Writer, Speaker, Editor, Blogger
Last week, I had a haircut. The new stylist cut my hair short. Very short. Much shorter than usual. So short I almost don’t recognize myself when I look in the mirror. In looking at childhood pictures, I saw how curly my hair was and wondered if it would curl that much now if not […]
Nine years into their marriage, my parents remained childless. My father was one of nine children, and my mother, the oldest of five, so childlessness was an unfamiliar place. I’d like to believe they were still holding on to hope, but I’m not sure that was the case. It’s hard to honestly congratulate others on […]
In what life season do you find yourself? I am living in a sweet season. My daughter and her family live nearby. My son and his family just moved back to town. Despite lingering sadness, missing my husband, blessings abound. I am learning to be content with my age and stage of life. Embracing Contentment […]
The origins of Memorial Day date back to the aftermath of the Civil War, when it was called Decoration Day, a time set aside to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers. After World War I, Decoration Day was expanded to include those who died in all American Wars. In 1971, by act of Congress, the […]
Do you know people who are fixers? If you mention the slightest something that is out of whack, they immediately begin searching online for a quick fix or make suggestions of things to try. Sometimes, you’re not requesting a fix, but rather simply venting concern or frustration. Yet, fixers jump in without knowing all the […]
Photo by Jessie Modlin Photography The last month involved a series of events, preparations, celebrations, ballgames, gatherings, and travel. All good, but also a little exhausting. It took me a while to realize the exhaustion was emotional as well as physical. Amid times of fun, joy, and celebration, an element of sadness lurked at the […]
In recent weeks, every weather forecast includes mention of our area being in a drought, even after rainfall. Drought conditions exist when rainfall accumulation is below average, stream flow decreases, lake levels drop, and soil moisture is low. Recovery from drought requires a long soaking rain rather than a sudden, short cloudburst. Do you feel […]
This winter, I enjoyed watching my grandson play basketball. In spring, I attended ball games for both grandsons—soccer and baseball. It’s always interesting, and encouraging, to see how much the players improve over the course of the season. Initial games are slow and low scoring, but as the season progresses, skill increases and teamwork refines. […]
One of the not-so-nice elements of accumulated birthdays is skin that easily bruises. All it takes is a tiny tap of a cabinet corner or some other hard surface for a bruise to immediately appear. Sometimes, I don’t even know what I’ve brushed against to produce an unsightly subdermal rupture, but there it is, blooming […]
I was in kindergarten the first time I remember comparing myself to someone. As we sat in a circle for show-and-tell, a classmate pulled a shiny pair of black shoes with ribbon ties out of a silky bag. She put those shiny shoes on her feet and tapped around the circle, drumming out a rhythm […]