“It’s complex not to be extractive,” she reflects, including around labor practices. It’s hard to wrap our minds around the fact that we’re “paying” with our previously donated “labor.” Modern life teaches efficiency, convenience, and transactions. Trusting strangers asks for something different.

Before the truck arrives, the quilts made that year at St. Paul’s are displayed in the sanctuary, draped over pews and unfurled like flags representing a harmonious galaxy, the fabric version of the stained glass windows. “After the trucks are packed, we say a blessing that what we made with love and care brings comfort to people who need it most,” Sylvia says.

Feeling disenchanted with the U.S., financial markets, and capitalism, she wanted to live in nature. “I realized the world was my oyster,” she says.

The act of making the cards is just as meaningful as receiving them. Rooted in principles similar to art therapy, the process invites participants to slow down, breathe, and create with intention.

Thomas remains steadfast in his belief that a children's museum should be a "town square" for families—offering daily drop-in programs, free access to learning experiences, and a place where the entire family engages in the joy of learning. 

The room instantly quieted down comfortably; I could sense the sound of pages turning.

When we discover gatherings of people in a new location who welcome us, we feel the stirrings of homefulness.

In the apartment above us, a man was screaming and crying.