Biking the Neckar (Baden-Wurttemberg region) And we’re off - again! The wanderlust kicked in and so did the itch to return to our home away from home - the island of Crete. Living abroad for five years in a place of such unpredictable joys and challenges comes with its addictions. We keep going back again …
Author: Melanie A Crane
Quote: "The best journeys ask questions that in the beginning you never thought to ask." (Anon)
Here's my journey: Enjoying my short life on this earth one moment at a time by being intentional with God, family, traveling, cooking, gardening, Colorado living and all the perks that come with it, playing guitar, listening more and talking less. I've discovered that both cooking and travel can be messy at times but the risks can have some amazing results. The same goes for life lived with passion.
ROME BY RAIN
It was our first trip to Rome. We had just moved overseas for a few years and were determined to see as much of Europe as we could. If we weren’t already on a trip, I was home planning the next one. Pondering over a map and endless internet searches for the best deals …
Wander, Linger, Savor
This blog is dedicated to the idea of slow living specifically as it relates to travel in all forms. When I moved to the island of Crete, it didn’t take me long to appreciate the art of slowing down. And after five years of living in the Mediterranean, I fully embraced the practices of wandering, …
Broken World – Brave Love
OPERATION Love Your Neighbor Taking the offensive against hate one neighborhood at a time Syrian refugees flee Isis atrocities Clashes with police leave Minneapolis man dead Dallas sniper kills multiple officers Isis terrorists attack in Paris Attack on America! 9-11 The news is full of these headlines. Everyday we seem to wake up …
THE RELUCTANT EXPAT (Coming to terms with coming home)
I lost my journal for almost two months - misplaced, actually. It’s like an old friend I can confide in. I can sort out my thoughts in written words and somehow things become clearer. When you write, you have to slow your thoughts down in order to wait for the words to catch up …
Continue reading THE RELUCTANT EXPAT (Coming to terms with coming home)
Small Bites – Appetizers for life
Last week I challenged myself and you to intentionally practice good heart and soul nutrition. When I shared my plan with my daughter, she looked at me incredulously and said, "Well, that may work for you, but I seriously don't have time for anything. I'm barely keeping my head above water." She is a full …
Stuck between almost and not enough
The Six Word Memoir - summing up your life as it is in six small words. (http://www.sixwordmemoirs.com) I came across a link to this website in my insatiable search for more information and advice on how to hone my writing skills. Putting my stories into words about living abroad on the island of Crete will …
The Beauty in the Beast
Freezing cold temps, deep snows, driveways to shovel, fierce winds, snowed-in days, long cold nights. It's the nature of the beast - a Colorado winter. How to tame the beast? Take a deeper look and love it for what it is. Freezing temps create thick smooth ice for skating on the lake, deep snows mean …
Merry Christmas: Peace on Earth
“I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old familiar carols play, And wild and sweet, Their words repeat, Of peace on earth, good-will towards men.” Dear friends and family, This Christmas we are acutely aware of the need for “Peace on Earth.” As Americans, we are no longer insular to the tragedy …
The Gift of Time
It’s a snowy, magical Colorado Christmas around our house this year and we are filled with gratitude for the blessings of family and friends both near and far that enrich our lives. The tree is lit, the cookies baked, and the shopping is done – well, not exactly. As I try to follow my own …
Melanie A Crane 