Articles : Virginia Ham
Jan. 18 issue
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The queen has left the throne
A ceramic pitcher with a Stangl design, sketched by my brother, J. Eric Bishop, appeared on the cover of the memorial service program above the Scripture verse, “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her” (Prov. 31:29).
The image and words befit the late Ann Dayton Bishop, 88, whose life we gathered to commemorate. All five of her children have Stangl dinnerware in their homes. Anna and I have used Stangl plates, side dishes and coffee cups nearly every day over our 43 years of marriage.
Nov. 23, 2009 issue
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In everything give thanks
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world. — Louis Armstrong (1963)
Nov. 9, 2009 issue
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We live by faith
The keynote speaker for our annual faculty-staff conference was dishing out some heady stuff. The message was also disconcerting, if one agrees with his basic premise.
Oct. 19, 2009 issue
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Memory box
The parcel sat in a corner of my office, taking up space and collecting dust. But I ignored it, until several weekends ago, when I finally inspected its contents.
June 22, 2009 issue
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42 years, why knot?
I was already feeling hesitant, but as Anna and I entered the gathering space at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, the anxiety level really shot up.
May 4, 2009 issue
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Key to a legacy of learning
I thought: What an exemplary gesture in honor of one whose life touched so many, including a relative of mine who never met this man, the late C. Henry Smith.
April 6, 2009 issue
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This column’s under pressure
Stress — a single word that can pack a punch, rendering us weak and powerless.
March 2, 2009 issue
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The seat of the scornful?
I often wonder why people prefer the front of the bus, the middle of the road and the back of the church.
Feb. 2, 2009 issue
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Parent-child roles reversed
Day by day, we are all on the same journey of aging, with certain events and experiences providing stark reminders of this reality.
Jan. 5, 2009 issue
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Keep pace with human race
The year 2008 has become another chapter in life’s annals. How did that happen?

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