Smiling CountryRandy and I have the privilege of living in Washington's beautiful Methow Valley. They call it the Smiling Country, aptly named because of the big blue skies and sun-drenched valley tucked at the base of the North Cascades.Randy and I smiled the first...

DadWednesday, Flag Day, was my dad's 80th birthday. When I drove through our sleepy downtown (all of one street) early that morning, flags bedecked nearly every building. I smiled and thought of Dad. How did he get to be 80, I wonder?Just the other day, it seems, he...

GraceMy co-worker "lost it" at work yesterday. Another staff person provoked her with a comment that set her off. Stress had frayed everyone's nerves. The ensuing scene escalated like an out-of-control wildfire--a reminder of the damage that can be done by our...

Blogger 101Hi! This is my first attempt at blogging--well, I actually tried the other day, and my "post"got lost somewhere in the blogosphere. So, I'm back again, undaunted, though very technologically challenged. Thanks for bearing with me!I chose One Step Further...