Susan Perelka

Our house backs up to part of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Much wildlife has made its way through our yard as the years have gone by. When my boys were quite young, we started to see a lot of frogs and turtles. One summer afternoon, the boys had enjoyed some time in their pool,…

Several weeks ago, Bethany and I walked a new path that led us through many wooded areas. As we rounded a curve, I noticed a small evergreen near the path had worked its way through the ground. Less than a foot tall, the green in its foliage was fresh and bright. Though the little tree…

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to watch Jesus, a production of Sight and Sound Theatres. This online presentation shared the story of Jesus – His life, His ministry, His teaching, His miracles. I watched as the disciples were chosen, enjoyed interactions Jesus had with children, with His disciples, with Mary, and listened as He…

“Mary.” All He said was “Mary.” And it brought her back to Him. Life with Jesus began years ago when He set her free from the seven demons that had plagued her. Mary Magdalene came from the village of Magdala on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee near Tiberias. Through His healing, Mary…

“And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.” (Luke 23:33) Together three men travelled the same road up to Golgotha, yet the two travelled a very different road to get there from the One. Two…

Driving to school early one morning, Bethany and I noticed a group of geese flying in a V. Suddenly, they broke apart, two flying in one direction, three flying another, one off on its own. As they parted, they scattered but their flying had no direction. They seemed lost and lacked confidence. They did not…

I am going to be completely honest and let you know what a struggle it has been for me to come up with something to share with you today. Sometimes experiencing or watching others go through incredible difficulty over and over in such a short span of time leads to a lot of contemplation that…

Holden Arboretum has become one of my favorite places to hike. With all the beautiful areas to explore, what draws me most is the woods. The woods bring a sense of serenity to my heart as I travel the trails. Gazing up at towering trees, I feel incredibly small compared to their height. Massive trunks…

What would it be like to live under a monarchy? For most of us living in the United States, we will never experience being ruled by a king. The United States is a representative democracy, where our government is elected by its people. The British Monarchy is known as a constitutional monarchy. While the king…

In my childhood home, we had a woodburning fireplace. The cold winter evenings became so cozy when my dad would light a fire. I loved the smell of the burning wood, the crackle and pop as trapped steam burst open from an ignited log, the warmth filling the room as the fire grew hotter. To…