Several months after my daughter left us on her personal journey of discovery I stopped praying for her. My Bible study prayer partner called me on it. After we’dswapped written prayer requests for the week she said, “Penny. There’s something missing here.” “Really? I don’t think so.” “Yes, there is. Look,” she said handing me back my list. “Your     read more

Do you have a puddle of pink under your car?   If so—not good. That pinkish-red (yellow, blue or green) liquid you see is coolant or antifreeze leaking from your radiator. Your car needs that fluid to keep from overheating—and  you need to plug the leak before critical damage to the engine occurs!    When the engine is cool, pop the hood and look for the sea-through reservoir where antifreeze is kept. Some older vehicles have no coolant reservoir, so you’ll have to open the cap of the radiator to check. If the levels are     read more

During her holiday visit from London my youngest daughter shared concern others had expressed for me, noting a decline in A Thought From Penny postings. My immediate reaction was to respond with a litany if guilt ridden excuses. “Well, you know; I’ve had a total hip replacement and though I’m doing great I’m still recovering, your Dad’s health requiresmore time     read more

A Christmas story as told by my youngest daughter Kimberley Hunt Johnston One Christmas Mom decided she was going to make a Buche de Noel. For those of you who don’t know what this is – I will save you the Google search and say it is translated as a “French Yule Log” – a very fancy Christmas cake that     read more

As our nation mourns the passing of our 41st President, this card, framed and hanging on a wall in our home is even more precious to me than it has been.  Normally unnoticed in our daily activities, today it took me back to the day I stood in the lobby of the US Embassy in Paris, France about to shake the hand     read more

What would you say is the most important factor in bouncing back from a physical setback?  That’s the question I asked the physical therapist helping me with in-home therapy as I bounce back from the complete hip replacement I had just a few weeks ago.   I thought he’d say something like, “A good, or can-do attitude.” But he surprised me by saying, “Being connected to other people.”   The more I think about it, the more I agree. Why? Because it has been     read more