Mary Jo Shannon
Merger Of The Finn And The American
That’s what my new grandson-in-law, Tero Ronkainen, entitled the PowerPoint presentation he gave in lieu of a speech at the reaffirmation of his wedding vows in Richmond on August...
Change – The One Thing That Is Constant
Nature is rapidly reclaiming the area where our garden flourished only five years ago. Although...
Patience Is A Virtue
“Patience is a virtue; possess it if you can. Seldom found in woman; never found in...
Our Very Adventuresome Sarah
On August 17th our granddaughter, Sarah Davis will be married in Helsinki, Finland. Only her...
What Makes A Happy Birthday?
Husband Harry says birthdays do not mean that much to him. It’s just another day...
Nothing is Impossible
by Mary Jo Shannon
One of the most inspiring women I have ever met was Frances Landers, a housewife from El Dorado, Arkansas who...
Recognizing God’s Grace
God’s grace often comes in unexpected, unrecognized ways, and, truth be told, is sometimes unwelcome. Such was my experience when I learned that...
My Christmas Donkey Miracle
Several years ago I agreed to coordinate Journey to Bethlehem, a Christmas tradition at Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church that began shortly after our...
What’s An Education For Anyway?
In the 1950s when I attended Mary Baldwin College religious diversity was obvious in our "Day Student Club." My friends included two Roman...
Unexpected Bonuses From Writing
I enjoy writing, so producing a column every other week has been more of a pleasure than a chore. So far my family has...
Talking Turkey – Very Long Distance
One November day long ago, our older son Harry, called home from UVA with an unusual request—“Mom, can you tell me how to...
