Writer, Speaker, Editor, Blogger
Each year, with the approach of Father’s Day, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the gift of a good father. I was 34 when Daddy died, and that felt much too soon. There was still so much I wanted to learn from him. Daddy was wise and taught by example. Because my children were young, […]
Cheap and Great Several times, I’ve received flyers in my mailbox for a business that advertises itself as “cheap and great.” Every time I read those two descriptors, I chuckle, because they send a mixed message. Perhaps the business owner doesn’t realize the word “cheap” also means of inferior quality. The word “affordable” substituted for […]
Years ago, I hired a landscaper to redo several areas of the yard. However, the landscaper’s plan involved pulling up everything and starting with a clean palate. Included in the design was getting rid of three hydrangea bushes I purchased and planted the summer my mother was dying. I refused that plan. The landscaper didn’t […]
I am nearing the year and a half mark of widowhood. You’d think I’d have this grief thing figured out by now, but frequently, I get a jarring reminder that I’m still a toddler in this journey of loss. Nebulous Sadness One day last week, I texted my daughter and said, “I’m weepy today, for […]
As I watch raindrops slide down my window and drench the yard, my heart goes out to a family who bid farewell to a loved one this week. Funerals are never easy, but the dreariness of a rainy day adds another dimension. Maybe the sky is weeping over the loss of this one who loved […]
Last week, I had the joy of indulging in a personal retreat, a time of respite self-care. I stepped aside from life’s demands, normal routines, and the grief process. I ceased decluttering my home and focused on decluttering my mind. Lists, boxes, and chores were left behind as I rested, reflected, refreshed, and rebooted. Following […]
When I opened my laptop this week, I was greeted by a black screen with not even a brief flash of light or sound of whirring fan. I tried several different things, but my laptop remained silent and dark. For months, I set aside this week for a personal writing retreat. As I loaded bags […]
This week, my son announced the upcoming closure of his recording studio, which has been his passion and full-time job for almost ten years. Although he told me this was a possibility, I wasn’t expecting the announcement to come so soon. In some ways, I’m sad, but I know his decision is God-led, therefore, I […]
Last week, my son and I climbed up the attic stairs in search of a few specific boxes. I hadn’t been in the attic for years and was surprised by all that is there: a playpen that is now too dirty to ever be used again, plastic boxes of unknown items, toys strewn willy-nilly with […]
As I begin this post, the day is dreary. Rain spatters the window and a steady breeze rustles foliage. If I allow it, the damp dreariness could cast a dark shadow over my mood. But I won’t let this happen, because, in the background, I see glistening green grass. I see beauty. Enjoy Beauty Now […]