Finally everything was quiet. The guests for Carrie Anne’s baptism had gone home, and we could get that much needed rest. And then that baby cried. Another night walking the floor with our little girl who couldn’t be readily comforted except when she was rocked and held or was resting on her daddy’s warm chest. I didn’t understand until much later that she also liked a noisy atmosphere when she slept. People talking and laughing. Vacuum cleaner roaring or TV blaring. All prod

“Here, Mom. For you!” “Oh no! Whose flowers have you been picking? I can’t have you helping yourself to someone’s garden!” It was our children’s first day of school in California, and they had walked the few blocks home… and had become lost. Fortunately a fire station was just down the street, and a friendly firefighter had come to their aid. Standing there on my porch, she assured me that they weren’t common criminals. The flowers they had plucked were found everywhere along

“If I see one more mosquito, I’m out of here!” I assured my husband it was not even half a mile down the path. He could certainly steel himself to the short hike in order to see “The World’s Largest Spruce Tree” couldn’t he? Sure enough, around the bend, over the bridge… and there it stood in all of its wonder! Traveling throughout our country, we have seen signs for a variety of manmade wonders: World’s Largest Golf Tee… or Knitting Needle… or Wind chime. These “Wonders of t

“Would you like me to take that back to the kitchen and have them remove the head?” I warily looked down at the fish that was eying me. Of course it was dead… and also beautifully prepared, by the way. But this “whole fish” concept was a bit unsettling. I quickly agreed that I’d enjoy my dinner much more if I didn’t feel I should be conversing with my entrée. Many years ago there was a commercial for a heartburn relief product. It featured a man sitting on the edge of his bed