I’ve heard some wild, wild stories during the eight years I've resided in the West. Tales of people traveling long lonesome highways being helped by neighbors to lighten burdens, mend hearts and fences. In each instance there’s been a sprinkling…
I've been hauling around hope for the release of a new publication long enough. It's getting heavy so I've been working towards a fall deadline. And according to all environmental indicators, autumn is nearing and it's clearly time to make it happen. I, along…
"Sometimes the best families are the ones God builds using unexpected pieces of our hearts.” Melanie Shankle I received a surprise email last week advising I was a finalist in a writing contest. I had forgotten I had submitted. The task for all…
"What love is to the heart, liberty is to the soul of the man." ~Robert Green Ingersoll Have you ever gotten so captivated by something that in order to be pulled out, someone needs to say "I'll give you a penny for…
"...the planet.... desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers ..." ~ David Orr Do you want to have faith in your country restored? For me, a visit to the Library of Congress is as good as the doctor's orders. Stepping into…
“Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow. Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend.” — Albert Camus Last Sunday was International Friendship Day. I invited my friend from…
The kiss of the sun for pardon, The song of the birds for mirth, One is nearer God's heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth. ~ Dorothy Frances Gurney (1858 - 1932) A few weeks ago I visited a…
"Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of trees." ~ Thomas Stonewall Jackson How can you not enter into a place that has a sign touting three Tiffany stained glass windows? As I breezed through Fredericksburg, VA…
“Art is literacy of the heart.” ~Elliot Eisner A few weeks ago I made my annual summer pilgrimage to visit family. It was a roadtrip that had purpose beyond a reunion of kinfolk. Many times I followed a route that went off…
“For any child, LIFE remains a sea full of rich experiences just waiting to be explored.”
~Unknown