Advent

Christmas is a time for traditions. One that I particularly like is lighting the Advent calendars. We started this practice several years ago. A grandchild lights a candle each Sunday leading up to Christmas as we read the appropriate Scripture and discuss the meaning of the four words and four candles, Hope, Peace, Joy, Love. […]

Ancestors

Yesterday was the annual Decoration Day at our ancestral cemetery. The weather cooperated with blue skies, sunshine (lots of sunshine) and an altogether lovely Oklahoma spring day. The cemetery is well-looked after, neat and serene. Decoration Day is an annual tradition dating back into history. My grandparents came to this very same spot, year after […]

Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day

  Being a mom is the best thing I’ve ever done. I’m so grateful for my son and his family. Being a grandma is the frosting on the cake. What wonderful blessings! This morning, Matt and Nathan are fixing lunch for Dawn and me. Now, how special is that! To all mothers everywhere–you are the […]

Have You Seen the May Bee?

Have You Seen the May Bee?

This is the day the little May Bee flies forth and children (and some adults) will use him in their speech all day long. I’ve always pictured the May Bee as a small striped  fellow, rather like a bumblebee who wears a happy grin and has transluscent wings the color of spring flowers. But then, […]

Decoration Day

Decoration Day

One by one, we abandon traditions, leaving the past behind. It’s sad, because, although we shouldn’t live in the past, we need a sense of continuity. There is something comforting about following patterns, about observing practices that have been carried down through generations. It gives me a connection to my ancestors. Decoration Day, always the […]

Groundhogs and Weather

Groundhogs and Weather

It’s Groundhog Day. Punxatawney Phil didn’t see his shadow. So, according to tradition, this means an early spring. Is that an  accurate prediction? The answer remains a mystery. It’s fun to see what the folk in Punxatawney make of waking up Phil. It was snowing as a large group, known as the Inner Circle, in top […]