jack, or 4-cheese Mexican Blend...
The gemstone for September is sapphire, who knows why? (For that matter who made up the order of any of the 12 monthly gemstones, or put another way—to whose financial benefit? ) Well, I’m not even going to go there. I want to talk about the color blue and...
Have you ever noticed how many songs have the word “blue” in their titles? Moody Blue, Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue?, Blue Moon of Kentucky, Blue Velvet, and Blue Suede Shoes just to name a few. Very often we use the...
These are great cookies to start the fall season, not too heavy but the right amount of spice to get you ready for the chilly fall weather. They are also incredibly easy to make since they start with a cake mix. Ingredients: 1 spice cake mix (18.25 oz) 2/3...
I know that it is September when the leaves begin to turn brown, or I find them in little fluffy mounds all along the ground near the creek. The spiders are still out in force with cobwebs that festoon our back porch and other insects are still sneaking into...
How quickly my opinions change. One moment I am sneering at Michael Cohen, the President’s long-time lawyer and fixer, a hired hand whom we see dipping his fingers in the milk of corruption, sipping from a bowl that is growing larger and larger as he sits before it...
The phrase “green with envy” can be traced back to the ancient Greeks. And years later, William Shakespeare wrote these lines in Othello: “Beware, my lord, of jealousy; it is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on”. Envy usually precedes jealousy…and unchecked jealousy can lead...
A favorite character of The Muppets is Kermit, the Frog. He has a long term relationship with Miss Piggy. There is an understanding of love. However, Kermit admits that he has been somewhat of an outsider because of his color – GREEN. In his song, “It’s Not Easy Being...
You can use almost any kind of summer fruit for these shortcakes, whatever you can find that is fresh! Ingredients: 8 cups pineapple, slices thin 5 tablespoons sugar 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 5 tablespoons sugar 8 tablespoons...
Perhaps because of my name and its derivation (philo-sophy: the love of wisdom), I have a special relationship with wisdom. I remember when I was a teenager that my prayer — with heart-yearning anguish — was “To Understand.” “Understand what?” someone might have asked, had I opened the secret...
My childhood years were spent in a rural farming community—not a lot of folks. Amidst that small population I can remember at least three ladies named Ruby. It must have been a popular name during the times they were born. It was never one of my favorite names but...
Make a half of a cup of simple syrup. Let it cool to room temperature. Use 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup sugar. Simmer (cook slowly) over low heat until the sugar dissolves. (Do not stir the sugar while it is dissolving, just keep an eye on it to...
Proverbs 2:6 (NIV) For the Lord gives wisdom, from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding. For the United States of America, Independence Day, July 4th, is a family celebration.There are bar-b-ques, picnics, parades, and fireworks. From small town USA to New York’s Macy’s and Washington D.C.’s spectacular fireworks...
July is one of our family birthday months. Ruby is the “birthstone” for that month. I never see a ruby without thinking of my sister, our late father, and a nephew. The stones are found (and polished) with such wonderful hues of red. Even the word “Ruby” creates a...
As the earth swings in its elliptical arc around the sun and approaches the July 4 aphelion, its farthest point from the sun (94.5 million miles), you’d think the earth would be colder than at other times. But because the North Pole tilts toward (or away from) the light...
No matter what the calendar may say, I think Summer officially begins the day I see my first firefly of the year. And that event happened on May 31st this year. Since childhood I have been fascinated by the firefly although in those growing up years, we called them...
Walking on the beach Sounds of the ocean Finding a patch of thick green moss in the woods and taking your shoes off and standing barefoot on it. A game of horseshoes A game of croquet Homemade ice cream Swimming Water skiing Eating a Georgia or South Carolina just-picked...
This is a recipe for two 8″ cakes for one tier of cake.To make a 6″ tier half the recipe, for a 10″ tier double the recipe. Ingredients: 4 eggs, room temperature 1/2 cup whole milk, room temperature 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2...
Lou is my very dear, elderly friend who is almost like a second mother to me. She is now 88 years old and still very active. Her husband had a military career as an Air Force Master Sergeant, and they have lived in more states than I have room...
When I automatically set the table for dinner, it never occurs to me that I have to prepare not only the “plate” upon which the food is placed but that I am actually creating the environment in which eating together makes memories. Which is to say that how and...
This month I defer to another author, Vanessa, from “At The Picket Fence” blog. I confess that I avoided blogs for several years, unsure if I actually wanted to spend any of my precious (and rare) spare time there. I finally decided that I would limit myself to two blogs,...
I was seated on the bride’s side of a large church sanctuary awaiting the beginning of a wedding. Prelude music filled the air, and I scanned the scene making note of every exquisite detail in the decorations—all breathtakingly gorgeous. The bride was an only child; her parents were not wealthy,...
The picture accompanying this article was made in front of our house next to our entry porch. If I had taken a picture of this same area two months ago, you would have seen some well-established boxwoods and a holly bush. But life happens…and replacing a field sewer line...
Springtime is my favorite time of the year; I adore all the gorgeous flowers and the bright greens of the tree leaves. But there are two words that I really don’t care to even have whispered in my presence in April: “Spring Cleaning” — oops, I don’t think I...
March is upon us, and when I think of March I always think of St. Patrick’s Day and all things Irish and Celtic. I am a collector of cross pendants, and several of my pendants feature Celtic knots. However, none of my pendants seem to have the same celtic...
“…be ye holy; for I am holy.” I Peter 1:16 (AKJV) The American Heart Association has designated February 5, 2016 as “National Wear Red Day” in an effort to raise awareness of heart health. There will be no shortage this month of articles, commercials, websites, recipes, and numerous other...
I have a magazine addiction; I may as well just go ahead and admit it right here and right now. The addiction is worse around Thanksgiving and Christmas when all those specialty holiday editions appear on the racks. I’m sure you know the ones I’m talking about…they are NOT...
“Also take salvation as our helmet and the word of God as the sword that the Spirit supplies.” Ephesians 6:17 (GOD’S WORD Translation) I sit unnerved as I write this — a gunman has opened fire on a Chattanooga, Tennessee military recruiting center and then moved on to another military...
“I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you.” John 14:18 (KJV) Just about any magazine you pick up these days is likely to mention “comfort foods”–those foods that give you a feeling of well-being and link you to a person, place, or time that stands out...
“Welcome sweet Springtime, we greet thee in song. Murmurs of gladness, fall on the ear…” Michael Watson, composer, 1884/lyricist unknown While driving to work yesterday, I was smitten with all the gorgeous Springtime colors that surrounded me: tulips, candy tuft, creeping phlox, dogwoods, azaleas….oh my, brilliant color everywhere! With...
“Lord, let the grace of your blessing come upon these eggs, that they be healthful food for your faithful who eat them in thanksgiving for the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you forever and ever.” The Roman Ritual, Part XI, Blessings and Other...
Lessons in Loving Family Exodus 20:12: “Honor your father and your mother…” (NET) Recently, I have experienced something new and heartbreaking that has taught me much about loving family. Our family has had to move our mother into an assisted living community. While it is the best thing for...
“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 (NIV) Trying to define the word faith is about as difficult as trying to define the word love….or hope. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 11:1 that “faith is being sure of what we hope for...
“The first fall of snow is not only an event, but it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of world and wake up to find yourself in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment, where is it to be found?” J. B....
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you….” Matthew 7:12 (NIV) I gave up making New Year’s resolutions about 10 years ago. Prior to that decision I struggled every New Year’s Day with what I proclaimed I would or would not do in...
…I will answer their prayers and take care of them. Like an evergreen tree I will shelter them. I am the source of all their blessings. Hosea 14:8b (GNB) Good News Bible Real, live, natural decorations are one of my favorite things during the Christmas season. I mean, what...
“For He shall give His angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways.” Psalm 91:11 KJV Let’s imagine that you and I are engaged in a word association game, and I say “November.” What would be your response? Most likely, you would say “Thanksgiving” since that...
One of our family’s favorite places to visit is the beach, and we visit multiple times per year. On a recent trip to the beach, I noticed something that reminded me of family and the various family combinations. While walking along the seashore and looking into the ocean, there...
“Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him.” Psalms 34:8 The Message My editor at FaithShapes emailed the October/November website theme to me: “Friends, Family, and Food”, and I immediately thought, “How true for my family.” You...
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1New International Version (NIV) September brings many changes in our household. We celebrate five birthdays, some of us return to work, and all of us enjoy watching the lush green leaves turn to...
“….I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Joshua 1:5 KJV I am one of those folks who doesn’t embrace “change” very easily…just ask my co-workers. My supervisor learned many years ago to slowly ease changes in my direction rather than giving me the full force effect all at once. ...
“…let the wise listen and add to their learning.” Proverbs 1:5 (NIV) I am a “reader” — I love to read books, newspapers, and magazines (my college degree is in Library Science, if that tells you anything). I prefer to read biographical books….and if it is also historical, that...
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV) In her book, Simple Abundance, author Sarah Breathnach had this to say about January: “January, the month of new beginnings and...
Like many families who live near the mountains, our family vision of peace includes snow-covered lawns, ice covered trees, brisk weather, hot beverages and conversation. When the children were young, we spent much time watching the snow drift toward earth, making snow angels, sledding, and of course making snow...
“Joy to the world; the Lord is come…” My friend and co-worker, Kathy, has the most fabulous last name: “Joy.” I must admit that I am rather envious; it has such a happy sound—“Mrs. Joy”…about as happy a sound as “Mrs. Claus” or “Mrs. Elf.” On the down side,...