Scrapbooks….

Almost forty-two years ago we left Japan for Maine. I remember standing in the living room of our government quarters in Bangor, ME with tears running down my face. I was homesick. Not homesick for my hometown, but, lonesome for the familiarity of living in Japan. I wanted to be able to walk down the

Faith…

I have attempted many things in my life that I never would have thought of doing when I was growing up in my small hometown of Oil City, PA.   I married my high school sweetheart which at the time was a pretty normal thing for people to do.  However, he was a career Navy man

At Long Last… Home…

Home is where the heart can laugh without shyness. Home is where the heart’s tears can dry at their own pace. ~Vernon Baker We lived in Downeast Maine during the last year of the 70’s and the beginning of the 80’s.  We had been married five years. There was another young mother who had a

The Women of Winter Harbor…

This week I have thought of the people we have met in our married life.  Being military, we have met so many folks and have had such a full life of being with people we never would have known if we hadn’t had being in the military in common. The one group that stands out

Love… Until Death do we Part…

Today, good friends of ours are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.  I used to think that number was reserved to really old people… guess it’s not as old as I may have thought.  Ruthie and Neil are a wonderful couple.  I have known them for about 34 years now.  They have always been examples of love

Winters in the Past…

I have lived with many types of winter.  Each one is wonderful in itself, but my favorites have been the ones with snow and ice and gray skies.  I miss those winters. Growing up in northwestern Pennsylvania, we had good winters.  Sometimes they would arrive early and stay late.  I can remember wearing winter coats

No kids allowed…

Today, this post is dedicated to my dear friend,  Susie.  Since I didn’t get you a birthday present, and I can’t find a card that is as beautiful as one you would make, here is my gift to you….  a memory.  Happy birthday dear friend. “Friends love through all kinds of weather,  and families stick together

On Missing a Way of Life… 31 Days of Observing…

31 Days Observing   This morning I spent some time reading posts on my Reader section.   There was a post from Adopting James titled “We Know Jack”  (http://adoptingjames.wordpress.com/2013/10/18/we-know-jack/). It was about the movie “The Nightmare Before Christmas”  (Tim Burton’s 1993 movie).   It was a great post to read, but what it did was transport me to Disneyland. 

Visiting… 31 Days of Observing…

31 Days Observing  We left Japan when I was 25 years old.  It had been my home since I was 21.   When hubby and I were transferred to Japan, I thought it would never feel like home.  I was so wrong.  The time we spent there was wonderful.  It was life changing and those years

When it rains…

As a child I often sat on my bed in northwestern Pennsylvania dreaming of growing up and moving to California.  I dreamed of sunny beaches and big houses and being rich enough to flourish there.  I don’t know why I ever thought of that, but I did.  I guess it didn’t help with the Mommas