"We rejoice in our sufferings knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. And hope does not disappoint." -Letter to the Romans Part of what we are called to do here on earth is to endure. And if we have the courage to endure whatever life
Continue ReadingThis Summer I was jogging alongside the Snake River in Wyoming. I passed an aging cowboy, his worn boots propped up on a split log, a smoking pipe dangling from his chin, and a steaming cup of joe by his side. I thought I heard him mumble something under his
Continue Reading"When was the last time you Sabbathed?" I have a confession. I’m not a good “sabbath-keeper.” As a child growing up in the Blue Law South, everything; the movie theater, restaurants, grocery and liquor stores were all closed on Sunday in observance of the Sabbath. There was nothing to do but rest.
Continue ReadingA collector of Hearts--an epitaph to be remembered by. I have always loved all things in the shape of a heart. You could say I'm drawn to hearts. Several years ago two of my closest friends, myself and now happily my daughter Elise began hunting for hearts. We have a beautiful
Continue ReadingDid you know that you can actually do Yellowstone in 24 hours? I have the photos to prove it: Old Faithful and the other geysers, the Waterfall and canyons, herds of bison and elk, bear prints, moose crossings, eagle sitings, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with Pringles. We even
Continue Reading"We all want to know why we are here. What is our mission in life? Those people who know it are easy to spot: Their lives shine with meaning." -Caroline Myss Year of 39--that is what I called this past year of my life. I know everyone says that age is just
Continue ReadingA friend recently gave me a sage piece of advice, "Remember, everyone suffers from a broken heart." My background is in art history, and I'll never forget standing in awe before Da Vinci's, Mona Lisa at the Louvre, furiously taking notes and photographs. The Professor said, "A memorable portrait reveals a depth beyond
Continue ReadingThis past week I met a young man from Jordan who introduced me to the dhikir, a form of meditative prayer where one recites aloud or silently the 99 sacred names of God. Thumbing his prayer beads, I watched as my new friend remembered God, one bead, one holy
Continue ReadingHarvard is studying it, Pharrell is singing about it, and my husband is working on a new app named it. What's all the hoopla with happy? Research claims the degree of happiness in our lives directly impacts our longevity. Happy people live longer! I wish I had known my grandmother. My mother always lights
Continue ReadingIf you were walking along the Santa Monica pier in Los Angeles on a warm Saturday afternoon, you might come upon Mikey's deli. Be warned, this is not your ordinary deli serving corned beef hash or hot dogs loaded with mustard and sauerkraut. Mikey's deli only serves hugs. For the
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