Peace and Joy in the Forest

No matter where I am, I look for the forest, especially in the Spring when trees that have hibernated during the winter, return rejuvenated with new leaves and new life. It is a lesson for us as human beings that we must find time to rest and be rejuvenated, if we are to be ready... Continue Reading →

Being a Rebel is Great Fun!

I did not follow the script that was meant for women my age, mainly because I have never thought that we all must look and act the same. The expectations of others for the roles we are supposed to play limit us, even as failing to meet the expectations of others tend to liberate us... Continue Reading →

Learning to Eat, Drink, and Share Much Laughter

One of the aspects of life in Portugal that I had to adjust to quickly and which I will try to retain in America is the slower pace of eating. Yes, there are McDonald's restaurants in Portugal, but they follow the culture, allowing patrons to sit and socialize, not expecting them to gobble down their... Continue Reading →

The Time to Go Home is Rapidly Approaching

In a church service here in Portugal, we heard a wonderful sermon on heaven being the real home for Christians, not earth. The pastor preached on how to ensure your eternal home in heaven. He cautioned us that the time to go "Home" is fast approaching, as the signs of the times indicate from Biblical... Continue Reading →

You Don’t Always Need to Flaunt It!

Culture matters, when it comes to just how much skin to show on the beach. Being an American, I tend to cover up quite a lot, until I am ready to get into the pool or romp on the beach. If there are topless beaches in America, I have never visited one. I assumed that... Continue Reading →

Men Must Observe and Be Alert, Too

I am still shaken by an encounter that Douglas had on yesterday. He likes to take very long walks, so after we spent the afternoon walking and lying on the beach together, he went for another walk alone among the lagoons not far from the apartment we are renting in Quarteria, Portugal. When he returned,... Continue Reading →

You Are Not Crazy: The Tide Will Eventually Turn

I was so glad to read this morning that Ryan Reynolds, the actor in Deadpool, admitted to having battled anxiety all of his life. I have been there and it is no fun. I struggled with it for years, never going to the doctor because I thought I was "crazy," and that I would be... Continue Reading →

Look Up and Be Safe

Like many people my age who spent their working lives employed by a telephone company, I am amazed at the technology that allows us to carry our phones in our hands. I would have never imagined that the old, black, dial-up phone connected to the wall would one day be the Swiss-knife of communications, with... Continue Reading →

God Has Been Good to Me: Psalm Wednesday

It would seem strange for a survivor of colon cancer to declare that God has been good, but the truth is that I would not be here to write this blog today if it had not been for the mercy and grace of God. Troubles come and it can seem as though we are alone... Continue Reading →

One Look Put An Abrupt End to Unwanted Behavior

Being a grandparent has its perks, especially when around children who are misbehaving. One of the aspects of my behavior that I used for my grandchildren was the "Granny Look." When they saw me looking at them a certain way, they knew to cease and desist with unwanted behavior, or suffer the consequences already mentioned.... Continue Reading →

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