Discovering unexpected treasures in our life stories.
Welcome! I’m Marilyn
and I’m so glad you stopped by.
My grandmother had a beautiful lilac tree in her yard. Occasionally, she would snip a few stems, place them in a jar of water, and set it on her kitchen counter. Even now, if I close my eyes and inhale, I smell the sweet fragrance.of the flowers and her home.
Welcome! I’m Marilyn
and I’m so glad you stopped by.
My grandmother had a beautiful lilac tree in her yard. Occasionally, she would snip a few stems, place them in a jar of water, and set it on her kitchen counter. Even now, if I close my eyes and inhale, I smell the sweet fragrance.of the flowers and her home.
Lilacs are a treasure and a trademark of my hometown, Rochester, New York. Colonists brought small slips of these beauties to the new world and later, varieties were developed by horticulturists. Today, thousands of people from around the world, visit Highland Park, where over five hundred breathtaking and colorful lilac varieties cover twenty-two acres. As a child, I went there to see an array of trees on Lilac Sunday in May.
A simple gesture of lilac cuttings on the kitchen counter, the tenancy of horticulturists, and acres of varieties of lilac trees on display for the world to see-each is an extraordinary treasure–much like life: small moments and big ones; challenges and ordinary times; personal moments and shared experiences.
For me, the simplicity of growing up in an Italian family and gathering for “spaghetti on Sunday” with endless conversation, moving several times in my married life to unique areas, and the greatest challenge of my husband’s sudden fatal heart attack, have shown me the treasure of God’s faithfulness in all seasons. You can read more on my About page.
If you’re looking for encouragement, you’re at the right place. Together, we can find peace during pain, wisdom for a decision, learning through waiting, hope when grieved, and even joy when circumstances say otherwise. Meet me at my blog and join the conversation where together we’ll encounter treasures in unexpected places.
Marilyn


Graduation Season and “Selah-brations”
How could I blink and open my eyes 6500 days later? Those were my thoughts as I watched my first born grandchild cross the stage and receive her high school diploma with highest honors. It was a powerful “selah"—the pause psalmists use at the close of profound thoughts, a call to stop and contemplate. And following the picture taking and...
No Matching Lids? Not So Sure
It’s part of my Italian heritage to be sure no one leaves the table hungry. After dinner with family last week, I pulled out containers to store leftovers. I grabbed one container and looked for a matching lid, then two, then more. I stared at the assortment. Not a single one fit. Sometimes, nothing fits. There’s a disconnect between what I...
A Squirming Boy and Time Change: Lessons for Adults
As I took my groceries from the cart and loaded them in the trunk of my car, I was distracted by the crying child a few spots over. Squirming and protesting, the little boy apparently objected to walking into the supermarket. Responding to his tired legs, Mom reached down to pick him up, but cries got louder.. I thought Mom had a...


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“You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
Psalm 16:11 (NIV)