We don’t travel by train much anymore, but I remember the long train rides of our early carless years in Italy. When my husband had to ride an old moped 12 miles to work – even in the rain and snow. There are areas of Italy where you can live without a car thanks to […]
We’ve had thieves strike. Twice. The first time they were real thieves, but the second time they were kind of fake thieves. As many of you know, we have a summer house, and when we weren’t there, thieves entered and stole a mirror and a small step ladder. Those thieves were odd. They didn’t mess […]
It starts earlier and earlier every year, the hype and commercialism. Christmas stuff and Halloween gore side by side in the stores. Ads, articles, and movies all working to make us think we’re missing out on the perfect Christmas. The search for the perfect celebration can make Christmas a frenzy of stress and rush. The […]
“Merry and bright? With all the economic woes, inflation, and instability around us? A bright and merry Christmas seems unlikely this year. In fact, celebrating at all in the midst of it all seems nearly impossible, let alone trying to make it merry and bright! And forget about Christmas gifts! So this year I have […]
I like to say that Hubby and I should have won a financial stupidity award in our early marriage. Armed with credit cards and not much brains, we shopped foolishly and extravagantly. We even bought a dog on credit! If there were awards for financial stupidity we deserved first place! That’s right, we bought a dog […]
I once read about a missionary family who were facing difficulties and had limited provisions. Worry, discouragement and unhappiness plagued them. Until one day when their young son prayed before lunch. “Thank you Lord,” he prayed. “Thank you for everything we have. Thank you for our family, for our house, for our clothes, for this […]