I’m wearing a scary face today

Yesterday evening my wife was feeling a bit tired after a busy day cooking at the seniors' residence operated by our congregation.  Therefore I went to church by myself.   Returning home a couple hours later, I drove into the garage and walked the few steps to our back door. Let me set the scene here:  … Continue reading I’m wearing a scary face today

Home

We had a wonderful weekend, except for the last 80 km. Saturday was sunny and mild.  We arrived at the home of my cousin in time for supper and spent the night there.  Kara and her husband have four children, aged 9 to 18.  Their oldest son is an enthusiastic lad of 16, almost six … Continue reading Home

Thanksgiving meditations

Today is Thanksgiving Day here in Canada.  Members of our congregation  will be gathering at church this evening for a big Thanksgiving meal, joined by relatives of some members who have come from a distance, and some of our neighbours.  There will be lots of visiting and a time for singing and testimonies after the … Continue reading Thanksgiving meditations

Family gatherings

[Before I begin, I want to ask a question.  Have any of you found advertisements on this blog that you felt were inappropriate?  WordPress offers free hosting for blogs, but sometimes they will place ads on the blogs to help cover their operating costs.  I never see the ads, so I don't know what might … Continue reading Family gatherings

Self-esteem versus reality

I think of this topic every time I look for a birthday card for one of my grandchildren.  It is difficult to find a suitable card, most are full of language stoking the little darling’s self-esteem.  I would rather choose a goofy card than one that tells them how special, unique and wonderful they are. … Continue reading Self-esteem versus reality

The cat who came in from the cold

I glanced out the window one evening in late fall and was startled to see a white kitten sitting on our doorstep.  I walked around to the door and opened it, half expecting this kitten to dash off in fear when he saw me.  I was amazed when he calmly got up, walked into the … Continue reading The cat who came in from the cold

Missing Fathers

Twenty years ago, Québec psychologist Guy Corneau published a book entitled père manquant, fils manqué.  The title is a French play on words that is untranslatable, but means that there is something lacking in the development of a son when the father is missing.  Mr. Corneau explained that he did not only mean  fathers who … Continue reading Missing Fathers

Book review: Hold On to Your Kids

Hold On to Your Kids: Why parents need to matter more than peers, by Gordon Neufeld, © 2004. This book is for parents who feel their children are slipping away from them.  Doctor Neufeld is a child psychologist in Vancouver, B.C. who believes that parents need to be the strongest influence in the development of … Continue reading Book review: Hold On to Your Kids

Book review: BRINGING UP BÉBÉ

This is my review of the book, Bringing up bébé, by Pamela Druckerman, an American living in Paris with her English husband, one daughter and twin boys. Ms. Druckerman was shocked to discover that all that she thought she knew about child training, learned in the USA, was considered bizarre and impractical by mothers in … Continue reading Book review: BRINGING UP BÉBÉ