Writer, Speaker, Editor, Blogger
In my search for tomatoes that taste like the kind my father used to grow in the backyard, I discovered the ones that come closest are what the grocery store labels “cluster tomatoes,” the kind with the vine still attached. Sometimes, strange things, like cluster tomatoes, speak to me about life. As I unloaded groceries, […]
This week marks 30 years since my father died. When you have a good Daddy, thirty years is a long time to live without him. But intertwined in missing him are the memories of his hugs, with a jiggly squeeze at the end, the sight of his dimples when he told tall tales, his love, […]
As I sat on my deck one morning this week, I noticed the underlying coolness in the breeze, saw a lone tree branch shaded red, and watched yellow leaves flutter to earth, heralding fall. I knew the temperature would soar to 90 before day’s end, but for those brief moments, I enjoyed the hint of […]
Do world events disturb you? The turbulence of hostile government takeovers, an ongoing pandemic, and personal challenges loom large and threaten to rob us of peace. Often, it takes effort to avoid being pulled into the vortex of tumult and succumbing to fear. I’m not suggesting we shut ourselves off from what is going on […]
In recent weeks, I have become increasingly aware of those in various types of pain. A friend and also a family member who are experiencing physical pain. Extended family members endured the emotional pain of watching the physical pain of a loved one’s final days on earth. Others suffer pain related to aging or chronic […]
A few weeks ago, I posted information on social media about my new book, Life on Pause: Learning to Wait Well. Someone commented, “Life gone…not on pause.” Since I didn’t know the situation that prompted the comment, I waited to answer until I had time to think. As I pondered, I sensed “hopelessness” was the […]
Last weekend, we enjoyed a quick trip to the beach. It was great to spend time with family and relax a little, but road construction made the trip there and back slow. While creeping along at 3 mph or sitting in a parking lot of traffic, I thought about how we often experience similar slowdowns […]
Have you ever come to crossroads on a journey and been unsure which path to take? Perhaps road signs are somewhat askew or missing, or the roads have changed since the last navigation update. How can you determine which direction is right? Often, we encounter crossroads in life that are just as confusing as an […]
For almost two months, I’ve been backburnering the writing of a book proposal I had a request for at a conference. I should be motivated to complete the task since it is a proposal the editor assigned and wants, but I repeatedly allow the project to drop to the bottom of my to-do list. So, […]
Early in February 2020, before the pandemic shut down our lives, a tornado ripped through our town, demolishing homes and businesses, and leaving other destruction in its wake. Several trees toppled in our backyard. A huge limb, severed from a tree in the front yard, landed in the middle of one of our largest limelight […]