Preparing for our group of seven

July 6, 2022.Reading time 1 minute.

As many of you know, Ric and I, along with our neighbours, Ian and Bev, have decided to host an extended Ukrainian family. Our first big monetary challenge is helping them get here. We have to date raised $5,600 towards flights, but since our initial efforts, flights have increased, and numbers have changed (Tania’s husband Mykolas is […]

Alina’s Dream

June 17, 2022.Reading time 5 minutes.

“Will you please write my story, V.J.?” fourteen-year-old Alina asked me recently. She and her family have now been living with Ric and I a month. Alina is a striking young woman, calm and poised, and over the past month, I have come to appreciate the strength of her determination. We talked about interests the […]

Plus Five

May 20, 2022.Reading time 2 minutes.

Arrogant of me to ask you to stop and read while I have been so absent, yet I have much to share. How did this broken woman, debilitated by disease, find herself deeply entrenched in the humanitarian side of war? I ask myself this question daily. It is a lesson for all us, I believe. […]

Helping is Medicine.

May 6, 2022.Reading time 1 minute.

As I type, twin blue captain’s beds are being delivered for boys that we will soon be hosting from Ukraine. On my messenger feed, another ambassador is typing about an emergency situation at an airport, where the documentation is being questioned. The family has no more money for alternate flights. Outside, the chickadee sings “yoo-hoo” […]

Everyday Miracles

April 29, 2022.Reading time 3 minutes.

Can you help my friend, please? She is 32 weeks pregnant. The text came in mid-morning. I said I’d look into it. Mom, husband, 10-year-old, and baby on the way. Afraid of the encroaching war, they gambled their money on tickets to Canada. I thought of my own daughter-in-law, happily registering for an upcoming baby […]

Wheels of Kindness

April 22, 2022.Reading time 2 minutes.

Today is the day to leave, the 2:30 am text read; I’m letting my son sleep in, last day in our home. The message came from Kyiv. I had connected with the mom the day before. Bombing around them had finally convinced her to flee. Stay safe and keep in touch when you can. I’m […]

Marriage Potential

What if loyalty purchased this houseand commitment co-signed?We’d take out a mortgagebased on love – interest only What if our foundation was spiritualand our walls cornerstones of faith?We’d furnish our home with joyand leave room for wonder. Can you imagine the possibilitiesif we dedicated this life to service,if we made our marriage the hub,found a […]

Small Town

No big box hereour shops line upin historic rows Our fraganceeau-de-fermeearthen fresh Our spires remindersthat values are simpleand life blessed. (Photo mine)

Origin

Anxiety burnsan acidic devouring confidence impaled –mind wanders to childhood dreamsuncovers fear’s origin. (Tuesdays, I borrow from Twitter @Vjknutson. I came across this tanka written in May/21 that seemed to match with the image I recently posted on my other blog. I decided to pair them here.)