Lessons from Trees
Trees have been on my mind, especially as I take my daily walk along our forest, hoping the black bear isn’t lurking there! I thought of writing a post about trees and then discovered I had written one years ago. So here it is again slightly adapted. I said to the almond tree, “Sister, speak […]
Advice for Those Grieving Lost Spouses
During August I will be with the Sisters of Notre Dame in Africa. So, instead of a post from me this week, here is a guest post written by Patricia Sarmiento. I hope if you are grieving your marriage partner you personally find these words helpful. Maybe you can refer it to someone else who […]
St. Julie Billiart, Walking Love of God
During the rest of this year I’ll be speaking to groups about St. Julie Billiart, the courageous woman responsible for starting the Sisters of Notre Dame. My handout for the talks is a collection of wise things St. Julie said. It occurred to me that others may benefit from her wisdom, so my blog this […]
Daphne Saves Elephants, etc., in Kenya
Some kind soul who heard I was going to Kenya anonymously sent me Dame Daphne Sheldrick‘s fascinating memoir, Love, Life, and Elephants: An African Love Story. She learned to raise newborn elephants and saved the lives of numerous wild animals and released them. In the book alongside her memories of being a conservationist, Daphne reveals […]
False Self-Concepts, Be Gone!
My friend Roman Vaynshtok, a Reiki practitioner and teacher, wrote a thought-provoking article with advice for having true self-concepts and becoming the person God meant us to be. He allowed me to share it with you on my blog . . . How Beliefs Form Our beliefs and preconceptions often form quietly. They are shaped […]
Hummingbirds: God’s Intricate Creation
I chose an apartment on the third floor so I would be on a level with birds. One day while I was standing on my balcony, a hummingbird flew right by my nose. That was probably because of the hummingbird feeders on my neighbors’ balconies. My feeder was not a success. Ants loved it. However, […]
Freedom Isn’t Free
On July 4 we celebrate the birthday of our nation when we became free from Britain’s tyranny. More than that, we celebrate the freedoms that are the bedrock of our society. As our Declaration of Independence states, all people are “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and […]
Sacred Heart, Symbol of Love
The Sacred Heart of Jesus is the focus of our devotion in the month of June. (Each month has a particular focus. For example, May is devoted to Mary.) Appropriately the United States Bishops consecrated the United States to the Sacred Heart on June 11 this year (2026). Why the Sacred Heart? A heart symbolizes […]
Eucharist, Our Sacred Meal-Replay
An Amazing Gift I think this is the third and last post that did not reach subscribers. On Holy Thursday we heard the story of how Jesus instituted the Eucharist. And lately the Mass readings have to do with this sacrament. Jesus took some bread and said, “This is my body,” and then he held […]
Mary, a Mother for Moms Replay
Mary Can Identify with Moms Today I believe this is another post that did not reach subscribers. So here it is again. Recently I spoke to a group of moms and grandmothers. They requested that I talk about how Mary was a model for mothers. This prompted me to review the Blessed Mother’s life noticing […]