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United Dreams.com Music and Inspirational Writing

Friday Tidings
Welcome to a weekly blog where stories, ideas, and thoughts for the journey are shared.
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Held by a Strong Frame
We’d been storing the huge window panel in our shed—it was being kept for “one of those days” when it could be used for a greenhouse. So,...

Karen Farris
Jul 18, 20241 min read


Summertime Music
During the summer months, in an outside seating area, a delightfully painted piano sits with a sign that says, “Play me”. It was just...

Karen Farris
Jul 12, 20241 min read


Dr. Bundy’s Curtain
I was visiting my grandparents at their remote cabin, deep in the woods of Northern Idaho. Read: no electricity or indoor bathroom. They...

Karen Farris
Jul 5, 20241 min read


Working on Independence Day
It had been blistering hot on my grandpa’s wheat ranch. We’d gotten the call that harvest would be a week sooner because it was nearly...

Karen Farris
Jun 28, 20243 min read


Shedding for the Wedding
There was once a reality show about shedding for the wedding—it was a couples’ competition to see who could lose the most weight to win a...

Karen Farris
Jun 21, 20241 min read


Taking the Low Road
I had my excuses for taking the low road, but Dad wasn’t accepting them. At the time, I could blame my parent’s divorce, a difficult new...

Karen Farris
Jun 14, 20241 min read


Watering the Seeds
Walking back from the library, my granddaughter exclaimed, “I’m going to climb that.” I looked over at the daycare play structures we...

Karen Farris
Jun 7, 20241 min read


Treasured Grad-O-Grams
I placed our letters in the mailbox, clearly marked Grad-O-Grams. My daughter had asked if we wanted to write our soon-to-graduate...

Karen Farris
May 31, 20241 min read


Memorial Thoughts
Long ago, we enjoyed celebrating my grandson’s birthday at the beach. As he waited for friends and family to arrive, he gripped a huge...

Karen Farris
May 24, 20242 min read


The Final Drive
We said goodbye to our faithful truck this week. While I knew this day would eventually come, I didn’t think I would be the one behind...

Karen Farris
May 17, 20241 min read


Celebrating Mom
Recently my son pulled out an old newspaper article that had been written about my mom. A whole section was devoted to her little log...

Karen Farris
May 10, 20241 min read


Overdue Assignment
Dear Ms. Thorstrom, I should have written this letter after I’d finished high school—to thank you for helping me through my junior year....

Karen Farris
May 3, 20242 min read


Being Refurbished
I took a picture of this terrific guy who has been alongside me on life’s journey for over forty-five years. I’ve had way more life with...

Karen Farris
Apr 26, 20241 min read


Second Chance to Meet
I’d seen the World War II Veteran about a year ago, sitting in Safeway’s Starbuck coffee area. I thought about stopping to greet him, but...

Karen Farris
Apr 19, 20242 min read


A Place of Encouragement
Our walk to the library was filled with preschool chatter. My granddaughter was equally nervous and excited. She carefully carried her...

Karen Farris
Apr 12, 20241 min read


Foggy Future
I was captivated by this wall photo. It’s so foggy you can’t see where the tracks lead. Without knowing where the tracks are heading,...

Karen Farris
Apr 5, 20241 min read


Easter Sunday
I was about seven in this Easter Sunday photo. We always went to church, but first we enjoyed Mom’s homemade hot cross buns. I loved the...

Karen Farris
Mar 29, 20241 min read


Spring Cleaning Time
Mom gave us fair warning—bring our work clothes. It was her annual spring cleaning—something I’d been part of since my childhood. I put...

Karen Farris
Mar 22, 20241 min read


When I’m 94!
Tom’s mom will have her 94th birthday next week. She’s strong, savvy, and continues to show me just what a combination of faith, love,...

Karen Farris
Mar 15, 20241 min read


Homeless Winslow
A while back I found a sign left at my bus stop. No doubt, it’s a “sign” of our times. Then there’s Winslow*—that’s the name I’ve given...

Karen Farris
Mar 8, 20242 min read


Karen Farris
5 days ago2 min read


Karen Farris
Jan 231 min read
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