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We were having breakfast in a small diner this week when an older gentleman walked in, and his son said, “Have a seat here Dad.” I was intrigued by their relationship and found myself looking in their direction occasionally. They were far enough away that I couldn’t hear conversations, but close enough to see facial expressions.

Trying not to act like a stalker gawking at them, I continued to glance their direction occasionally. It was obvious that the father was excited to have breakfast with...

I have always thought my neighbor is an amazing young Christian woman. I have heard bits and pieces of her story, from having a child out of wedlock, to a family of four with a happy ending, or should I say beginning, when her husband adopted her oldest child. The entire family is an example of goodness, but the story she shared of her wedding day, solidified how I feel about her...

Enjoy this guest blog post from Erin E. McEndree. Even if you are not in the adoption arena, there is great wisdom in her words. I met Erin many years ago through a writer's group. Her calming spirit always makes one feel welcome and loved.

Erin's book is available on my website as well at https://maryrodman.com/updates. I will pass on the information to Erin and she will send you a signed copy.

Hi! I am Erin. I like to say I was my mom and dad’s little girl before I was born.

My birth mother...

One year I tried the “One Word” concept. Where you pick a word which helps you focus on making a...

There were many events which had to line up for me to bring a man to tears yesterday. First of all, years ago I had been to Tahquamenon Falls in Michigan and snapped some pictures of this unique waterfall. Sometime after that visit, I created several pictures with quotes and Bible verses on them to sell at craft shows. A picture of the waterfall was among them.

Second, I have adopted a new plan to clean the basement. If something goes down stairs, something must come back upstairs and be...

Change doesn’t always come easy for me. Maybe that is why I worked for the same company for over twenty years. There were good and bad times at that company, but in the end I was always glad that I persevered. Making it through difficult times gave me a sense of purpose and accomplishment.

At this point and time in my life, change comes a little easier. Is it easier because of my age, or is it my faith that every change in life works out for the greater good? I am a strong believer that if you...

Recently I assisted three new authors with the publishing process. From start to finish: formatting, uploading files, book covers, tips of the trade, and being published as an Indie author. They now have digital and paperback books available for purchase. It isn’t that I have great knowledge, or know all the tricks of the trades, but after publishing ten books myself I am able to assist.

I didn’t help them because I wanted accolades or payment, but because I wanted to help them each obtain...

There are blood relatives which make up your family, and church families. Close friends are often considered family, and as a nation, we are a family. Families can be full of belly laughs, good times, smiles, and unforgettable memories. There is survival mode through tragedies, and celebrations of great accomplishments. But families also come with a blend of personalities, so there is frustration, the occasional harsh word, and arguments which get out of hand. The key to a close family is...

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

How do you actually increase your knowledge of God, and build the wonderful qualities mentioned in the Fruits of the Spirit? Many people say, “Don’t ever pray for patience, because God will test you!” True, but if you ask God for patience, He is going to give you the ability to grow patience. He doesn’t just give you the...

When my niece, Rachel, was growing up, she had two Aunt Marys. She would be talking about Aunt Mary, and her mom would quickly become confused and ask questions trying to decipher the story. In her frustration, Rachel would say, “No, the other Aunt Mary!”

Over time, “the other Aunt Mary” stuck with both of us. We refer to one another by the nickname we were given by our niece many years ago. We are from opposite sides of the family, but have been friends for many years.

This week I had the...

The man who lives without Jesus is the poorest of the poor, whereas no one is so rich as the man who lives in His grace. ~ Thomas à Kempis

I am reminded of the old hymn, Grace Greater Than All Our Sin. God's grace is life changing, and eternity changing.

God’s grace gives us the ability to forgive ourselves and others. When we walk in His grace, we are acknowledging our imperfections, and understand that Christ makes us pure. Our lives are scarred by sin, but Jesus’ cleansing grace makes us...

Do you ever look back and think, “Me and my bright ideas?” Well today was one of those days. When we first arrived in Florida I washed all of the windows that don’t have screens and can be reached from the outside. Unfortunately, the living room windows were not one of those. I hated looking through the dirty windows and asked Jim to help this morning.

They are hurricane windows and very heavy, not to mention the windows are extremely wide. It takes two people to release both buttons and lift...

After much frustration of cooking with three out of four burners, Jim and I decided to purchase a new stove in Florida. We had no idea how old the stove was, nor a good repairman, so it seemed like our best option.

The installation crew was supposed to take the old stove to the curb, and in most cases it will disappear. But we wondered how long it would sit there, and how would we get rid of it if someone didn’t take it. So forty-eight hours before delivery, I advertised the old stove for a...

While I was shopping, I stepped into the garden center for some potting soil. To my surprise, before me was a sea of red poinsettias that filled the aisles. Typically you see a few white and pink ones in the mix, but these were all bright red. It was so beautiful that it took me by surprise.

Since it is our first year spending Christmas in Florida, I couldn’t resist purchasing a small one for my Christmas tree. Even though we had Christmas with the kids and grandkids before traveling south, I...

My heart goes out to the families of those who lost their lives in the hurricane this week. Many lost their homes, businesses, power, and much more as a result of this horrific storm as it came up the Gulf Coast and swept through the Carolinas. The storm did a great deal of damage across many states with its powerful winds and flooding.

The storm had so much force that we had wind gusts in Ohio yesterday. One of those gusts broke a huge limb off of the neighbor's tree. Unfortunately, the limb...

After a week of hot dry weather, our cornfield is showing signs of needing much rain. In the heat of the day, the leaves are curling making it look frail and parched. This is a natural response to the stress the heat is putting on the corn stalks. For this to happen a few days, brings concern but no damage. However, if the heat and drought continue, the corn crop yield will begin to suffer.

As I walked to the mailbox today, I snapped a picture of the curled corn. We are much like the curled...

Our new neighbors are just the sweetest and most helpful friends one could ask for. We are still getting acquainted with one another, but they are both kind and helpful, and their children are so polite.

He is a very talented free-hand painter for motorcycles and trucks. His truck is absolutely beautiful, and when I complimented his work, his wife said, “Thank you. I am so proud of him.”

Those words echoed in my mind for several days. First of all, I thought it was precious that she adored her...

I’m not sure why, but Christmas 2023 was an emotional rollercoaster for me. I had so many memories flooding my mind. Not just Christmases from the past, but little tidbits from my childhood and various family members who impacted my life.

Rather than celebrating Christmas, I began to feel weighed down. The feeling was all too familiar because I struggled with grief with the loss of my sister. I had a choice to make, wallow in my memories or rejoice in the blessings of growing up in a wonderful...

Dictionary.com gives the following definitions...

Rejoice - to make joyful; gladden

Reflect - to think, ponder, or meditate

Celebrate - to make known publicly; proclaim

It saddens my heart how commercialized Christmas has become, yet I too am drawn into the hustle and bustle of the season. All of the commercials and hoopla draw us away from the true meaning of Christmas. The Christ child, which is why we should be reflecting, rejoicing, and celebrating.

So as you step into the final days before...

We were blessed to purchase a winter home in a wonderful neighborhood in Florida this year. In the evenings I love to walk, and I try to pick a different street so I can meet the neighbors. We were back in town for just a week or so, and I wanted to exchange emails with a neighbor I had met in March, so I decided to walk to her house.

When I rang her doorbell, I felt like I had hit the jackpot. To my surprise, several neighbors were sitting at her table playing dominoes. I love to meet new...