“All Aboard” Revisited – Part Three
Overall, our trip was uneventful, and that's a good thing. Jim and I are thankful for safe travel and no near misses in our 3,000+ mile trip. We had great traveling weather EXCEPT for a massive lightning show and brief (but powerful) downpour in SW Wyoming. Semis. Cars. Vans. SUVs. All heading somewhere on roads leading to parts unknown. Some...
“All Aboard” Revisited – Part Two
Grandma's journey took her across Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and California. Ours included all of those states but California PLUS Wyoming and Montana. Hers lasted nearly a year. Ours, only two and a half weeks. Hers was limited to where there were railroads in the Western states. Ours was charted with Google Maps. I...
“All Aboard” Revisited – Part One
If you have been within earshot of me in the past few months, you've heard me talk about All Aboard! The Adventures of Miss Ratcliff. My most recent (7th) book was a work of the heart and a mini-memoir of my paternal grandmother. The nutshell version is this: A young, single, pioneer school teacher took a year off to travel by train from...
Living the Good and Beautiful Life
I have always appreciated a great challenge and I've succeeded at more than a few over my lifetime. Oh, but I'm not finished. There's always room for improvement. Right? The Good and Beautiful series written by James Bryan Smith provided my most recent life challenge, and he really speaks my language! His books are filled with valuable,...
Before the Red Ink Dries!
How often in our Christian walk do we praise God, serve others, and care for our families UNTIL our paths are suddenly obscured by unknown circumstances? My husband and I were on our way to Wichita last week and I was reading as he drove. Breaking the silence – my eyes still on the book in my hands – I emphatically said, “Max Lucado is...
Celebrate Your Blessings!
"Make a list of your blessings," the author suggested. "During the next week, see if you can unpack 100 things for which you're thankful." Challenge accepted! I can do that, I thought. God has blessed me big time. So, I grabbed a notebook to start my list. #1 Family (kids & grands & more) #2 Friends #3 Jim (he's not really 3rd...just...
You Have a Nice Day!
Mine was a petty purchase. Not one to break the bank. Just a small fountain drink to quench my thirst on a steamy hot day. As I walked toward the counter I reached for my wallet, but the cashier simply smiled, waved her hand, and said "You have a nice day!" My drink was on the house."What a blessing," I said to the young woman on the other...
Doe. A deer. A female deer.
A couple of years ago, I saw something in nature that gave me a new perspective on life and death; on caregiving. It was Day 12 of my husband's fight for life. I was en route to the hospital where he was battling Covid Pneumonia - a long, battle with many ups and downs. His recovery was sometimes in question. That morning as I drove, I noticed...
Welcome, I’m Elaine. I’m a follower of Jesus Christ, a choreographer of words, a challenger of the status quo, an admirer of all things colorful, and a lover of life who finds great comfort and joy in knowing I’m completely adequate to do whatever it is God calls me to do!
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