Talking about the “F” word
I want to talk about the “F” word. It’s a word that reviles many people in our world. It makes many people uncomfortable, but it […]
Blogs
Five tips for a soul-satisfying vacation
My husband’s family decided to take a trip together at an all-inclusive resort in Cuba. After a year of illness (and recovery) they hoped for […]
Gala Christmas Fruit Cake
Fourteen years ago, Sharron Smith, a member of Erindale Presbyterian church, had a brilliant idea for a fundraising project. The idea started with Sharron’s baking […]
November Wind
It’s one of those blustery November mornings around here. The garden gate is crashing open and clamming shut. The sky is empty of birds, but full of leaves, and the trees are madly shaking their branches as if trying to get everything to stop and sit still for just one moment.
I know just how they feel.
Loving Libraries and the Lord
Today I introduced some friends to our new library. It’s a long way from the very first library I visited, with its oiled floor and single bulbs hanging on a long strings from the ceiling. I have a deep love for books and the library is one of my favourite places.
Conflict in the Middle East…again…still
“Conflict in the Middle East” – it’s a headline once again…or still. Somewhere in the Middle East, there always seems to be some sort of […]
Reclaiming Christmas (18 IdeasTo Go Simpler & Deeper This December)
It seems that as soon as a few snowflakes come wafting down, carols start oozing frommall speakers and stores start salivating. But it’s getting a […]
Nana’s Fresh Raspberry Pie
My mouth waters when I recall cottage suppers finishing with this pie. The berries came from Nort and Filey Smith’s farm in Keswick where I as a teenager worked in the summers, a few miles from our cottage on Lake Simcoe.
Sinners Anonymous
Hi. I’m Matthew. And I’m a sinner. A part of what happens at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting is that the speaker says “Hi,” and introduces […]
On the outside looking in
I can’t bear to drive by my old house. My husband tells me they have replaced the front door and painted the garage door white, […]
Boiled Salad Dressing
As a child Leslie Jones attended Sunday school, at Central Presbyterian Church, in Hamilton. She sees her young self, heading for church, in a tartan […]
Hannah and her sisters
The story of Hannah holds Christmas at bay a little. And it also honours our almost-there already impatience about the whole thing.
Picnics Outside the Park
I’m having a pretending picnic—actually I have them often. To many people who are now single, mealtimes are the loneliest time of the day. Most of our lives are spent working to buy meals, preparing meals, anticipating meals, eating meals and cleaning up after meals. You don’t think much about it until there are so few meals to prepare.
You are part of the story!
I’m not a big fan of the earlier part of the day. I’d like to be, but it just doesn’t seem to be part of […]
Homemade “Ensure” and Smoothie Recipe
I am a retired registered nurse who, prior to retirement, worked as a geriatric case manager. Often, I would need to refer a client to […]
When You Get Sick of Screaming At Yourself
You know what I mean. Probably not out loud, but quietly. What can be silent to others’ ears can be titanically amplified within. Bullhorn in […]
Baked Lemon Pudding
Marion Farrow Lord suspects her heritage recipe, for lemon pudding, originated with her grandmother, although Marion found it tucked inside her Mother’s copy of the […]
A fourth birthday
It was Blue’s birthday on Saturday so he came into our room early. Groggy parents greeted him appropriately, but at first, he flatly denied that it was his birthday. Of course, it probably didn’t seem like it yet. Mum and Dad were still in bed, and the house was definitely lacking in friends and balloons.
Grieving the Spirit
I’ve done some stupid things in my time but recently I did the stupidest thing I have ever done. I moved some furniture.
If I Could Have a Beer with Jesus
I was driving along Grove Street when I heard the song come on the radio. “If I could have a beer with Jesus.” What?! At […]