{"id":353,"date":"2016-12-05T19:27:14","date_gmt":"2016-12-06T01:27:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rai.tip.temporary.site\/musings\/?page_id=353"},"modified":"2026-08-01T15:42:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T20:42:40","slug":"musings","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/splanescorner.us\/musings\/","title":{"rendered":"Musings"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Reflections from the Heartland<\/h4><\/div><\/div>\n\n

Welcome to Musings from the Midwest<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n

Explore the heartfelt stories and reflections from the heart of America, where every tale is a journey through time and emotion.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

Read the Posts<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"a<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Mary<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Mary Louise<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Apr 7, 2024<\/span> | 1 Comment<\/span><\/p>

My mother, Mary Louise Henderson, was born April 7, 1914 in Hot Springs, South Dakota. She was the 2nd of four...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"time,<\/span><\/a><\/div>

In One Moment<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Sep 22, 2023<\/span> | 0 Comments<\/span><\/p>

I remember a moment when I was 15 years old and walking past a convent where the Catholic nuns lived. I perceived from...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"nature,<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Waking to a New Beginning<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Jul 6, 2023<\/span> | 0 Comments<\/span><\/p>

I am a very sound sleeper, and almost nothing wakes me up when I am sleeping. But one night in 1988, I was awakened by...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"Prodigals\"<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Prodigals<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Mar 21, 2022<\/span> | 0 Comments<\/span><\/p>

Yesterday, as I was doing an afternoon walk and listening and praying to worship music, the song by Chris Tomlin came...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"Small<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Small Miracles<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Sep 25, 2021<\/span> | 1 Comment<\/span><\/p>

In 1992, I moved to Jerusalem to work with a Messianic Rabbi and his family. I had been working for them for about 4...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"Grace<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Grace Through the Years<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Jul 1, 2021<\/span> | 0 Comments<\/span><\/p>

Last November was 34 years sober for me. I was thinking yesterday about what started me on the road to sobriety. My...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"ants\"<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Ants and Insomnia<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Jun 3, 2021<\/span> | 0 Comments<\/span><\/p>

I looked at the time again as I sat on the couch, playing my game on my phone. It was 2:00 AM! I had to be up at 5:00...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"landscape\"<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Amazing Grace and Mercy<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Apr 7, 2021<\/span> | 1 Comment<\/span><\/p>

It was a normal Monday evening in December.\u00a0the week before Christmas.\u00a0I was getting ready\u00a0for\u00a0bed, when I had this...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"Serendipity<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Serendipity or a Plan?<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Mar 29, 2021<\/span> | 3 Comments<\/span><\/p>

It was a Friday night in March of 1996. I was curious about this new thing called the internet and all it had to...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"food<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Baking and Other Lessons<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Feb 3, 2021<\/span> | 2 Comments<\/span><\/p>

Lately I have struggled with feeling down, maybe even depressed. All the things that have happened in the past year...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"Looking<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Looking Back to the Future<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Jan 4, 2021<\/span> | 0 Comments<\/span><\/p>

I was looking through some old pictures the other day and came across a birthday card I received in 1986 when I was...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"Friends\"<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Friends<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Dec 21, 2019<\/span> | 0 Comments<\/span><\/p>

We were driving home from a doctor's appointment a while back and saw the license plate in front of us that said...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"window\"<\/span><\/a><\/div>

To Grow or Not?<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Sep 4, 2019<\/span> | 0 Comments<\/span><\/p>

The weeks have worn on and I am still in therapy for my broken shoulder. I thought it would be over by now and my arm...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"candles\"<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Blessings in Disguise<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Aug 5, 2019<\/span> | 0 Comments<\/span><\/p>

On a Friday evening last April, I stood up from my sofa to walk into another room. As I did, I caught my foot on a piece of furniture, and was catapulted into the air, falling and landing hard on my left shoulder. I knew as soon as it happened that it was a bad injury. At first, I could not sit up and I could not move my arm. I had to hold it close to my body with my other hand. The pain was intense.<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"I’m<\/span><\/a><\/div>

I’m Not the CEO of My Life Anymore!<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Feb 9, 2018<\/span> | 0 Comments<\/span><\/p>

I volunteer with a non-profit organization that assists men and women coming out of prison, who are trying to rebuild...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"sunset\"<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Unto the least of these…<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Jan 23, 2018<\/span> | 0 Comments<\/span><\/p>

A few months ago the pastor of the church we are attending passed out a card to everyone attending. The card said,...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"Tammany<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Tammany a.k.a. Putter Cat<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Jun 7, 2017<\/span> | 0 Comments<\/span><\/p>

I remember the first time I saw Putter Cat. She was at the Humane Society all alone in a cage. I noticed she was a...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"Getting<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Getting to the Heart of the Matter<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Apr 29, 2017<\/span> | 0 Comments<\/span><\/p>

For about the past two months, I have been suffering with hives and an itchy rash on my body. I have had allergies to...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"The<\/span><\/a><\/div>

The Last Tomatoes of Summer<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Dec 22, 2016<\/span> | 0 Comments<\/span><\/p>

In late October we ate the last tomatoes of summer\u2026those final pieces of fruit that ripened just before the weather...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"Freedom<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Freedom in Bondage?<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Aug 30, 2016<\/span> | 0 Comments<\/span><\/p>

We have four cats, and a huge fenced back yard where they can go out and roam around. We don\u2019t let them roam free in...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"A<\/span><\/a><\/div>

A Family of My Own<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Apr 20, 2016<\/span> | 0 Comments<\/span><\/p>

In 1994, when I lived in Jerusalem, a friend and coworker there gave me a portion of Scripture that he said was a...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"A<\/span><\/a><\/div>

A Woman’s Gift<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Jul 22, 2013<\/span> | 0 Comments<\/span><\/p>

Today the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, gave birth to a son. The world is watching in excitement. I never had...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"Choking<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Choking on the Covenant<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Jan 14, 2013<\/span> | 1 Comment<\/span><\/p>

When Ken and I got married, part of our wedding ceremony was communion. I recited the Hebrew blessing over the bread...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"Unlovely\"<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Unlovely<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Aug 26, 2012<\/span> | 1 Comment<\/span><\/p>

My husband, Ken, planted a large sunflower garden in our backyard. There are several different varieties, Russian...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"One<\/span><\/a><\/div>

One Thing Leads to Another<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Aug 12, 2012<\/span> | 1 Comment<\/span><\/p>

I have a coffee cup that says \"Crazy Cat Lady\" on one side and \"One Cat Leads to Another\" on the other side. Six years...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"It’s<\/span><\/a><\/div>

It’s All in the Choices We Make…<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Jul 16, 2012<\/span> | 3 Comments<\/span><\/p>

I remember an experience I had sometime during 1990, I was sitting on the podium of our congregation in Maryland,...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"Of<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Of Chicken Nuggets and Pigs in a Blanket<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Jul 10, 2012<\/span> | 2 Comments<\/span><\/p>

This week Ken and I have been helping with our church's annual Vacation Bible School in the evenings after work. We...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"Whatever<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Whatever Happened to Modesty?<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Jun 1, 2012<\/span> | 2 Comments<\/span><\/p>

As I was standing at the information booth at church on Resurrection Sunday, a young teenager (I believe she is 15)...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"Best<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Best Friends Forever<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Apr 1, 2012<\/span> | 2 Comments<\/span><\/p>

There is an acronym young people use today in texting called BFF (Best Friends Forever). I wonder if they really...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"A<\/span><\/a><\/div>

A Valentine Gift<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Feb 14, 2012<\/span> | 4 Comments<\/span><\/p>

I work for a very large company in the Midwest. Every Valentine's Day there are several tables at the Security...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"Focus\"<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Focus<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Dec 12, 2011<\/span> | 1 Comment<\/span><\/p>

Lately, perhaps the past few months even, God has been asking me this question, \u201cWhere is your focus?\u201d I have pondered...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"Cat<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Cat Hair<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | Jun 20, 2011<\/span> | 0 Comments<\/span><\/p>

Have you ever visited someone and left with your clothes covered in pet hair? I have and I was convinced I did not...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"Bare<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Bare Wood<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | May 30, 2011<\/span> | 0 Comments<\/span><\/p>

My husband and I spent the better part of today working in our back yard. My husband was planting flowers, laying down...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article>

\"Dandylynes\"<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Dandylynes<\/a><\/h2>

by Lea Splane<\/a><\/span> | May 24, 2011<\/span> | 0 Comments<\/span><\/p>

Dandylynes - that's how my husband pronounces dandelions. This spring there were hundreds and hundreds of them in our...<\/p>\n<\/div>read more...<\/a><\/div><\/article><\/div>

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