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When it rains, it pours…
Do you see the lightpole and the white marked parking spaces going into the water? This is Raccoon Lake, flooded from the heavy rains that we’ve been getting in Indiana. Now imagine all that water on our city streets! Growing up, I’d hear people say, “when it rains, it pours,” when a situation went from bad to worse. This year, we’ve received quite a bit of rain and I’ve begun to understand the phrase, literally and figuratively. When it rains in Indiana, it pours. Inundates you like someone pouring large pitchers of water on your windshield every few seconds. Soaks you even if you just have to go a few…
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Early morning magic …
To say that I’m not a morning person is an understatement. I work days (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) but many mornings it is all I can do to get up, move into the bathroom, wash my face and put mascara on (which requires that my eyes remain open). My preference would be to stay up late and then sleep until 9 or 10 the next morning. Early morning sun near Deming Park, Terre Haute, Ind. © Photo by Diane Weidenbenner On those rare occasions when I have woken up early, I have encountered the most amazing things. There is a special kind of magic afoot in the morning hours,…
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“X”OXOXO
Sister Ann Casper (left) and Becky talking about the Youth Art Contest and Sister Ann’s remarks. She intiated the inaugral event and fostered its success each year. She loved the fact that youth came out to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods for the Art Contest! Photo © Diane Weidenbenner I wish you had known my friend, Becky. She had a great sense of humor, was a wonderful writer and she never met a stranger. She passed away April 25 and will be missed by her friends and remaining family, puppy dogs and co-workers. Here’s what I learned from Becky: Hawthorn Park, in Terre Haute, Ind., is a wonderful place to take your dog…
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Life sped up
Peaches from Ditzler’s Orchard, north of Terre Haute, Ind. I’ve noticed that as I get older, the days, weeks – even years – fly by at warp speed compared to when I was young. At least that’s how it feels. I remember school getting out and my brother’s and my trip to the local library to get the first few books on our reading list. I remember leaving windows open in the house at night to get the cross breeze because we didn’t have air conditioning. I remember going down the street to play at the Dunning’s house and not coming home until the street lights came on (or someone…
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Little blessings – an oxymoron
I’m all about the little blessings in life. By “blessings,” I mean a special, unexpected sign or gift bestowed by God (I believe) to us. Not exactly the Webster’s Dictionary definition, I know. One of these blessings has been the wildlife that has appeared in our yard over the last few weeks. It’s not uncommon for us to have “sightings” of animals – a coyote, fox or turtle cutting through the backyard that runs parallel to Lost Creek. The blessing has been that we’ve had a family of foxes that repeatedly come out at dusk to romp, play, climb on our fallen tree and generally amuse my husband, Joe, and…
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Blogging from A to Z: Love, everlasting
I’m reading “When the Game is Over, Everything Goes Back in the Box,” by John Ortberg. Got it for 80 cents at a recent library sale! I’m on Chapter Five and I’m really enjoying it. I also feel incredibly challenged. The premise is that much of what we strive for in life is temporary – money, fame, a nice house and car, the next promotion or step in our career, the latest wireless phone or tablet. What lasts forever is love. Our love for other people, for God, loving acts towards friends and even more so toward people who are hard to love. With the urgency and seemingly high priority…
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Blogging from A to Z: Fireflies and faith
Fireflies have shed a little light on Easter for me. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Each night when I take Hershey out to “do his biz-ness” I’m reminded of the firefly’s amazing ability to light up the night. The have a unique gift and offer a flickering dance that draws me closer to God. Unlike me, fireflies are not native to Denver – they are a benefit of living in hot, humid Indiana. Fireflies are cool! There are over 2,000 species of fireflies and their light patterns are unique to each species. Fireflies blink in code to…
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Blogging from A to Z: Early spring
For many of us this winter (and now early spring), have been really odd seasons. Not much snow or precipitation. In early March the tulips, daffodils, magnolias, lilacs, hostas and other perennials were dusting off their mulch and popping up to greet the season. Wildlife were waking from their deep winter slumber to look for food and nesting possibilities. I saw a baby Pileated Woodpecker at our birdfeeder two weeks ago. Many of us feared that we would get a late snow or final frost that would maim the early budding plants. We’re still holding our breaths. A friend and I went for a drive to Rockville, Ind., and discovered…
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All creatures, great and small
I’m a big fan of God’s creatures. The only things that make me uncomfortable are large, jumping spiders or roach gangs (you know they never travel alone). That said, when I woke up in the middle of the night to let my dog outside, and happened to wander into the living room to find our three cats strategically hunkered down around the swivel chair, I became apprehensive. Tails were swishing in wide strokes (except for Ollie, the Manx cat sans tail) indicating the hunt was on. With only my outdated eyeglasses and lack of courage to guide me, I returned to bed. One of three things would happen: 1) Whatever…
