New year – new notebooks and apps!
January 15, 2013 in: Devotions, Writing
Don’t you love a fresh start? That’s the theme on Pages From Stages this week. New Year’s is one of my favorite seasons for this very reason. It means new notebooks and calendars! I have way too much fun picking out paper products to start the new year. I’ve got a train calendar over my [...]
continue readingHow many books will you read in 2013?
January 9, 2013 in: Book Reviews
At one time, I would have had no idea of the answer to that question. With help from Goodreads, though, I am setting a goal to read 65 books this year. It will be a challenge for me, but I think it will be fun to try, even if I don’t make it. Goodreads is [...]
continue reading“Inside” the word in 2013
January 2, 2013 in: Devotions
New Year’s Day has become something of a “holy day” for me in recent years. Nothing is happening – no parties, no work, no need to put on makeup. It is the perfect time to pause and pray, reflect and look forward. A beautiful snow fell on New Year’s Eve. The dog and I took [...]
continue readingChristmas trees are like snowflakes
December 24, 2012 in: Reflections on the River
How are Christmas trees like snowflakes? No two are like. I’ve seen some lovely trees this season, but have to admit, the one in my living room is the most beautiful of them all. I could spend hours just watching it. In fact, I do! We’re sharing Christmas traditions this week and for me, decorating [...]
continue readingBook Review: Against the Tide
December 20, 2012 in: Book Reviews
I loved Against the Tide by Elizabeth Camden. The main reason was the main character, Lydia Pallas. As a child, she was orphaned in Boston when her father’s fishing boat sank. Even though she didn’t speak English, she was able to make her way. She puts her gift for languages to work as a translator [...]
continue readingChristmas cookies spell J-O-Y
December 14, 2012 in: Recipes
Meredith Hines-Dochterman invited to be a guest columnist on her food page with the Cedar Rapids Gazette. She specifically requested I write about these cookies and share the recipe. It was a treat. Oh, the waiting! The excruciating agony of waiting. Through long months of summer and fall for that one time of year when [...]
continue readingThe Experience of Christmas
December 13, 2012 in: Book Reviews, Devotions
When I purchased Lee Warren’s devotional book The Experience of Christmas, I din’t realize it was written for families with children. And I’m really glad I didn’t! Otherwise, I probably wouldn’t have bought it. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading these Christmas themed devotionals. They are filled with scripture, historical context and sincere prayers. I especially [...]
continue readingHelp solve this mystery
December 8, 2012 in: Reflections on the River, Writing
It was about one year ago, on a foggy November night, that the dog and I were taking our customary walk. He’s a beagle, so he travels with his nose to ground. I turned to go down a street and felt a tug at the end of the line as the dog stayed put. I [...]
continue readingBroken At Christmas
December 3, 2012 in: Devotions, Reflections on the River
This Sunday in worship we sang “Silent Night.” As we raised our voices in the familiar melody, I was reminded that this beautiful, simple carol was written because the church organ was broken and the pastor wanted a song that could be played on the guitar. And then I had a thought and heard the [...]
continue readingBook Review: Unending Devotion
November 12, 2012 in: Book Reviews
Unending Devotion by Jody Hedlund is a historical novel with lots of depth. The logging camps of 1880s Michigan made for a fascinating setting. Lilly Young is an orphan traveling with her foster father to take photographs of the shanty boys cutting logs in the rough-and-tumble camps. She’s also on a mission to rescue her [...]
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