“Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.” ~ Oscar Wilde . Wanting to be liked is a powerful temptation At my age, it’s a lot easier to follow the “Be yourself” advice than it was when I was a young woman, but I continue to be surprised how powerful and tempting it is to want […]
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“He’s Alive!” — Easter Morning’s Powerful Cry
After the horror of Jesus’s crucifixion, suffering, and death, as the disciples huddled in fear and disbelief, imagine how they felt when they first heard the joyful cry, “He’s Alive!” From abject fear to utter joy and liberation Our churches don’t often dwell on the awful time between the suffering and death of Jesus on […]
It Is Finished… The Profound Last Words Of Christ
Last words matter As a physician, my husband was sometimes present during that sacred moment when a patient passed from life to death. Often there were no “last words,” because the patient was already unconscious, but when a patient spoke at this time, everyone in the room strained to hear, because “last words” can be […]
Compass Points April 2019: New Growth
A monthly newsletter to support and inspire your #HeartspokenLife. April’s theme is “New Growth.” [Reading time under 5 minutes]. April 15, 2019 What’s going on at Riverwood I hope you’re paying attention to the daily changes as spring arrives in your part of the world. In just two days of warm weather, spring is bursting […]
Cherry Tomato Salsa/Salad
This cherry tomato “salsa” or salad is a delicious, colorful, and easy-to-prepare dish that goes with almost any kind of entrée. I don’t use this as a “salsa” so much as a side dish/salad. If I wanted to make it a salsa, I would probably cut the tomatoes into smaller pieces. Makes about 3-4 servings […]
Spring Cleaning Can Blast You Out Of Winter’s Black Hole!
Spring is here at last and spring cleaning is a tried and true ritual! Why do we still associate spring with spring cleaning? Certainly, in prairie cabins a century ago, when the wind blew dust through the chinks between the logs, spring was the first time the sun was warm enough to dry those curtains […]
Book Review: On The Brink Of Everything by Parker J. Palmer
On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity, and Getting Old by Parker J. Palmer Reviewed by Elizabeth H. Cottrell Published 2018 240 pages (Hardcover edition) 5 stars out of 5 Parker J. Palmer is among my favorite authors because he writes beautifully and honestly about the questions, challenges, and paradoxes of life. His writing explores, […]
The National Park System: America’s Hidden Treasure
When you discover our country’s National Park System, you discover the heart of America! Visionary leaders recognized the need to think long-term In 2016, we celebrated the 100th birthday of the National Park System (NPS). In 2019, we also celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), originally known as the National […]