Endorsements for
Wide-Eyed Wonder
Bernie Hunhoff, South Dakota Magazine
“All who believe we should embrace thoughtfulness in these troubling times will find Ramona Wade’s essays and poetry not only worthwhile but also enlightening. On every page in Wide-Eyed Wonder, she suggests – without sermonizing or lecturing – ways in which we might make better connections with family, friends, and strangers. Is there a more important subject for a book today? Best of all, the book is rich with real-life and relatable stories, many of them rooted in the author’s home states of Minnesota and South Dakota.”
Wesley Vander Lugt, director of the Leighton Ford Initiative in Theology, the Arts, and Gospel Witness at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and co-director of Kinship Plot
“In a mix of memoir, poetry, personal reflection, and spiritual encouragement, Mona Wade invites us to see beauty in the ordinary. She shows us that amidst life’s changes and challenges, approaching each day with “wide-eyed wonder” is the most satisfying and transformative way to live.”
Rev. Cindy Derks Hoy, United Church of Christ,
Retired Board Certified Chaplain and Hospital Director of Spiritual Care
“This book is pure gift. Each story becomes an invitation to pause and see with fresh eyes the wonder hidden within ordinary moments. Life itself unfolds as a call to marvel, to give thanks, and to rest in the quiet presence of the One who is always with us. Even in seasons of challenge, beauty shimmers close at hand, and new possibility waits to be embraced.”
Dr. Stephen Minister, Professor of Philosophy and Stanley L. Olsen Chair of Moral Values, Augustana University
“Mona’s beautifully-crafted personal stories recall us to the awe and wonder that is all around. And her thoughtful insights and reflective questions reverberate deep within the soul. As you read these stories, you will breathe more deeply, see more beauty, and have more gratitude for the world we all share!”
Rev. Lorah Houser Jankord, Conference Deacon, United Church of Christ
“Mona is a storyteller extraordinaire. The stories she shares are not just her personal memories, they are stories for all humanity to ponder. This book can be used for individual growth and reflection or to help uncover our own gift of storytelling.”
Rev. Jon E. Strother, District Superintendent, United Methodist Church