by MarianBeaman | Feb 14, 2018 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, Memory, Mennonite Lore, Romance, Uncategorized
Missing a Heart A tornado whirling through Kansas, whisked Dorothy and her dog Toto to the magical land of Oz hoping to meet the Wizard in the Emerald City. As they progressed along the Yellow Brick Road, they met three creatures who lacked something important: a...
by MarianBeaman | Feb 7, 2018 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite History, Nostalgia, Quotations, Uncategorized
A little church in Alabama with rough-hewn walls holds a glittering stained glass window with this expression: Not lost but gone before. The saying in golden glass ends with a period though it’s not a complete sentence. Yet those five words reflect on a real...
by MarianBeaman | Jan 31, 2018 | blog, Cliff Beaman artist, Conflict, Uncategorized
February is Brotherhood month, often celebrated in schools, and in state and national ceremonies. Any such celebrations in your neighborhood? What does the body language of Garfield and Odie suggest? If you created a...
by MarianBeaman | Jan 24, 2018 | blog, Cliff Beaman artist, Family / Nostalgia, Memory, Nostalgia, Tips, Uncategorized
Do you procrastinate? Are there unfinished projects lying about in your house? Years ago in graduate school at Florida State University, my husband Cliff made these bisque-fired salt and pepper shakers. He says creating the shakers was a side project back then,...
by MarianBeaman | Jan 17, 2018 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, Reflection, Tips, Uncategorized
The Confession As of January 5, 2018 I had found 3768 photos on my iPhone along with 158 videos. Gasp! When I began organizing the host of photos, none of the pictures were tagged with subject. Only an image number identified each photo (IMG_2548, for example). And...
by MarianBeaman | Jan 10, 2018 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, Memory, Mennonite History, Uncategorized
Frozen America the national weather channel announced this week! After the calendar flipped to 2018, the temperatures in north Florida dipped way low. Low by Florida standards of course. On Thursday morning, January 4, Jacksonville International Airport temps reached...
by MarianBeaman | Jan 3, 2018 | blog, Memory, popular culture, Quotations, Uncategorized
Last year 2017 was an eventful year for us. Hurricane Irma surged through Jacksonville in September dumping loads of water and downing trees. Son Joel here was determined windows on our property would be secure. He had strong intention, believe you me! INTENTION...
by MarianBeaman | Dec 20, 2017 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, meditation, Memory, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, popular culture, Romance
Norah Ephron wrote the screenplay for You’ve Got Mail in 1998. Starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, the film features two business rivals who can’t stand each other in real life but begin falling in love via online mail boxes. Cliff Writes Letters to Me Internet...
by MarianBeaman | Dec 13, 2017 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, neighborhood, Quotations
Once upon a time my Grandma Longenecker and Aunt Ruthie welcomed strangers into their home. They hosted Phuong Le from Viet Nam, their first refugee “daughter.” After Grandma died my aunt carried on the tradition opening her door to refugees...
by MarianBeaman | Dec 6, 2017 | Family / Nostalgia, Memory, Nostalgia, Travel, Uncategorized
When our oldest grandsons were nearly 4 we took them on a mystery trip. “You are going someplace special, but we can’t tell you where,” we said. They were completely befuddled. Cartoon bubbles above their heads might have read, “What’s a mystery trip? Is it safe to go...
