Author: jottingjoan

Through four decades of beginning new churches in central Mexico, Jacob Weibe has put up several “roof only” churches. Walls cost too much for most congregations. This summer the Huichol people, one of the poorest native groups, made and laid clay blocks for their first church on the side of a steep mountain. Jacob, 71,…

“Why must it always be us against them, neighbor against neighbor and friend against friend. Why must it always be us against them?” those lines from a song written years ago by the late Robert Hancock of El Dorado echo through my brain lately. Perhaps, it began as I read about Saul in the Bible…

“I have never seen so many dishes broken,” hubby commented. “It’s inevitable. We only use glass plates and cups,” I replied. Also, it depends on how you define ‘breaking.” English has more than 40 ways to use breaking or break. For example, breaking even, breaking a relationship, breaking the law, breaking a fast and breaking…

“It’s all part of a parent’s growing up” my mom said the first year none of her five children could make it home for Christmas. Many parents will grow up this month as their children leave for college, a new job or military training. I was reminded of this when I heard of a family’s…

My parents insisted we try new foods and eat whatever foods graced the table at home or away as company. The absolute test came a few months after we moved to Utah and a neighbor invited us to supper. That evening we girls freshened up. My brothers slicked back their hair. Then we all put…

Three wives all reached the same decision to put their husbands in a nursing home for dementia, though their motivations were varied. Firm medical advice, stress and justified fear all forced them to make the most difficult decisions of their marriages. They had each anticipated retirement years with their husbands and certainly expected physical changes…

At every reunion of the Jefferson class of 1959, folks puzzled over Wayne Hostetler. “We haven’t seen anything of him since graduation. I heard he went to Colorado.” Only speculations kept his memory alive among the remaining nine members of the original 29. Not only had the 29 alumni spent 12 school years together, but…

Hubby and I like to share experiences: traveling, ethnic meals, audiobooks, and hobbies. We didn’t exactly share sciatic nerve pain (SNP), we just both have had episodes. I began with nagging pain after years of typing at work. I tried stretching and shaking off that chronic, annoying leg pain. At a fast food joint, a…

“I did not know that,” I told my husband when I finished listening to the audio version of Louisa June and the Nazis in the Waves.” “What didn’t you know?” he asked. “That hundreds of tankers, shipping boats and tug boats were sunk by five Nazi Uboats between January and July 1942. The Germans wanted…

`“Don’t take my picture!” Mr. Aaron Skiles said, as I photographed his wife, Elizabeth Skiles while she sat working on a quilt in the quilting frame. I nodded that I understood. I hid my disappointment. I really wanted a photo of the trim, 78 year-old man with his white beard and hair, black suspenders over…

For 100 years the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery near Washington D.C. has memorialized all the unidentified soldiers who died fighting for our nation’s freedom. For 300 years, another tomb in ancient Israel memorialized an unnamed prophet’s last prophetic message. The nameless prophet arrived in Bethel one day with a message for…

“Would you put the dolls away while Henry visits? He is scared of them,” his mom said over the phone last year. Afraid of the popular 18 inch style dolls?! Perfect poses, Mona Lisa smiles and eyes that stare right through you? Yes, those dolls moved to the top shelf of the clothes closet. That…

My how things have changed in the world of autism. Autism has not changed. Autistic children still have speech development issues, avoid eye contact, have anxieties and obsessions, repeat activities such as spinning toys or, may repeatedly harm themselves. Symptoms and intensity vary.No, autism has not changed; the professional response has. That came to mind…

“Next time I will have to show them how to make a paper airplane,” my husband said Sunday as we left our turn leading children’s church. He does enjoy making his style of paper airplane. Recently, he patiently worked with great-grandson Austin showing him to fold a paper plane. I watched as Austin flopped the…

After delivering 22 boxes of Bibles and books at Love Packages, Hubby said “we better not go to the bins. We will just find more stuff to fill the van.” We went to the bins. I saw Christmas fabric. As a fabriholic i rationalized “This little bit of cloth barely takes up space.” After arriving…