cultivating the beautiful ordinary by sharing our tales and our tables
After the season of shopping, buying, gifting and receiving more “things”, my challenge has always been to slow down and build some margin back into my life! I read once that margin involves reserves beyond what is needed, an extra amount for contingencies or emergencies. I find a lot of “LIFE” falls into that category!
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There are several boundaries and battle grounds that my mind does not cooperate with on command as it once did!! Information “plays hide and seek” in my brain, and is not controlled solely by my will – the result of a stroke in my brain. Some “pieces” are just gone, some occasionally re-appear, some are definitely…
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My husband began cycling a little over 25 years ago. He became both an avid cyclist and competitive, riding in a number of races and regularly biking 30+ miles multiple days per week. Three years ago he had a serious cycling accident. Riding on a familiar route his tire hit a rut in the road…
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I grew up in the aftermath of WWII. Our town was in the early stages of being discovered by everyone looking for warmer weather and a place to take their ailing sinuses. Our skies were blue and you could see for miles. That was Phoenix, Arizona in the early days of the 40’s, 50’s. My…
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It was the fall of 1976, and it is likely I was wearing a “wrap skirt” that day when I showed up to help with hot lunch at the small Christian Reformed grade school where my children had recently started attending. In that kitchen, making hot dogs, I met Barb for the first time. Her…
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I love this time of year!! I love the season of celebration that comes with Christmas and the New Year, the music, worship, family time and friends. All of this welcomed with joy in our hearts always, and especially now, as I am more aware of the precious gift of time. And yet, the holidays…
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I had never been to Europe, more specifically London or Paris. I had come to love both cities through favorite films and books: visiting St. Paul’s Cathedral with Mary Poppins and the bird lady, visiting Westminster Abbey as I watched royal weddings on TV, and traveling to the Eiffel Tower with my favorite characters in…
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I stared at the round objects I cradled in my hand. Now, what were they? Why was I holding them? They looked so familiar – but what was I to do with them? Still in my pj’s, I wondered, maybe John would know. I’ll just ask him. I looked around for John, the still dashing Naval…
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