Peace Garden Mama II

A garden blend of family, faith and following the muse

Author Archive


   Jun 17

memorable mondays: a different kind of dad’s day

It was a different kind of Dad’s Day for me. Well of course it was different, anyone who knows me would say. It was the first without your Dad. That’s true. But to be honest, Sunday wasn’t the hardest Dad’s Day I’ve ever had. It was a fairly typical Dad’s Day focused a lot on [...]

Read the rest of this entry »

   Jun 14

faith & family fridays: all creatures of our God and king

Yesterday was a day of contemplating life and death at our hearth. It started when I was backing out of the driveway to run an errand with my daughter, and we noticed our 8-year-old under the large evergreen tree in front of our house, his abandoned bike lying on its side nearby. “What’s going on?” [...]

Read the rest of this entry »

   Jun 10

meaningful mondays: fleeting things bring joy

[Originally printed in The Forum newspaper Saturday, June 7; reprinted with permission.] Living Faith:  Fleeting things bring abundant joy By Roxane B. Salonen, The Forum When I mentioned a couple of weeks ago how much I love lilacs, a friend whose lilac bushes had been particularly prolific this spring offered me a bouquet. Happily, I [...]

Read the rest of this entry »

   May 31

faith & family fridays: what the nest taught me

I didn’t even see it until I backed out of the driveway. Maybe the van nudged the nearby tree just enough to push it out. Maybe it was already there, though it didn’t have a squished appearance that would indicate it’d been run over. Since I was leaving, and on a timeline, I called my [...]

Read the rest of this entry »

   May 29

writing wednesdays: the power of a couple words

What’s in a name? Oh, just about everything, I’m learning, in the right moment at the right time. If you’ve ever loved someone who is no longer around, you’ll appreciate my post on Peace Garden Writer today.

Read the rest of this entry »

   May 27

memorable mondays: another teen makes three

First, I just have to say…I LOVE SPRING! Look at the crabapple tree blossoms… And the buds and leaves on the trees… And…school’s out. The last day of school this past Wednesday was an absolutely perfect day for a walk to the park with second-graders. It’s so nice to finally be able to move through [...]

Read the rest of this entry »

   May 24

faith & family fridays: ‘bigot’ becoming commonplace

They say sticks and stones might break your bones, but words won’t hurt. I, however, beg to differ. Words do hurt, and lately, I’ve being hearing one word in particular being flung around wildly in a way that stings unfairly: bigot. I live just across the river from Minnesota, where marriage recently was redefined. Rather [...]

Read the rest of this entry »

   May 22

writing wednesdays: ‘P is for Peace Garden’ hits the stage

I never could have guessed when I wrote “P is for Peace Garden” that I’d be led to this moment in time: There’s more on Peace Garden Writer today. Please do stop by! PGM    

Read the rest of this entry »

   May 20

memorable mondays: tea time with patti armstrong

When you’ve known someone for years through email, radio interviews, shared writings, common connections to certain cities and even churches, but never really had the chance to sit down and talk, three hours goes by in what feels like three minutes. Patti McGuire Armstrong and I have known of each other for years, and have [...]

Read the rest of this entry »

   May 15

writing wednesdays: off for tea, among other things

I’m leaving. But don’t worry. It’s just for a couple of days. I’ll be talking to students. Narrating a musical production of words I’ve written. Having tea with a friend. And spending time with my 10-year-old, mother and grandmother. Thanks for waiting it out while I go on this adventure. You can find out more [...]

Read the rest of this entry »