Welcome!
Through years of chronic illness, author Holly Dickson-Ramos has learned to rely on God, drawing strength from her faith during difficult times. A freelance writer, Holly’s work has appeared in the Upper Room Daily Devotional, Purpose magazine, Country Woman and other publications. A graduate of the University of Waterloo, the University of Western Ontario, and Tyndale College and Seminary, Holly loves reading memoirs and books about Christian living. Her second book, Strong Spirit: Hope for Women Living with Illness released in January 2021 and is available on Amazon.
Holly’s Most Recent Posts
Calling All Gardeners!
Are you waiting for spring? It’s raining today, where I am – a beautiful change from snow, snow and more snow. Join me in attending a free (online) gardening workshop on Saturday, March 25th. I come across a lot of programs in my work at a municipal library, but this […]
It’s Not You
I am broken. All of my loved ones are broken. Sometimes I trace backwards through history, finding people and events to blame for the brokenness. Sometimes I blame myself. There. That. If I’d chosen differently, life would not be like this. If I’d been kinder. Wiser. More observant. If I’d […]
After A Mistake
Do you ever feel like God is mad at you? I do. Every day I mess up. Sometimes I do things I shouldn’t. Other times lethargy or selfishness keep me from doing things I know I should do. Sins of commission and omission, the result of which are guilt, shame, […]
Faith
A Child In The Back Seat
My mother says every time dismay washes over me and worry assails my mind, I should intentionally turn my fears over to God. I’ve heard this before, of course, and you probably have too. I’m clinging to this, some days. It’s advice that could sound easy-to-say-but-impossible-to-do, but coming from my […]
Morning & Evening
Have you noticed how the day drowns out worries that, at night, run rampant? I’m not a worrier by nature, but lately I don’t feel relief when I stand beside my bed at dusk, getting ready to STOP. I feel edgy. Uncertain. What if my mind starts hopping from bad […]
Food
Aging, Cooking and Laughing
Let’s pretend you’re at my place and we can sink, together, onto the old but comfy couch for a whirlwind visit. How has your week been? Mine has been up and down. I got to visit my sister – we talked and shopped and ate out and it was nice. […]
Summer Salads with Holly
A library discard is the key to my success with summer salads. The Lemonade Cookbook wasn’t circulating, so it got purged from the shelves of my local library, and I took it home. Every recipe I try in this book is fantastic. Most are healthy. Here are this week’s favourites… […]
Homemade Kimchi
In three days my family can gobble up a small jar of kimchi. The jar costs $8.99 – too much for a cabbage based side dish that we burn through so quickly. My first taste of kimchi was at a Korean restaurant; the novelty of a complementary side dish […]
Gardening
A Walk in My Garden
The best gardens contain surprises. I think we all love a glimpse of something partially hidden or something tiny and close to the ground – something that demands a deep bend for a closer look. Neat rows of orderly vegetables appeal to me, but I can never manage this. My […]
A Trip with Holly
This past week, for the first time in my life, I ate brussel sprouts. It’s all because of a trip to Tobermory. We left in the rain and arrived, after a few hours of driving, to a moody island in what some would call Northern Ontario (officially, it’s still Southern […]
I Grew A Cabbage!
Laced with tiny holes and not, perhaps, the most beautiful cabbage you’ve ever laid eyes on, but here it is. I am so delighted! In past years I’ve had some success with carrots, zucchinis and cherry tomatoes, but could I really coax a seed to germinate, and then baby it […]