Every Christmas, a local Christian radio station in my area likes to do Christmas giveaways called their “Christmas Blessing.” Throughout December, the show invites listeners to nominate an inspiring family facing illness, loss or financial challenges to receive a big […]
It has been five months since being blindsided by my aneurysm diagnosis. Given my age, good health and lack of any discernible reason for this, I was urged by several local doctors and CV surgeons to see the aortic team at Mayo Clinic. It […]
A few years ago, my sisters texted me pictures of their Christmas cacti blooming. It turns out, they’d each purchased one in honor of our beloved grandmother. We laughed at the memory of Grandma Rose happily exclaiming, “Ain’t that pretty!” […]
The other day I was listening to a favorite gospel song while out on a run. I learned it back in my college gospel choir and have always loved the simple lyrics reminding me to not be afraid in the […]
L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables famously said, “I am so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” I couldn’t agree more. I love everything about October from the way the air dries out, to the smell […]
The kids were dropped off, the kitchen cleaned and the laundry started. I was just about to sit down for some quiet time when my phone rang. Breathless and desperate, my twelve-year-old daughter lamented that she’d left her art homework […]
Did you stop writing? I have been asked this question countless times over the past several months. Aside from the surprise that anyone noticed, I silently cringe at these inquiries. Because I have no real answer. Yes? No? Maybe just […]
It’s hard to live in Minnesota in March. Already weary from the long winter, it feels so unfair to wake up to forecasts of snow, cold and rain while the rest of the country is walking on sunshine. We are […]
This morning, I read a private journal entry from one year ago. In it, I was processing (ok, venting) about a source of pain and frustration in my life. It is almost verbatim what I wrote over the weekend about […]
I am nailing it as a mom this week. Our fridge is empty. The pantry is a joke. My kids have eaten ramen for breakfast and lunch three days in a row. And I am not exaggerating. My seven-year-old doesn’t […]