Whenever we reflect upon reasons for which we are thankful, our minds immediately go to the obvious answers of things such as family and friends, our homes and our health. When we take the time to dig a little deeper, and think about the reasons why we are thankful for certain people, places, things, and experiences in our lives, we start to unearth a multitude … Continue reading Digging Deeper
My husband and I started a family tradition, 30 years ago, of hosting a Shenanigans Party to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with our Murphy relatives. We served Irish stew along with a variety of green foods. We drew names to exchange gag gifts – I remember my sister-in-law giving me a copy of Cowsmopolitan Magazine (it’s a real thing!) because we had recently moved to … Continue reading Shenanigans
Bucket Lists are great, but they can also be a bit overwhelming. It takes a great deal of planning, not to mention a mountain of cash, to go skydiving, take scuba diving lessons, climb the Eiffel Tower, and run with the bulls in Spain. These are not the things on my Bucket List, by the way. I have absolutely no intention of ever running toward, … Continue reading Streamlining That Bucket List
Most of us tend to measure life’s journey in milestones – weddings, births, graduations, job promotions, retirements. We invest a great deal of time and planning into celebrating these things, as it should be, for they are, indeed, joyous occasions. There are, however, many ordinary days in between those special occasions. Sometimes, if we aren’t careful, we can allow ourselves to get so caught up in … Continue reading Simple Things Matter
June is such a beautiful time of year in Kentucky. Marshmallow clouds float against a crystal blue sky, swirling and dancing ever so gently. The season is filled with lots of fun outdoor activities, but the long days also provide adequate time to just relax and take in the sensational sights and sounds of summertime. Here are a few things I am grateful for during … Continue reading June Bugs Under Beautiful Skies
All of the events and activities of spring are winding down to make room for the fast-approaching relaxing days of summer. It’s a time for celebrating many milestones for my family, and I’m grateful for each and every one of them. Another Kentucky Derby in the Books The state of Kentucky gets many visitors this time of year. Everyone dresses up in their brightly-colored outfits … Continue reading Milestones in May
New Harmony, Indiana is one of my all-time favorite small towns. I’ve been there on several occasions, with my daughter, with my sister, and even on a couple of solo trips. I got one of the best massages I’ve ever had in New Harmony. The food is always delicious, and I come away feeling stress-free and refreshed after a couple of days in this beautiful … Continue reading Perfect Harmony
I recently read an article which appeared to encourage women to disengage from the church, stating that the Bible depicts God as believing women are second-class citizens on this earth, that they are somehow “less than” their male counterparts. The author of the article even went so far as to add several facts regarding the brutal treatment of women in many cultures where God is … Continue reading God Loves Women
I find myself sorely missing the sunshine by the time February rolls around. Sometimes it’s necessary to combat the blueness of the season by making a little sunshine of our own in our hearts. These are the things that top my gratitude list this month: SOUP’S ON! I like to make a lot of soups and stews during this time of year, and the best … Continue reading Warming Up to February
Being angry, at someone, over anything, seems to be somewhat of a fad these days. I can’t put my finger on who instigated this fad, but it doesn’t have to be this way. We don’t have to automatically dislike everyone who disagrees with us. We don’t have to look for flaws to point out in others. We don’t have to always be trying to prove … Continue reading I Choose Joy
