Tag: life changes

• The Blessings of Awful Stories in the Bible

  There are some pretty awful stories in the Bible – like the story of Tamar in Genesis. She was a young widow who disguised herself as a temple prostitute in order to entrap her father-in-law into having sex with her so that she would have a son. Have you ever wondered why that story is…

  Marian

  March 18, 2014

  God’s Love, Jail Ministry, Music, Reflections

  awful Bible stories, awful stories, fairness, friends, God’s love, hard decisions, hymn sing, jail ministry, joy, kindness, life challenges, life changes, listening for God, love your neighbor, praying for each other, reflections, sharing our stories, sharing stories, singing together, spirituality, talking with God, Tamar, tough decisions, worship service

• I had a dream

  One night last week I dreamed I was hurrying as fast as I could. I was at an airport, Philadelphia, I think. I was alone, running to find my gate to catch my flight.  I made a quick stop in one of the restrooms on my way. Then I continued running toward my gate, carrying…

  Marian

  March 11, 2014

  Book Recommendations, Reflections

  Alan Fadling, An Unhurried Life, dream, fasting, giving up hurry, God’s love, hurry, hurrying, Jan Persson, kindness, Lent, life challenges, life changes, listening for God, love your neighbor, Northwest Industries, not hurrying, Philadelphia, Philadelphia airport, reflections, rushing, spirituality, Stephen A. Macchia, talking with God

• Let the birthdays begin!

  Let the birthdays begin! Anna, the first of our trio of 92-year-olds, celebrated her 93rd birthday on Sunday. I asked her how she felt about turning 93. Her response: “I don’t feel like I’m that old. It’s just a number. It doesn’t mean anything. Life is good.” Carolyn will turn 93 in June, and Marty…

  Marian

  February 25, 2014

  Assisted Living, Celebrations, Life’s Challenges, Reflections

  92-year-olds, 93rd birthday, Anna, art of living, assisted living, birthday, birthdays, colored pencils, Country Comforts Assisted Living, Daisaku Ikeda, day care, East Madison Monona Coalition on Aging, EMMCA, friends, Herman Melville, journey to wisdom, kindness, know how to grow old, let the birthdays begin, life calling, life changes, master work of wisdom, Reaching Out Respite, reflections, spirituality, wisdom

• The Three Nonagenarians

  Three 92-year-old women walk into a bar – an artist, a nun, and a state legislator. The bartender asks what he can get them. The artist wants a cup of herbal tea; the nun wants half a glass of milk; and the legislator asks for one glass of red wine – specifically, Menage a Trois.…

  Marian

  February 11, 2014

  Assisted Living

  92-year-olds, Adventures in Hospitality, assisted living, companions, Country Comforts, Country Comforts Assisted Living, friends, God’s love, hospitality, joy, kindness, life calling, life challenges, life changes, life stages, listening for God, love your neighbor, nonagenarian, reflections, spirituality, stage in life, talking with God, three nonagenarians

• Another Anniversary. Another Time of Joy.

  This week, 25 years ago – 1989, was a pretty spectacular week. It was a week of beautiful weather, a January thaw. Mim and I were living in Chicago, on the second floor of a two-flat. Mim was teaching nursing at North Park College, and I was self-employed as a business systems consultant. But neither…

  Marian

  January 21, 2014

  Celebrations, God’s Love, Reflections

  Adventures in Hospitality, anniversary, Blessing Ceremony, champagne, Commitment Ceremony, friends, God’s love, hospitality, joy, life calling, life changes, Moet and Chandon, perfect word, reflections, spirituality, wedding, wedding anniversary

• Happiness Engineer – One of My Favorite Job Titles

  Last week I received an email from someone with the job title of “Happiness Engineer.” It made me smile. The email was from WordPress, the Internet service I use for hosting this blog. Earlier in the week I had contacted WordPress through their website to let them know that I had been charged twice on…

  Marian

  January 14, 2014

  Blogs, Goals, God’s Love, Life’s Challenges, Reflections

  blogging, Dagmar Vasby, dysfunctional analyst, goals, God’s love, God-given gifts, happiness engineer, hospitality, Joan Chittister, job title, kindness, life calling, life changes, listening for God, love your neighbor, Mary Cassatt, Monastic Way, reflections, self portrait, spirituality, the Messiah, Who do you say that I am, WordPress

• Abbey, Mim & Me – Our Special Words for 2014

  January is a time every year that I start thinking about how I want this year to be different from previous years. Sometimes I make New Year resolutions. Some years I formulate specific goals. Every year I come up with an immediate to-do list. At a minimum I need to plan how I’m going to…

  Marian

  January 7, 2014

  Book Recommendations, Celebrations, Goals, God’s Love, Life’s Challenges, New Year

  Abbey, change in my life, daily devotions, Debbie Macomber, enough, God’s love, joy, Let the year begin, life challenges, life changes, listening for God, New Year Resolutions, One Perfect Word, play, reflections, spirituality, talking with God, to-do lists

• Another Year-End Conversation with Abbey

  Abbey had been sitting on the floor next to the patio door, staring out at the pond for a long time. It was snowing again. Big flakes were drifting down, adding to the eight inches already on the ground. I wondered if she was as tired of the snow as I was. I called to…

  Marian

  December 31, 2013

  Celebrations, Goals, God’s Love, Life’s Challenges, Reflections

  Abbey, friends, gay marriage, gift of love, God’s love, Happy New Year, kindness, life challenges, life changes, love your neighbor, loving each other, New Year, New Year’s Day, Piper, polarization, political polarization, politics, reflections, spirituality, Tucker, understanding each other

• A Christmas Letter from Abbey

  This morning as I was sitting at my desk Abbey came over to me and sat down. “Mom,” she said. “I have a favor to ask.” “What’s that?” I responded. “Will you help me write a Christmas letter to send to all my friends? I don’t have fingers like you have, and it’s really hard…

  Marian

  December 3, 2013

  Celebrations, Christmas, God’s Love, Life’s Challenges, Music, Reflections

  Abbey, aging, assisted living, Christmas Carols, Christmas catalogs, Christmas Letter, Christmas shopping, Christmas Spirit, Edith Sinclair Downing, friends, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, God’s love, Heifer International, Holiday Hounds, If I fly as birds at dawning, Laurie Loughlin, life changes, love your neighbor, reflections, spirituality, wisdom, World Vision

• Stumbling along in Life

  Abbey was lying on the floor beside my desk as I was going through emails. After about ten minutes, she looked up at me and asked, “Hey, Mom. Have a few minutes to talk?” “Sure, Abbey. What’s up?” “When we were out for our walk this morning, did you notice me stumble? I was prancing…

  Marian

  October 15, 2013

  God’s Love, Life’s Challenges, Reflections

  Abbey, change in my life, embarrassed, embarrassment, God tripped me, God’s love, God-given gifts, humility, kindness, life calling, life challenges, life changes, listening for God, patience, reflections, stumble, stumbling, talking with Abbey, talking with God, walking with Abbey