2019 Novena for Peace Day 6: Toxic Words Are Barriers to Peace

When I was a child, my family would visit my father’s very loud, very raucous family. They were people who used coarse language at high volume and often their words seemed to me unkind. I seldom was anything more than an observer because interactions with them felt very threatening to me. Now I realize that … Read more

Lost & Found in Costa Rica

So far we’ve been exploring small towns in Costa Rica’s Central Valley, ones we might like to settle in one day. Of course, getting lost is part of the fun. Sometimes. Last week on our hunt for the quickest way to Puriscal, Google maps took us on a mountainous route through the little town of … Read more

Social Faux Pas & OBE Adventures

Social faux pas are an unavoidable part of international travel. And adventures, by their very nature, are unpredictable. Our first week in Costa Rica included social faux pas but our adventures were OBE (overcome by events). Friday and Saturday found us settling in, grocery shopping, and visiting a couple of local eateries. Sunday morning, we both … Read more

Postcards from Costa Rica: Settling In in Atenas

Hi family and friends: Today our Central America adventure began :-). The flight out of Orlando this morning was beautiful flying over the Florida Keys, then Cuba, then Nicaragua, and finally into Costa Rica. The landing was different than any other I’ve experienced since the San Jose airport sits in the middle of a valley … Read more

Sacred Ground at Crater Lake

A visit to Crater Lake in October offered the rare opportunity to wear flip-flops in the snow. Normally I’m a two-pair-of-wool-socks kind of gal when there’s snow on the ground. But the snow at Crater Lake was only in patches and though the wind was blowing and the air was chilly, it was sunny enough … Read more

California Dreamin’ In Color

California is a state where thousands go to lose themselves in their dreams of fame, fortune, or just plain ole’ fun. Yet some of the best places to dream in California have nothing to do with Disneyland or Hollywood. The best places to dream in California are in its amazing natural settings. On a road-trip … Read more