Last Sunday was the first in the Advent season of the Christian Calendar, a time of waiting for the birth of the Messiah--the incarnate God who would walk this Earthly journey. People of other faiths have their own traditions that are special at this or other times of year. When we're in these seasons of … Continue reading Struggling During the Holidays: Hope for Depression
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Dwell in Thanks Giving
Next Thursday we'll gather with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving. For some, this is an almost overlooked holiday in order to move on to Christmas. In retail, the Halloween displays were quickly replaced by loads of goods for Christmas, with the scant offerings for Thanksgiving edged out, and "I'm dreaming of a White Christmas" … Continue reading Dwell in Thanks Giving
Bittersweet Halloween: The Passing of Time
Last night, I enjoyed Halloween with my grandsons, Baker 6 y.o. and Parks 4 y.o. I felt fortunate that Baker had asked me the week before, "Grammy, will you go trick-or-treating with us?" Fortunate, because he lives within a thirty minute drive and secondly because he wants me to join in with the group that … Continue reading Bittersweet Halloween: The Passing of Time
Cooking Up Zesty Travel Memories
Some of my great memories of my time in Portugal and Spain were all the meals of fresh seafood---really fresh seafood. On one of those days of walking by the Portuguese coast, I passed by a fishing village. Not long afterwards, I stopped at a restaurant where they were grilling the fresh catch. I think … Continue reading Cooking Up Zesty Travel Memories
Appalachian Trail Interrupted: Challenges Unforeseen
It's been two months since I left for the Camino; I'm amazed that that much time has gone by. In the days before I left, when I was walking for miles at Hunter St. Park with my loaded backpack, I gradually built up muscle and strength. During that time, I was visiting at my sister, … Continue reading Appalachian Trail Interrupted: Challenges Unforeseen
Internal Pilgrimage: Questioning Long-Held Assumptions
Last week I shared with you a section of the book, The Soul of a Pilgrim: Eight Practices for the Journey Within. It's a resource I'm using to prepare for my upcoming Camino journey, but on a broader level, one for looking at the internal journey that we're all walking. In the book, Christine Valters … Continue reading Internal Pilgrimage: Questioning Long-Held Assumptions
Memorial Day: The Sacrifices of War
Tomorrow we observe Memorial Day in the United States. According to an article on the history of this holiday, it was created to honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/memorial-day-history This came immediately after the Civil War in 1865 which "claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. … Continue reading Memorial Day: The Sacrifices of War
My Mother, My Teacher
Today is Mother's Day and I think of Mama and all that she taught me. I realize, now that I'm older and a mother and grandmother, that our mothers did the best they could based on all that formed them. Mama, was born in 1923 and grew up in rural North Carolina during the Great … Continue reading My Mother, My Teacher
Go Forth in the Flow of Your Life
This weekend I made a return trip to the mountains of North Carolina to see my friends, Paula and David. Last November--after six years of not seeing each other, I visited with them in their home near Sparta Hike Over Bluff Mountain: Friendship Continued. Now, five months later, we had our recent time together to refer … Continue reading Go Forth in the Flow of Your Life
Cycle of Life: A Time to Plant
We're almost to mid-April and the official end of the threat of frost in central North Carolina. My grandmother consulted the Farmer's Almanac for advice on planting and now I consult with my Master Gardener, Brother-in-Law, Winslow. He recommends putting things in the ground after April 15th. To prepare for planting, I bought my seed … Continue reading Cycle of Life: A Time to Plant
Connie Rosser Riddle 