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The Best Hostess Gift Ever

The Best Hostess Gift Ever

by MarianBeaman | Jun 25, 2025 | blog, Cliff Beaman artist, Family / Nostalgia, Gratitude, Memory, Nostalgia, Paska, Travel, Ukraine, Uncategorized

Flowers, a bottle of wine, a box of candy, even a potted plant—these are the gifts guests often choose to present to a gracious host, responding to an invitation.   My neighbor Mila offers both gifts when she comes to our house for lunch or supper. Mila...
The Folded Napkin: An Easter Meditation

The Folded Napkin: An Easter Meditation

by MarianBeaman | Apr 13, 2022 | blog, Easter, meditation, Paska, Uncategorized

  The Finished Work In Bible days, when you wanted a fine piece of furniture made, you picked someone with a reputation for excellence—a master carpenter or a finish carpenter. But these carpenters had an interesting custom. When a carpenter completed a...
Our Easter in Ukraine

Our Easter in Ukraine

by MarianBeaman | Mar 30, 2022 | chalk drawing, Cliff Beaman artist, Easter, Education, Kiev Ukraine, Paska, Travel, Ukraine, Uncategorized

Khristos voskres! Christ is risen indeed! These words spoken in Russian are the very first expression of Easter joy we hear on Sunday, April 24, 2011 as folks gather at Birth of Christ Church in Kiev, Ukraine, preparing for the worship hour. Here is the choir after...
Easter 2019 with Memories of Mother

Easter 2019 with Memories of Mother

by MarianBeaman | Apr 17, 2019 | Easter, meditation, Memory, Paska, Reflection, Uncategorized

      A Mom Moment   * * *   On Good Friday, my mother, busy in the house and garden, would cease her labors from noon to 3:00 p.m, and sit with an open Bible for a quiet time of reflection. She probably read these words from Luke 23:44-46...
Grandma’s 3 Thanksgiving Postcards: Red Leaf, Cheery Harvest, Shakespeare Quote

Grandma’s 3 Thanksgiving Postcards: Red Leaf, Cheery Harvest, Shakespeare Quote

by MarianBeaman | Nov 23, 2016 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, Gratitude, Literature, meditation, Mennonite History, Paska, Quotations

Before families went over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house, a postcard may have appeared in their mailbox to mark this grand American holiday of gratitude in the early 1900s. Grandma Fanny Longenecker saved three of hers. In this card dated...

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