family – Page 4 – Signora Sheila

The Father Abraham Mystery Walk

Family walking hand in hand along a sunlit path at sunset, with parents guiding their young daughter; warm, peaceful, hopeful atmosphere.

Have you ever taken a Mystery Walk? I have, and we all take them every day. Because when we get right down to it, life is a mystery. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, or even if we’ll have any tomorrows. And sometimes it’s hard to know which path to take, let alone explain itContinueContinue reading “The Father Abraham Mystery Walk”

A Royal Welcome for House Guests

Overhead view of hands lettering “Welcome” on a brown paper card at a creative desk, surrounded by stationery, greenery, glasses, and ink.

We’ve had fun and adventure, traveled the world, learned new skills and experienced other cultures! And we did all on a shoestring budget, right from our home! “How is this possible?” you ask. Through our guests who shared the love they have for their homeland, or their passion for things like painting, making balsamic vinegar,ContinueContinue reading “A Royal Welcome for House Guests”

Italian Worm Cheese and Culture Shock

Rows of round, pale cheese wheels mature on metal racks in a cool aging room, creating a warm, orderly artisanal food scene.

We have a saying in Italian. Non c’è niente di nuovo sotto il sole. (There is nothing new under the sun.) And yes, I know it’s from the Bible. But I also know that King Solomon, who wrote it, didn’t live in a foreign country. Otherwise, I wonder if he would have changed it to: “There is somethingContinueContinue reading “Italian Worm Cheese and Culture Shock”

God’s Plan for Marriage

Smiling young couple runs hand in hand through a sunlit meadow, woman in plaid shirt and man in white T-shirt beneath a blue sky.

The topic of marriage came up at a neighborhood dinner this past Christmas, after they learned that my husband and I have been happily married for 43 years. “What’s your secret?” they asked with both incredulity and admiration. But one middle-aged couple said, “We don’t see the point of getting married. Besides,” he added, “IContinueContinue reading “God’s Plan for Marriage”

Raising Kids for Such a Time as This {Queen Esther}

Classical painting of three women in an ornate ancient interior: a seated woman in cream, flanked by attendants, conveys quiet solemnity.

That palace, it struck both fear and awe into the heart of the young woman who was passing near its gates. The opulence and grandeur of its halls were known throughout the land. Not that she would ever see inside, of course. Nor did she wish to. For she’d heard tales of the evil, capriciousContinueContinue reading “Raising Kids for Such a Time as This {Queen Esther}”

That’s Not My Mom!

Silhouetted family of three walks along a beach at sunset, reflected in wet sand as waves roll in, creating a warm, peaceful mood.

Children often think grandmothers are the most wonderful women in the world. But I can’t help but wonder if my kids have ever thought, “That’s not the same woman who raised me!” Windows wide open to a soft, gentle breeze. Spring had come! My favorite time of the year. And what better time to doContinueContinue reading “That’s Not My Mom!”