Month: September 2005

When we first came over from Scotland, our family brought many cherished personal belongings that reminded us of the "auld country". Amongst these treasures was an old hickory-shafted putter that I had owned since I was a child. I bought … Read more

It seemed that children were in every corner of the house. I was desperate for privacy and wanted my husband to expand our old farmhouse in any direction! I came up with dozens of totally impractical schemes that involved knocking … Read more

My mother had a medical problem for which she was required to leave salt out of her diet. She tried several of the salt substitutes on the market, but to no avail: a satisfying substitute was never found for the … Read more

I recently inherited a family heirloom: a pair of silver candlesticks and a pedestalled silver bowl my mother used to call a compote. I treasure these things because they were given to my parents by a grateful congregation my father … Read more

One day, the television in my mom's living room wouldn't work. My dad was at the factory, so I decided to fix it. I was fifteen years old at the time and reckoned it was my moment to do something … Read more

Recently, I was expecting an international student to arrive here in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada. Before she came, she e-mailed me, so I would know what day to be at the airport, what time to be there, and the number … Read more

Time has not been kind. There are severe dents and chips on the surface marring its original beauty, and exposure to the elements has eroded the very heart of its character and charm. My current "fix-up" project is to restore … Read more

Last summer, I attended a most unusual wedding. It started out beautifully, with the pastor explaining the politically incorrect but thoroughly biblical pattern for a happy marriage from Ephesians 5. He told us that if husbands would love their wives … Read more

I so appreciate a fresh jar of peanut butter. A twist of the lid, a peeling back of foil, and there it lies: smooth, level, crumb-free, waiting for the dip of a knife and a slathering on toast. In a … Read more

About forty-five years ago, my home town of Glasgow, Scotland, started to pull down many old buildings that had been condemned as not fit for human habitation. These inner-city slums housed thousands of families, who had built up a strong … Read more