The Treasure

Although my father died over sixteen years ago, I can still vividly remember sorting through his nightstand and chest as we cleaned out the family house. Dad was selective about the treasures he stored, usually tossing out things that weren’t meaningful to him. My...

My New Year’s Resolutions

Happy New Year! The past several weeks have been a fun-filled adventure of family visits, friend reunions, book signings with my loyal readers, and the honor of attending the celebrations of two weddings. My travels took me to the East Coast, the Midwest and back to...

A thank you prayer

Behind Grace’s bed, the wall was painted a bright raspberry color. Large brightly colored decals of animals and flowers floated across the room. My little granddaughter invited me to share her room during my visit a few weeks ago. Grace inherited her parents large bed...

Learn to Laugh

[responsive][/responsive] Several years ago, I stood behind the podium in front of an overcrowded banquet hall. Once again, I was asked to present several awards during the annual high school honors ceremony. The high school had suffered several years of declining...

My Grandpa Tony

Anthony Martini was born in Sicily and came to the United States by himself at the age of 13 years old. My earliest memories of Grandpa Tony occurred during the first few years of grade school when I spent time before and after school at his home. Grandpa Tony walked...

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom

Do you remember the last time you moved or survived a home repair or remodel project? We’ve all experienced both the pain and joy at one time or another . Many of my friends cringed when I described the recent renovation at our home. My husband and I decided to...