Holly Dickson-Ramos's Blog, page 7

Homemade Kimchi

In three days my family can gobble up a small jar of kimchi. The jar costs $8.99 – too much for a cabbage based side dish that we burn through so quickly. My first taste of kimchi was at a Korean restaurant; the novelty of a complementary side dish appearing along with our black bean... Continue Reading →

In The Sweet By And By

Heaven. What does the word mean to you? When I was five, colourful jungle gyms and sweets were my idea of eternal bliss. Since then, I’ve heard heaven described as a place of hope, with talk about fruit trees and rivers, thrones and light. In spite of scriptural promises, I’ve noticed that a lot of... Continue Reading →

Are You Scared?

What is the thing you are most afraid of? Do you mentally spin endless versions of a scary future – slow, sad reels about a world not quite right, or maybe horribly wrong? Where are you in these projections? Off to the side, crying? Alone? Unloved? Hurt? If you were here in my house with... Continue Reading →

Frantic to Calm

Years ago I thought giving security items to my new baby was a bad idea. They offered only temporary comfort, and eventually that teddy bear or pacifier would have to be pried from the reluctant clasp of my little girl, who’d grown too old for such things. One year, on a rare visit with family,... Continue Reading →

Wrapped in Grace

Has God abandoned those who suffer pain, who experience abuse, or who don’t have adequate shelter or enough to eat? Are His favourites those with perfect-looking lives? Does God’s grace look like plenty, emotional wellness and physical health? I don’t think so. Blogger Christine Eberle recently posted a reflection on the pairing of two readings... Continue Reading →

Bad Days

I felt stronger when I was younger. Struggle was less constant. Some people say our worst moments – our bad days – prove that there is no God, or at least that He does not care and cannot be good. It’s a natural response to suffering, I think – questioning His existence and character. But... Continue Reading →

God Is With Us

Sadness at Christmas. It’s something we all struggle with. Lost loved ones. Less than perfect holiday plans. I think twinkling lights and beautiful carols lift our hearts, but they sometimes also stir bittersweet feelings in us. A few years back, I was captivated by a few paragraphs in a book I loved from the moment... Continue Reading →

Mexican Mole

A few years back, my daughter and I tasted a sauce on our enchiladas. It was divine. Who wouldn’t love a sauce made with chocolate? During the last while, we’ve made pasta and ice cream and sushi from scratch… how hard could making a basic mole be? Very. Let me warn you now. Making a... Continue Reading →

Be Still

Omicron. Anti-vaxxers. Masks. Distanced visits. Empty workplaces. Closed businesses. Banned travel. Cancelled church services. Unethical clothing industry. Harmful pesticides. Pipelines. Colony collapse disorder. I could go on. Unrest. Anxiety. Fear. Sadness. Do you have your own list of words? Triggers? Fears? Do they sometimes shout louder than hope? They do for me. Sometimes. One morning... Continue Reading →

My Secret

I am not disabled. My gait is slow, and my breathing can be heavy. Before deciding to park and enter a store I may deliberate a bit (if I get a spot right by the entrance, it’ll half the distance and I might just manage it…) And I admit that a few family vacations found... Continue Reading →