Fathers are unique. This certainly was a sentiment true for Sonora Louise Smart (Dodd) of Spokane, Washington in 1909. She witnessed the love and devotion of her father William, a Civil War Veteran raise a newborn and his five other children after the death of his wife. At the age 27, Sonora was listening to a Mother’s Day sermon and pondered why there wasn’t a... Read More
There is an ‘inner-child’ fascination with secret hide-outs, building blanket forts, and climbing into the canopy of a tree. All of these transport us into another space and time. As the summer months begin with long days stretching out ahead, we look for activities to intrigue and entertain. A good place to start is to read Johann David Wyss’ book, Swiss Family Robinson to spark... Read More
noun grad·u·a·tion \ˌgra-jə-ˈwā-shən\ “Is this the little girl [we] carried? Is this the little boy at play? [We] don’t remember growing older When did they? When did she get to be a beauty? When did he get to be so tall? Wasn’t it yesterday When they were small? ~Sunrise, sunset~ Swiftly flow the days. Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers, Blossoming even as we gaze. Swiftly... Read More
My Mother kept a garden, A garden of the heart; She planted all the good things That gave my life its start. She turned me to the sunshine And encouraged me to dream. . . Fostering and nurturing The seeds of self-esteem. And when the winds and rains came, She protected me enough. . . But not too much ~ she knew I’d need To... Read More
Spring, an elusive season in Colorado… March 20th, 2017 ~ First Day of Spring in Denver was “refreshingly cool” with a high of 75℉ , but wait ~ April 29th “heavy snow” with a high of 30℉! To top it all off, a Frost Advisory for the metro area May 3rd. What’s a gardener to do? Throw in the trowel, perhaps. Let’s look at the... Read More
“WISH FLOWERS” O, rich and haughty, King of village flowers! Each day is coronation time, You have no humble hours. I like to see you bring a troop To beat the blue-grass spears, To scorn the lawn-mower that would be Like fate’s triumphant shears, Your yellow heads are cut away, It seems your reign is o’er. By noon you raise a sea of stars More... Read More
The paradox of time in history is that we: Have taller buildings, but shorter tempers Wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints We spend more, but have less We buy more, but enjoy it less We have bigger houses and smaller families Bigger churches and smaller congregations A multitude of prayers, but very little faith A blessed life, but lack of gratitude A loving God for our... Read More
A Child Do you know what it is to be a child? It is to be something very different from the grownup of today. It is to have a spirit yet streaming from the waters of life; it is to believe in loveliness, to believe in belief; it is to be so little that elves can reach to whisper in your ear; to seek out... Read More
“…The Darkest Hour is Just Before Dawn…” Thomas Fuller For those of us “late-risers,” getting up to measure how ‘dark it is before dawn,’ isn’t going to happen. In actuality, this phrase first appeared in print during the late 1700s and is attributed to the English theologian and historian, Thomas Fuller. It has been used more as a teaching proverb meaning, ‘There is hope, even... Read More
“Laughter is the Best Medicine” – Especially on April Fool’s Day Do you remember the last practical joke you received or played on an unsuspecting friend or family member? Do you recall the last time you experienced ‘asbestos gelos’ (unquenchable laughter)? Well, there exists one day on the calendar which allows those of us who enjoy a good-hearted joke and a genuine belly-roll of a... Read More
