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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
As we enjoyed lunch at one of the restaurants on the beach here in Quarteria, I noticed a little girl and her mother having an encounter. The little girl, about age 6 or 7, was wearing a helmet and had been riding a scooter. The mother had just taken the scooter and placed it in... Continue Reading →
On Friday, we went to Faro, which is the main city in the part of the Algarve of Portugal where we are. Because it has an airport, train station, a huge bus terminal, and a marina, the city is big, compared to the little city we are staying in. The diversity of people was greater,... Continue Reading →
We sat in on a Bible study on Thursday at the International Evangelical Church here in Quateria, Portugal. I was quite surprised by the combination of a mostly British study group led by two young men with Irish ancestry. Indeed, one of the young men was headed back to Belfast, Ireland in the next week.... Continue Reading →
I am experiencing what many people fear: needing a doctor in a foreign land where you cannot speak the language. But, praise God, the body is the same wherever you go, so you only have to point to what hurts. Or, as in my case, the doctor could see that I would not move my... Continue Reading →
Help from Heaven 