by MarianBeaman | Jul 15, 2020 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, Gratitude, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, neighborhood, Quotations, Tips
“The ground is terrible here. You can’t grow anything decent in this dirt!” Years ago, that was my dad’s pronouncement when he assessed the state of affairs in my sister Janice’s garden close to our house in Florida. True, in a land where juicy oranges, plump...
by MarianBeaman | May 13, 2020 | blog, Conflict, Family / Nostalgia, Memory, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Tips, Uncategorized
With strands of black and gray hair combed obediently over the curve of his head, my pastor saw the world and his place in it clearly through wire-rimmed glasses, a fixture on his nose. Even now, I cannot imagine he took many sideways...
by MarianBeaman | Apr 15, 2020 | blog, Education, Reflection, Tips, Uncategorized
Two Quaker Oats boxes sit side by side, both cylindrical, cardboard boxes. One (on the left) is labeled “Quick” Oats and the other “Steel Cut.” One takes one minute to cook, the other 25-30 minutes. Both varieties have similar taste and texture, but they are not...
by MarianBeaman | Apr 8, 2020 | Literature, meditation, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Quotations, Reflection, Tips, Uncategorized
April Yamasaki is hosting Mennonite Daughter: The Story of a Plain Girl this week. April, a Mennonite pastor and editor of Purpose magazine, is author of more than a dozen books, including Sacred Pauses and Four Gifts, a book I have reviewed. We’ve been online friends...
by MarianBeaman | Feb 26, 2020 | blog, Reflection, Tips, Uncategorized
With this blog post, edging toward # 500 posts, I celebrate 7 years of blogging. Yes, SEVEN, my perfect number! One of my faithful blog readers, L. Marie in El Space has just celebrated her 7th blogiversary with her clever memes Harry and Kitten. Her blog is...
by MarianBeaman | Feb 19, 2020 | Award, blog, Conflict, Literature, Memory, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Quotations, Romance, Tips, Uncategorized
Writers don’t usually get recognition beginning at age 80. And often they don’t write steamy sagas at that age either. Yet Roberta George, a Valdosta, Georgia author, has been nominated for a Townsend Prize, so says a review of her novel, The Day’s Heat,...