Category: blog Page 11 of 53

Can new purpose be found?

Beautiful old things catch my eye—weathered furniture, picket fences, barns. This gorgeous old truck with its fat fenders and bug-eye headlights.

 

Photo by Cayton Heath on Unsplash

Want to extend your life expectancy?

“That was fun,” I said to Dan as we drove home. “And part of the fun is our crew, isn’t it?” He agreed.

 

Our Family Kitchen crew

What are you doing for date night?

We read all the books there were to read. And we built all the towers there were to build. And we bundled up and took a couple walks in the snow. 

 

Engineering skills passed down to the younger generations

Can we find commonality with those different from us?

What if we could collaborate with those whose skin color, ideology, or religious beliefs are different from ours—for the sake of dialogue, and serving the needy, and finding common ground?

 

Photo by Sebastián León Prado on Unsplash

Do you have the courage to play?

Brené Brown, an American professor, lecturer, and author, said this:

It takes courage to say Yes to rest and play in a culture where exhaustion is seen as a status symbol.

Dan and I are very good at playing. Which apparently makes us quite courageous.

 

Chai tea break at Edison Sno-Park shelter last week

Here’s why ‘neat and organized’ is over-rated

Dan and I have an amazing contractor and crew—Ben, Randall, Billy, and Cody. 

But they’re awfully messy.

 

All photos: Marlys

5 survival strategies for in-between seasons

Dan and I are in the middle of a transition. Our house is being turned upside down, rearranged, and enlarged. 

Which necessitated a move into our honeymoon carriage.

 

Transitional housing

4 easy intentions to set for 2021

Shauna Niequist, one of my favorite writers, was featured on a recent podcast. She talked about an angel visiting Mary and leaving her with a special assignment.

“I want an assignment,” said Niequist. 

I want can’t-miss-it clarity, a special purpose, the certainty that I’m on the right path doing the right thing, and that it matters.

 

Did we reach our goal of 500 miles in 2020?

As of this writing, Dan and I hiked/snowshoed a total of 504.25 miles in 2020. In the course of those miles, we ascended 33,427 feet. Which is equivalent to trekking to the top level of the Empire State Building 26 times. 

 

Edison Sno-Park warming shelter

Difference Makers: One load of wood at a time

Dan and I made reservations three weeks in advance. They’re only open Saturday mornings and they fill up quickly.

 

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Page 11 of 53

Copyright © 2024 Marlys Johnson