We had a death in the family last week. A suicide. Unexpected deaths are always difficult for those left behind, but suicide takes on a whole new dimension. It is not accidental, nor is it unavoidable. It is a conscious choice that is often a permanent solution to a temporary problem. I believe suicide is very selfish, not taking into account how it will affect others. Even when someone feels others would be better off without him, moving away rather than killing himself would be better. Suicide affects others forever. No one knows exactly why this person made the decision to end his life, or what pain he was enduring that cemented the decision. That is what makes it so difficult for family and friends. Questions move from "why" to "what could I have done?" "If only" becomes part of the vocabulary, and a variety of scenarios fill the mind trying to make sense of it all. I am angry! Angry that he chose to put our families through this. And at the same time I am sad that he was in such pain that he felt death was the only solution. No one can truly understand the pain, physical or emotional, that someone else is enduring. We can empathize, sympathize and even have been in … [Read more...]
A most amazing day!
Spending time with family for me is one of the best parts of a holiday, and I made sure that opportunity would be there on Easter. I invited family over to our house, even though my husband would be working. What was I thinking? My work schedule did not allow much time for cleaning, so my guests had to deal with the house as it is. Plus, I put them to work. The day started with breakfast at the church and then services with my mom. The service was WONDERFUL and it was great to see everyone, hug so many people and wish everyone a happy Easter. At home, the basement had to be cleared before hand because my mother, who is in a wheelchair, cannot make it to the main level of the house. My son helped with that, and my husband vacuumed. On Easter, before we ate, my son set up the tables in the basement, another family member helped with preparing food and another took the trinkets I bought for the grandchildren and packed them into the baskets we would hide later. My daughter swept the kitchen floor, and my son-in-law went to pick up my mom. He had to jump-start her van because I left the lights on the last time I used it. And everyone brought food to share. I grilled three … [Read more...]
Sleeping child
This is a photo prompt project. Study the photo and let your? mind wander. Then write a story about the photo, describing whatever images or emotions or adventures the photo stimulates. Submit your story to me through the comment section below, and it will be posted on the site. The sky's the limit, as long as the story is not extremely offensive. … [Read more...]
Spring’s here?
What a strange year! We didn't have much of a winter, and then spring is way too early!!! Tulips are up, crocus are blooming, I even have oregano coming up. People are planting, lilacs are budding, and this is only the middle of March. Though I am excited to see new life emerging through the inches of peat I put on my beds in the fall - I'm always excited in the spring - I'm nervous about putting anything out yet, except maybe peas, pansies or grass seed. I know the ground is warming up, but what happens if we get a freeze? Planting in Minnesota used to take place two months from now. Aslo, what is it going to be like in July and August? Are we going to turn into more of an arid state? How hot will it be, and how much watering will we have to do to keep plants alive? Weather aside, I decided to start seeds this year to help with my garden budget, and my seed starting adventure has been just that - an adventure. I've done some experimenting with starting seeds in egg shells and rolled newspaper starter pots. Mostly to save money. I want to be able to plant the pot with the plants, and purchasing enough peat pots would be costly. Both systems seem to work pretty well. To start … [Read more...]
Blue Moon Promise
By Colleen Coble Blue Moon Promise is a book that intermixes relationship, conflict and faith. Lucy Marsh's life is turned upside down after losing her job shortly after her father died, and she is caring for her two younger siblings on her own. The stage is set, and Coble immediately jumps into intrigue. Someone breaks into Lucy's home, and then an old friend of her father's shows up at the door with the proposition of marriage to his son. With no money and fearing for the safety of her siblings, she prayerfully considers the option. Why would someone break into their home? Did it have anything to do with her father's pawn shop business? Unanswered questions filled Lucy's mind as she accepts the offer. When she reaches Texas, her new husband is furious with his father and thinks the worst of Lucy. The book takes you through the building of their relationship, which is a bit predictable. What is not predictable is how all the characters, and the issues that plague them, have related roots. The book is a pleasant read, though Lucy's inability to accept that her husband, Nate Stanton, loves her gets a little old. How the other characters in the story, especially Nate's … [Read more...]
Rambling
As I sit here writing, working on articles for a newspaper, the sun is beckoning me outside, teasing me with its perceived warmth, taunting me to abandon my current quest for the adventure of soul food. To further draw me away, I look above my computer, out the window, and see a magnificent cardinal perched on a branch in my backyard maple tree. I began talking with him, praising his beautiful colors and announcing the blessing of his visit. Though I'm sure he couldn't hear me, he turned to face me, nodding his head as if in conversation with me. This is February in Minnesota? Yes, I meant to add the question mark! The ground is brown and littered with leaves. There are spotty splashes of snow that light up the shadows behind trees and buildings. It seems more like spring than winter. February is supposed to be frigid with a foot of snow. Either that or warming, with water seeping out from under the snow. I was talking with someone at work about the snow blowers recently and I said I wish it would snow. "You like snow?" he said. "I could do without." "We need the snow," I said. "The ground needs the moisture." "It could rain instead," he said. To show how far removed from … [Read more...]
New Year’s Resolutions
This is February already! What am I doing writing about New Year's resolutions? I've been so busy, I haven't even made any resolutions yet. This year, I've decided to start a new system: Since most of us break our resolutions within the first three weeks of January, I decided to wait until February to begin work on the new year! What are New Year resolutions anyway? When I was younger, they were a thoughtful look at the past year to choose new and better goals for the next. As the years rolled by, I found I chose many of the same goals for the next year, building on what I already accomplished. The problem is life gets in the way. Often personal goals are relegated to the back burner as other needs fill the pots in the front. Maybe instead of annually looking at goals, or resolutions, we should break them into smaller segments and look at them monthly. That would help keep us focused and moving forward. But the first thing I need to do is spend more time on personal goals and let some of the other needs go. What are you doing this year? Are you still on track for your resolutions? If you are, I applaud you! … [Read more...]
Canoeing with the Cree
By Eric Sevareid Imagine two teenagers paddling a canoe from Minneapolis to the Hudson Bay without the benefits of GPS, cell phones or tracking systems. That is what Eric Sevareid and Walter C. Port chose to do in 1930. It was the day after graduation from high school when they launched their used 18-foot canoe filled with supplies into the Minnesota River at Fort Snelling, amidst goodbyes of family members. Their four-month journey covered more than 2,200 miles of rivers, lakes and difficult portages. On the side of the canoe, aptly named Sans Souci, which means "without care," the boys announced their journey by painting "Minneapolis to Hudson Bay." They wrote articles about their adventure and the people they met, submitting them to the Minneapolis Star from various city stops. Canoeing with the Cree, first published in 1935, is an account of their journey. It takes the reader with the two young men through the waterways and portages, and details the cities and villages where they rested, repaired equipment and restocked their supplies. It also chronicles the physical and mental strength needed for a journey like that, and the struggles each encountered. At one point, … [Read more...]
Scrabble challenge
Take the words from our Christmas Day scrabble game and write a story that includes each word at least once and submit it to me through the comment section. The story should be no more than 250 words. THE WORDS: Went, blamer, gin, he, hoe, out, my, live, tine, cart, or, the, coon, moons, smile, soar, shade, hoard, save, pelted, nap, poser, pastes, freed, fan, funny, reid, drain, kids, shore, zoo, fate, paw, spurs, up, jug, jolt, fling, urgently, blue, as, geek, ox, ox, at, ok. … [Read more...]
December 20 words
DECEMBER 20 WORDS: Love, hope, present, yellow, Christmas, frost plug, brick. … [Read more...]
