Writer, Speaker, Editor, Blogger
This week, I attended a cousin’s funeral. While it was a sweet time of remembrance, and seeing other cousins, this occasion was also a sobering reminder of the brevity of life. As an only child, my cousins have always been important to me. I am blessed to have cousins by the dozens, literally. I share […]
Several nights ago, I was startled into consciousness by the sound of something falling. In my grogginess, I tried to decipher the source, finally convincing myself a picture had fallen off my dresser. Yet, the unknown genesis of the sound bothered me. Ultimately, I turned over and went back to sleep, confident that an intruder […]
Despite the prediction of a furry Pennsylvania rodent, I believe we are on the cusp of spring. Birds are chattier. Daffodils poke heads from the ground. Brown yards are tinged with shades of green. Mild afternoons hint at warming. I’m ready for the chill and dreariness of winter to take a back seat to greenness […]
February is the month associated with love. Some people are easy to love; others aren’t. When you think of the term “hard to love,” does a person immediately come to mind? Perhaps this person is a family member, a “friend,” or acquaintance you see more often than you want to. Either way, loving difficult people […]
Here in the south, snow days are rare. But last weekend, we experienced a full day of beauty as falling flakes fluttered to earth. Navigating a snow day alone is different from one with family gathered around, or children in and out, rosy-cheeked, laughing, and dripping with melting snow. A solitary snow day is a […]
I thought I was doing well with grief until January rolled around and sent me into a tailspin. With the new year came a resurgence of grief. After two years, I didn’t expect it, this spiral into missing, wishing, and remembering. All the emotions I felt two years ago resurfaced. Along with sadness came vivid […]
Do you ever feel you are lacking, that others possess qualities that you don’t? If so, you have failed to recognize your strengths. It’s common for us to compare ourselves to others and focus on what we view are our personal weaknesses. However, we all have strengths. Following are ways to recognize your strengths and […]
Thus far, has the new year handed you something unexpected? Just in my sphere I know those recovering from heart surgery or heart attack, two who are trusting God through severe persecution, one waiting for a diagnosis, several racing toward death, and those mired in grief. Personally, I just passed the second anniversary of Jim’s […]
Construction is in my blood. My father was a builder, my grandfather a lumber yard owner. As a child, Sunday afternoons often meant a walk-through of Daddy’s houses under construction. I loved the smell of lumber and identifying each room as we moved through the house. Often, I saw houses at the foundation stage. It […]
What has this year been for you? Perhaps the year was filled with challenges, heartache, or health issues and you are ready to see 2025 in the rearview mirror. Conversely, maybe this has been the best year of your life, and you are sad to bid it farewell. My year has been a combination of […]