Many of the readers of this warm thoughts column are aware that I write these lines a week before you have the opportunity to read the column. When you read this column, I will have returned from the International Congress on the Family, which was held on July 5th - 9th in Denver, Colorado. So stay tuned to this column as I will share with you my personal experiences and thoughts from this Congress.
Episode 214: Grandma Quilt →
February - heart month - the month for Valentine's Day. The month we think "spring" even if all man winters still has his fling! Brrrr! It has been cold! One needs to keep warm with the extra comforter that would be at the foot of the bed in grandma's day. No cold chill could penetrate the warmth of that comforter as it radiated grandma's love and care. That quilt was grandma's legacy. Recently, my friend experienced all the excitement of being a grandma for the first time. My gift to her was a baby quilt, and a poem I wrote. Since many of my readers have expressed appreciation of poetry thoughts, I will share with you the poem I gave with the quilt.
Episode 197: Hugs for Everyone →
The Labor Day weekend provides a great holiday for families who still need a few more days vacation. September is when we start counting the days of summer we still have left. September is also the month for Grandparents Day. This past summer, the grandchildren came to vacation at the little home on the prairie. One day I heard the older grandchildren laughing upstairs. They had found grandma's humor box. The youngest grandchild, very active two-year-old, Trevor, keeps everyone challenged. Grandma would rub his back at naptime. When he returned home from vacation, he ordered his dad, "Rub my back!" It is a real joy to receive many warm thoughts from the readers of this column. Recently, someone sent a poem which I will share with you.
Episode 182: Mother of the Year →
As I write this column we are experiencing May showers. May the May showers bring blessings and May flowers! The weekend found many in the community planting their gardens and flowers. My joy and challenge was having a two-year-old granddaughter helping plant the seeds. Indeed a challenge with those little hands planting seeds of love!
Episode 181: Cheers to the Graduates! →
Cheers to the graduates! As I write this column, on the day of National Day of Prayer, many warm thoughts come to mind. Throughout the country, many students will be graduating from schools of learning this month. Graduation is both a happy and a sad occasion. The diploma, a symbol of excellence and knowledge, is the inheritance of our youth. I am reminded of what a big gray-haired, soft spoken Professor Greek once stated, as he handed out the diplomas. He said, "Young ladies and gentlemen, it is not possible for everyone to have a great intellect, but it is possible for everyone to have a great heart."
Episode 170: A Letter to Luetta →
When you read this Warm Thoughts column, it will be February and January has come and gone. Where has the month gone so fast? It has been a month of London fog flinging a crystal veil over the heartland, a real winter wonderland. February is heart month - the month of the Groundhog, Valentine's Day, Presidents Day...Did I forget something? February is also the month when many warm thoughts on love come to mind. In his book "How to Love," Arthur H. Rahner Jr states, "It is a selfish world." He defines love as not emotions or feelings, but the willingness to sacrifice for another. When we are selfish and look only to support our own causes, we cannot truly love.
Episode 141: God Bless America & You →
Did you celebrate America's birthday? Over 200 years have come and gone for our good, old USA. Many ceremonies come to mind as we remember celebrating Independence Day. As we reflect on the month of June, and Father's Day celebrations with family, my thoughts reflect on historical facts about the father of our country, George Washington. Recently I read Washington's prayer for our country. And I would like to share his warm thoughts for our country.
Episode 135: Thoughts on Love →
When I visit in the homes of family and friends, I will notice a sampler on the wall. These samplers often have words of wisdom, and on the little home on the prairie, I too, have a sampler hanging on the wall in the room where I serve guests a cup of Christmas tea.
Episode 122: Love in Every Language →
Since February is national children's month, I thought about writing an essay on what my grandchildren have taught me. They are now in school with children of other cultures. And although they may have graduated from Crayola college, they are colorblind and love their friends from other cultures. Recently, my grandson Trevor was teaching me to count to five in the Japanese language and even write the numbers. Since we will be celebrating Valentine's Day next week, I have researched how to say, "I love you," in 15 languages. (And I, Trina, apologize in advance if I mispronounce any these)
Episode 119: Treasures of a Far More Lasting Kind →
It was a winter wonderland as my friend and I traveled the other morning. The sun shone brightly on every tree decked out in full glory. The blizzards of yesterday and yesteryear are forgotten when one sees those snowflakes glisten and sparkle. The world around us was a heavenly mantle of white. One can truly appreciate each season of the year.
Episode 84: Love is a Quilt →
During heart month, we have had some very cold days and nights. It feels so good to be warmed with the quilt that loving hands have made. There are many dedicated women throughout our country who spend many hours making quilts in their homes in churches. These quilts are made for world relief, the homeless, and the needy. Quilts made with love really make wonderful gifts for that newborn baby, that child who loves to nestle in bed at night with the quilt all around. And that young student, first going off to college. That quilt for a young married couple can also be a very special gift of love. The past week I read about a pastor's mother who lived alone, and had a fall at the foot of her bed. She fractured her hip, and was unable to move and could not reach her phone. Two days later, she was found, but it was too late. She had gone to God's warm, loving care. Her elbows were scraped, and somehow she managed to cocoon herself with a warm quilt that had brought memories of her childhood. Loving hands had made that quilt. Love is a quilt, a quilt is love.
Episode 82: Violets & Saint Valentine →
We welcome the month of February. It begins with National Freedom Day, on February 1 and Groundhog Day on February 2. It is the month for Valentine's Day, the month when our attention is focused on love, and gifts of love are presented to those for whom we have warm and loving feelings. It is the month we celebrate Presidents Day, and have many warm and patriotic thoughts for our beloved country. I recently read thoughts about the story of Saint Valentine. Perhaps it is best understood from the poem Helen Steiner Rice wrote that describes what the real meaning of this special signifies.
Episode 81: What is Love? →
When you read this Warm Thoughts column, it will be February, and January has come and gone. Where has the month gone so fast? It has been a month of London Fog flinging, a Crystal Veil over the Heartland! A real Winter Wonderland. February is heart month...the month of Groundhog, Valentine's Day, Presidents Day...Did I forget something? February is also the month when many warm thoughts on love come to mind. And his book, "How to Love," Arthur H Rauner, Jr states, "It is a selfish world." He defines love as not emotions or feelings, but the willingness to sacrifice for another. When we are selfish and look only to support our own causes, we cannot truly love. It is many moons ago that a blind friend of mine read the poem, "What is Love." As her fingers touched each line of Braille, my hearts thoughts followed each word. The author is unknown, and I would like to share these warm thoughts on love with you.
Episode 75: Remembrance from the Heart →
Every Veterans Day brings to mind many memories. It is also known as Armistice Day, and in some locales, it is Remembrance Day, Victory Day, and World War One Memorial Day. Some places observe silent memorials at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month each year. It is a time of remembrance from the heart to all who stood tall for freedom. These thoughts by an unknown author, say it very well.
Episode 46: Love is a Gift →
Valentine greetings! When you read this column it will be the week of Valentine's Day. From Ohio this past week, came a letter with several poems and one was on love, which really touched my heart. Ruth George is something and still very young at heart. It will bring her much joy to be able to share these warm thoughts on love with you, dear readers of this column.