“Boundaries define us. They define what is me and what is not me. A boundary shows me where I end and someone else begins” – Henry Cloud “You must create more margin so you have room for what’s important, not merely urgent.” ― Michael Hyatt, Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life […]
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How A Long Colorful Road Trip, A Civil War Book Launch, And Family Relate
As long as autumn lasts, I shall not have hands, canvas and colors enough to paint the beautiful things I see. — Vincent Van Gogh When one thinks of the upper Midwest, the American Civil War does not immediately come to mind. However, a few weeks ago, we embarked on a five day road trip that […]
What Is A Gigantic Oak Cabinet With Sturdy Drawers Called?
b“Your home should be a story of who you are, and be a collection of what you love.” – Nate Berkus (Interior Designer) We have a number of lovely pieces of furniture in our home. Many are vintage and all help tell the story of who we are, where we have been, or who we […]
Behind The Scenes – Reflections On September 11
It was the advent of the second plane, sharking in low over the Statue of Liberty: that was the defining moment. Until then, America thought she was witnessing nothing more serious than the worst aviation disaster in history; now she had a sense of the fantastic vehemence ranged against her … For those thousands in […]
Who Were The Strong Courageous Women Of Stately Maison Steinbuchel?
“Well-behaved women seldom make history.” — Laurel Thatcher Ulrich Strong courageous women are not looked down upon much today. However, in the past, well-behaved was the virtue that rose to the top of the pile. While I do not believe one excludes the other, not at all, sometimes these attributes are judged more in the […]
Why Maison Steinbüchel? The Revealing Details Of A Curious Name!
“And those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell.” Isaiah 58:12 I am putting together a group of posts about how the families, for whom our historic home […]
What Three Surprising Encounters In Stunning Western Kansas?
When you leave, everything you experience outside of Kansas will be measured against all you know here. And none of it will make any sense. -P.S. Baber Three surprising encounters were to unfold as I received an email from Mission Aviation Fellowship HQ. A church in Goodland, Kansas was requesting a speaker for their missions […]
How To Cope When Routine Transitions Turn Ugly
“Sometimes, life’s challenges are tough to deal with. You will succeed if you focus your thoughts on how to overcome the challenge.” – Catherine Pulsifer It is back to school season. It happens every year and is considered a routine transition. Yet, the back to school vibe is everywhere and makes itself known by: the plethora of […]
My Grandfathers’ Rocking Chairs – What They Represent
There is a peacefulness, an air of reflection, about a rocking chair that attaches to no other moving object. – Wallis Simpson We are fortunate that two rocking chairs, one from each side of my family, the Hancocks and the Rightmeiers, remain in the family. We do not know much about them, except they were […]