He’s in a sweet spot – finally – this child of mine who has conquered so many battles: a malignant brain tumor, chemo, radiation, a disastrous hernia surgery, the death of his best friend and other challenging losses. But now – thank you, God – he is happy. The IT training he’s enrolled in is …
I come alive in March. In fact, I count off the weeks during January and February, looking forward to the day I can flip the calendar to March. Why March? Because it signals the beginning of spring. The days are longer. The sunshine is brighter. For years, I didn’t know how to define my problem …
My New Year’s Day began with a cup of hot cocoa and a few hours watching the Rose Parade. But the day quickly turned sour with a painful cry upstairs. Betsy, my tortoiseshell cat of 18 years, was in distress. I knew her days were numbered. Multiply 18 times 7. How many animals live to …
During the end of 2018, I reflected on the Hope series of this blog. For several years, I’ve used practical anecdotes and surrounded them with the umbrella of Hope. I’ve also written a book, using this blog series. Check out Hope Shines. But what does it really mean to have Hope? After several weeks of …
“The days are long but the years are short.” According to Google – that great know-it-all in cyberspace, Gretchen Rubin is the author of the above quote. It perfectly describes how it feels to jump into a new year. I wonder if Rubin is a harried mom who feels as if she is working a …
The colorful lights, packages wrapped with beautiful bows, Santa’s lap filled with happy children, the music of the season: all these joys spell Christmas. But what if we’re smack in the middle of grief? What if some of the joy is colored by sadness? How do we find hope when we so desperately need it? …
Because life is easier when it’s simple, I have decided to merge that principle into my holiday celebrations. What used to be a November and December filled with activities and the traditional holiday set-ups, I have now prefaced with the following questions: How can I simplify the holidays? What gives me the most joy about …
Throughout our city, wherever we traveled, we heard it. In grocery stores, libraries, Target and Wal-Mart — even during church services where it occurred in stereo sound — one person in the aisle echoed by someone across the room. The Great Cough of 2016. In spite of our vitamins, clean eating and daily spraying through …
What does it take to run down a dream? The answer to that question becomes post number four of my gratitude series. The dream of a young girl, perched inside the barky womb of her favorite elm tree. Adolescent limbs swinging from an upper branch. Book opened. Devouring words and dreaming of becoming an author. …
During this Thanksgiving season, I am grateful for sensory perceptions. Writers are encouraged to include the five senses in our manuscripts, and most of us do a good job with sight and hearing. But it’s a little harder to add touch, taste and smell without sounding contrived. Even so, this year I am most grateful …