Grandma's Gleanings
Words and Thoughts from Grandma
I will openly admit that I am most definitely a Type A personality, a personality that thrives on organization, schedules, and order. With that in mind, indulge me as I attempt to describe my Monday morning trip to our local Walmart this week. Yes, I had my reusable bags with me, along with my detailed …
After being involved in children’s ministries for years, I have grown accustomed to embarking on a bizarre quest in search of some unique prop or a captivating teaching aid to drive home a lesson to my students. This week’s search was no less interesting. In preparation for an upcoming Christmas play, I found myself on …
One of my favorite pastimes is bird watching. As I carefully observe the variety of teeny aviators who grace my feeding stations, I find myself in awe of the inventive Creator and Designer I serve. From those huge blackbirds who seem large enough to devour a small toddler, to the most petite of wrens and …
I recently composed a short letter to a friend, a dear acquaintance who is, unfortunately, traveling down the difficult road of trial and tribulation. Since I was writing on the inside of a card and I have a rather large handwriting style, I found myself limited by space, so I sought to be as precise …
Elizabeth King Mills is a name that probably doesn’t breed familiarity with most folks. This gifted poet and writer lived her life in relative obscurity. Born in 1805, in the town of Middlesex, England, Elizabeth would live a short life, dying on April 21, 1829. at the tender age of twenty-four. That brief of a …
Imagine this scene in you mind for just a moment. Gather every trace of Scripture in your home, every tract, every Bible-based motto or picture occupying a spot on your wall, every devotional or inspirational Christian biography found on your bookshelf or nightstand. Collect all those treasures and create a neat pile on your kitchen …
Some days just don’t seem to have enough hours, and Monday was one of those days. As usual, I had WAY too many activities on the day’s agenda: washing and line drying the laundry, assisting with the lawn-mowing chores, tending to the hedges, blanching and freezing a few dozen ear of corn, and posting a …
We recently completed a much-needed remodeling project in our basement. Living in a smaller-sized home has its advantages…it’s relatively easy to upkeep, it tends to emote a sense of coziness, the utilities are gentle on the wallet, and most importantly, if you lose something, there are less places for the missing object to hide. But …
I have a bit of an odd habit. Due to the fact that I have taught Bible stories to young children for more years that I can count, I am constantly on the lookout for some random item that can be used for an object lesson. In case you are not familiar with what an …
As we sat in the parking lot of the local fast food restaurant, tension was brewing in our red minivan, the anticipation building with each passing moment. Son number two, at the tender age of fifteen, was officially entering the work force today; this would be the first day of many days to follow, and …
O, happy day; it’s finally going to happen! After months of Covid lock downs, quarantines, and restrictions, this old girl is getting a much-needed haircut. We ladies certainly do place much value on this “crown of glory” given to us by our Creator. We wash and condition it, color and style it, and remember with …
In our contemporary world, where heated debates have unfortunately become the norm, if there is one subject that can certainly ignite a fire and stir the controversy pot, it is the question of the role of a woman…both inside and outside of the home. As a Christian, I have enjoyed my fair share of Mother’s …
What a wonderful visit we enjoyed with our young grandchildren recently! As is the tradition with most grandparents, we prepared well in advance of the visit, stretching the grocery budget to include ice cream, cookies, and kid-friendly munchies, most of which were sadly lacking in nutritional value, but all ranked high on the hyper-out sugar …
Oh, the anticipation! As the grandparent of seven precious gems, I can attest to the fact that at just the thought of one of those grandchildren returning to the Winkle homestead for a visit sets this old girl’s heart afire. This is especially true regarding those children who are separated from us by means of …
When a bacterium or virus becomes capable of spreading widely and rapidly, when the outbreak is of global proportions, a pandemic is declared. While an epidemic remains limited to a city, region, or country, a pandemic spreads beyond those borders, the infection becoming so widespread that several countries are affected concurrently. In March of 2020, …