Writer, Speaker, Editor, Blogger
Last week I had the pleasure of an extended visit with cousins. We enjoyed sweet days of fellowship together, a refreshing time of reminiscence and reset. Taking time to refresh mentally, physically, and spiritually involves intentionality. If we don’t plan for times of refreshment, our busy lives take over, leaving us parched and exhausted. Following […]
Last week, I learned a young couple’s story. For the husband, a few days of fever, then a rash, a trip to urgent care, an ER visit, followed by a cancer diagnosis. What? How does a healthy young man suddenly slam into a life-altering diagnosis? How does a young couple go from life as usual […]
On a rainy day, in a drive-thru line, I accidentally put my car in neutral instead of increasing the wiper speed. When time came to pull forward, I couldn’t understand why my car wouldn’t move, until I saw the glaring “N” on the display panel. There are times in our lives when grief, illness, or […]
Are you in a life season when everything feels more complicated than usual? I’m there. Supposedly, the pace of life slows in retirement years. I haven’t found it to be so. Here are reflections on a season of dealing with hard stuff: Complicated Business Processes After 50+ years, a landholding corporation my father and uncle […]
I am a somewhat sporadic journaler. Some years, I am more intentional with journaling than others. My most prolific journaling years usually happened when I was going through a difficult season. Recently, I found a stack of journals on the lower shelf of my desk. Initially, I thought about skimming through them before deciding whether […]
Several weeks ago, I had Mohs surgery for skin cancer on my face. A tiny bump that appeared in December never went away. In March, the bump grew exponentially, quadrupling in size. A biopsy in April revealed it was squamous carcinoma. I was discouraged about the size of the scar post-surgery, but I experienced the […]
For over a year, I’ve been consumed with the task of cleaning out various areas of my house. This house has been home for over 35 years, so you can imagine the accumulation of “things.” After a few intense months, I concluded the project was going to take much longer than expected. In addition to […]
Several weeks ago, I had the joy of spending a week at the beach with my children and grandchildren. I awoke each morning to the sounds of Jay grinding coffee beans, Griffith’s stage whisper, and snippets of singing and laughter. That week with my family was just what I needed to recharge, reset, and resume […]
I am at the stage of life where I enjoy a new level of personal freedom. No longer am I under the watchful eye of older family members. I am the matriarch of my little branch of the family tree. If I want to go on a trip, I don’t have to ask permission from […]
In the last few years, I’ve bought several mixed potted plants that include “Creeping Jenny.” That name is perfect for this vigorous, trailing, verdant plant. “Creeping Jenny” is the one plant in a mixed pot that survives to the next year. This plant has qualities that remind me of life seasons and life lessons. Following […]