During the month of November, I want to focus on special gratitudes. Makes sense, right? During Thanksgiving month we should be grateful. But this year, I want to dig a bit deeper than the usual, “Thank you for health, for food, for the roof over my head.” This year, the focus is a series of …
As I started my research for No Visible Scars, I had plenty of material to draw from. One out of four women live in destructive relationships. This includes women whose husbands are corporate executives, church leaders and elected officials. Abused women live within every possible demographic. Yet we don’t always connect abuse with violence. Everyone …
In a previous post, I wrote about the racial diversity of Santa Fe. But a different type of diversity encouraged me, humbled me and taught me to be more open to those around me. During my week in Santa Fe, I met writers who were Jews, Buddhists, atheists, Shamans, Christians and a mixture of faiths …
For one glorious week, I lived the unplugged life in Santa Fe, NM. No social media. Even turned off my phone. Wrote long hand on a legal pad. My purpose for going to Santa Fe was to attend the Creative Reboot Conference – an amazing weekend of workshops for the sole purpose of tapping into …
Someone recently asked me, “What do you do to find rest?” My oxymoron reply, “I have to intentionally work to find rest.” Except for the times when life throws me in bed with an illness or unresolved grief, I have to plan for rest. My strong work ethic was forged on the family farm where …
Although we are several weeks past the beginning of the new school year, fresh school supplies still tempt me. I remember shopping at TG&Y with Mom, imagining what the new school year might bring. Would this be the year she would buy the box of 64 crayons with the sharpener on the back? Alas – …
Most of the time, I love nature. Flowers – certainly. The vibrant colors of autumn, the birds who gather on my deck, begging for another helping of seed. But this summer, my son and I encountered the villains of nature – vicious beasts who brought stress and despair as we battled against them. Wasps. The …
This series about the Saturday Sisters cannot end without a post that features Deb. Although I have written about her numerous times since that horrible day she died – she is still included when the Saturday Sisters meet. Susan makes the guacamole Deb loved. Janet often dresses the table with the quilt Deb made for …
As we continue to discover the qualities of each Saturday Sister, Hope shows itself in the persevering life of Sharon. For over twenty years, my Saturday Sisters have met together – usually monthly – to eat lunch, talk about our families and prayer requests, to do life together. Sister Sharon and I have shared fun …
Continuing with this mini-series within the Hope series. As part of my legacy and just because I want to, I am blogging about each of my Saturday Sisters. For over twenty years, we have met together – usually monthly – to eat lunch, talk about our families and prayer requests, to do life together. Today …