Little Things It’s been said that a turtle cannot move unless it sticks its neck out. Yet sometimes, with our necks out, we’ve tried to make headway, only to find we’ve made circles in the sand. I wouldn’t call myself a computer expert by any stretch of the imagination, but on two separate occasions in one day last week, two friends were overwhelmed by their tasks at hand. They had tried countless times to figure out their computer problems, but with no success, they were on the verge of exasperation. “I’d be so grateful if you could just stop over…
Read MorePlay Date
In Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way, she writes about the importance of having a monthly play date. Friend and author Joy DeKok and I did exactly that on Monday, May 13. Our first stop was the University of Minnesota’s Arboretum in Chanhassen, Minn. Although the Arboretum was just shedding its winter clothes and many of the gardens showed only an inch or so of good things to come, the magnolias were in bloom and filled the pathway with their lovely blossoms and sweet fragrance. The tulips looked like foot-high asparagus spears. But in protected, sunny spots, we did see bright spots…
Read MoreTeacher Appreciation Day
Teacher Appreciation Day May 7, 2013 Dear Friends, In T. S. Eliot’s poem, Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, the narrator lived life all boxed in. Societal expectations and self-made cardboard sides prevented him from venturing out into the world. Near the end of the poem, the narrator asks tentatively, “Dare I disturb the universe?” There was a time when I was afraid to disturb the universe. But the sought-out advice of some good people encouraged me to finish my book and disturb the universe. BlessBack: Thank Those Who Shaped Your Life released in February 2012. In February 2013, a year…
Read MoreReversed Thanks: Client Sends Hairdresser Flowers
May 2, 2013 will go down in history as a day where Minnesota experienced a narrow-banded snowstorm that closed schools and dropped 18 inches of snow in an area that stretched from Owatonna in the south part of the state, through northwest Wisconsin up to Lake Superior. But the day will also be a unique day to remember for Kathryn Paradise, co-owner of Salon Spatoria in Victoria. For out of the blue, Kathryn received a BlessBack. As I sat down in Kathryn’s styling chair, to my left, on the mirror, I saw a promotion, advertising buy-one-get-one-free in haircare products. Kathryn…
Read MoreMay Day Basket of Gratitude
Step-by-step instructions and a free downloadable pdf for you to use. I had the privilege to speak on gratitude at a women’s morning event at Faithpoint Lutheran Church in New Prague on Saturday, April 27. After I spoke, my sister-in-law, Debbie Trewartha instructed us all on a fun and easy craft. I loved her idea to use it as a May Day Basket of Gratitude. Use them to give to your children, a friend or place them on co-workers’ desks while they are at lunch or in a meeting. Or, pretend you are a child again and place one…
Read MoreBreaking ice
Every now and then I head to Excelsior Commons to watch the water. Being near water helps me get back to me and often provides a new perspective or a creative thought. Yesterday, April 22, 2013, I sat in my car in a parking space and watched as a boat hugged the ice, breaking it up into bits and pieces. One would think a barge-like boat would be used for this, but the boat used was just an ordinary speed boat created floating chunks of ice, with the waves from the boat sending them to shore. Later, I paid Dunn Bros. coffee shop…
Read MoreMaking Dreams Become Real
There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right. Martin Luther King, Jr. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. believed dreams could become real. He, like Anne Frank who coined a beautiful phrase, were the forerunners to not “wait[ing] a day longer to bring change to a world they wanted to see.” I was 10 years old when Pastor King was assassinated. 1968 was the same year in which Robert Kennedy was assassinated. I did not understand these killings…
Read MoreWhen a Viking and a Packer fan fell in love
Today’s blog post about Carol Zimmerman’s lighthearted song about the Viking-Packer border wars in her home was originally published in the February 8, 2001 edition of the Minnesota Christian Chronicle. I chose to re-release this story today on behalf of those of us with border warring between Minnesota and Wisconsin NFL football fans. When the Vikes and Packers play, I’m always a bit conflicted. I was born in Wisconsin but moved to Minnesota at the age of 4. I grew up a Fran Tarkenton’s throw from the Met Stadium. I hope you enjoy this story. Carol is a friend of mine and…
Read MoreIn Closing: 2012 My Year in Review
“In the end, it’s not going to matter how many breaths you took, but how many moments took your breath away.” – shing xiong In Closing 2012: My Year in Review Things I learned in 2012. Great is good. Hire a graphic designer who captures your book idea and makes it real. Thankful to Angie Hughes of Angie’s Creative, for her ability to design the inside and the outside of my book and a new website. Hire a friend who is a great photographer. Thankful for Scott Knutson of InsideOut Studios for his incredible talent. Keep your friends: Thankful to…
Read MoreThe Likeness of Glory
The Likeness of Glory One of the most profound stories in all of literature is Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. In it, the scientist Victor Frankenstein creates a creature. All goes well for a short while – until the creature starts to embarrass the scientist by not leaving him alone. Frankenstein then sees his creation as a pest and a monster. Frankenstein does everything he can to hide and run from this creature, including trying to escape him by going to the North Pole. The creature, however, just wants a simple thing: He yearns to be near the person whose creativity he…
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