My wife and I were on a much-needed vacation, hiking the mountains and canyons of northern Arizona. We had gone through several months of challenging times, and the fresh air and...

When I arrived for dinner with a new friend from church, she introduced me to another guest, “Come and meet Kathleen.” As I entered the lounge I was surprised to find...

In 1955, when I was 11, my mom and I spent the fall in Louisville, Kentucky, at the home of Dr. Abbie Clement Jackson, my “adoptive” grandmother. Her neighborhood, my Boy...

I was resting in a hospital bed after giving birth to our second child. I was tired, sore, and very hungry; it was 10 o’clock at night, and I had not...

Recently I noticed a multicolored ball of yarn in my yarn collection. It looked too ragged for any good use, but instead of throwing it away I decided to try crocheting...

Many years ago, I attended a children’s soccer game. A large, open field provided plenty of area for the game but also plenty of sideline space for spectators. As I watched...

I remember one time when I was at my great-grandmother’s house for supper. She stood next to her old table, which consumed the kitchen and was filled with favorite foods and...

In high school I truly felt abandoned. My parents had been divorced for many years, and financial support from my dad was rare. My mom was the sole provider for our...

I paused along the edge of the pond during my morning walk to take a picture of the blue heron that stood motionless among the reeds and grasses. A perfect mirror...

During the school holidays I offered to take my two young grandchildren to the botanical gardens for an outing. We planned to purchase some ice cream to eat as we walked....