by Marlena Fiol | Jan 8, 2020
On a frigid winter day exactly 109 years ago, my father John Rempel Schmidt was born in a small farmhouse in a Plautdietsch (Low-German) Mennonite community in south central Kansas. I dedicate my very first podcast to my father’s memory. The show “We Are…
by Marlena Fiol | Jan 5, 2020
I’m launching a new podcast next week and I’m excited to share it with you! At the end of 2019, I wrote about the elderly in our society, whom we sadly treat as invisible and voiceless. Here’s the other side of this: I have been…
by Marlena Fiol | Jan 2, 2020
At the end of 2019, I wrote about the elderly in our society, whom we sadly treat as invisible and voiceless in our society. But here’s the other side of this: I have been given a voice, and yet, too often I’ve failed…
by Marlena Fiol | Dec 28, 2019
A year ago, I wrote this as I was looking back on and taking stock of 2018: Frankly, I don’t know how to make sense of what’s going on in our world. So I’m turning inward. It’s time for me to stop reading the news, time to…
by Marlena Fiol | Dec 26, 2019
I’ve been reflecting on changes since Christmases past. That’s Ed and I in front of our tree in 2013 in the photo above. We did Christmas BIG. Only six years later: We’re still having fun. …
by Marlena Fiol | Dec 24, 2019
Christmas Eve, a perfect night to express affection for your family, to forgive those who failed you, and to forget past mistakes. ~ Unknown