Want to leave a legacy?

Make the last third of life the best ever.

Hello, friends. I’m the author of a memoir about growing up Mennonite called Blush: A Mennonite Girl Meets a Glittering World. I was also a college president and professor (Goshen College), and a foundation executive (the Fetzer Institute). You can read more on my about page.

My writing and blogging themes have evolved from memoir to aging joyfully (jubilación). My personal vision statement:

My life is focused on becoming an elder, serving rising elders and future generations, learning from them all that I can about the nature of love.

I post one blog each month. The subjects that fascinate me include grandparenting, wisdom, good writing, creativity, travel, and spirituality. Looking for companionship on all these adventures. Welcome aboard!

Make Your Own Magic!

Most recent blog posts

My Dear God: How I Feel About Writing Another Book

Writing books is hard work. After writing, revising, publishing, and touring with a memoir, 2011-2014, I said I didn’t think I wanted to write another book. The only exception would be if I felt called again. When my friend Marilyn McEntyre asked if I would join her and others on a panel discussion at the…

“Have a Good Time with Your Friends:” A Granddaughter Milestone on the Brink

She’s two and a half and heading full speed toward three years old. She’s on the brink of everything. Just before Christmas, she helped put up lights and pine garland on her porch. She couldn’t stop saying her favorite new word: “energy!” By the time she arrived at our house for the Christmas holiday, Lydia…

We used to get great cuddle pictures. Now it's really hard to get three kids to look up and smile for the camera.

New Year’s Resolutions 2020

Christmas came. Christmas was wonderful, overflowing with “energies” (granddaughter Lydia’s latest word). Christmas, and 2019, are now history. When the house gets quiet again, my spirit searches for poetry. “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.” –Augustine of Hippo Here on this…