Madeline L'Engle Has Died

One of my favorite authors, Madeline L'Engle, passed away last Thursday at the age of 88, in a nursing home. Her most famous book was "A Wrinkle in Time," which won the acclaimed Newbery Medal in 1963, for best American children's book, and has become a children's classic. She often wrote about how many rejections she received for the story, before it was finally published.

Madeline L'Engle wrote more than 60 books, including poetry and memoirs. In some of those slim memoirs, (and I own several of them,) Madeline wrote about writing, family, friends, and her Christian faith.

She will be sadly missed by many, but her books will continue to entertain, inspire and enlighten children and adult readers for many years to come. R. I. P.

A Sad Sunday Surprise

A somewhat sad Sunday, as Father Mike announced that he would be leaving us in a couple of weeks, and a new Shepherd of the Flock would be taking over our spiritual care. It was a surprise to everyone! I hate to see him leave; I've grown accustomed to his caring, gentle ways. I'll never forget when he made the announcement last November right in church that "our famous writer Renie Burghardt is having a surprise birthday party downstairs, please stop in to wish her happy birthday." I almost fell over in the pew, when I heard him, and everyone turned to look and smile at me. However, my daughter was peeved at Father Mike for giving away the surprise before they got me downstairs on some ploy, so they could all yell "surprise!" My friend Jan then made the remark that Father Mike should be spanked for spoiling the surprise. And Garnet burst out laughing, while Eileen looked at Jan with a disapproving frown. Jan is bad! Actually, he didn't really spoil it, for it was a nice surprise to have him announce it to the entire congregation. However, today's surprise was sad. I will miss Father Mike!