The sun was setting in the north woods as I picked my way along the path, mindful not to trip on the exposed roots. The waterfall I was hiking towards roared in the distance and I raced the daylight to reach […]
My children compete in speed gaming events on their horses. One of their favorite games is called pole pole bending. In this event, six poles are set up 21 feet apart in a straight line. The object is to run […]
My son’s yearbook spins a tale of happy kids making their way through the adventures of kindergarten. But behind the pictures of toothless grins in front of lockers, giggles with classmates and explorations on field trips, a completely different story was playing […]
I just glanced in the mirror and it’s not looking pretty. This ill-fitting shirt accentuates my love of sugar, my makeup-free skin is blotchy and my lackluster hair is hanging limp around my tired face. It would be tempting to pull […]
Let me introduce you to my daughter. She is kind. She is sincere. She is witty. She takes care of her siblings with nary a complaint. She is everything a teenager should be … bright, fresh-faced and stepping onto the […]
Once upon a time, I was a home party jewelry lady. I was patently wrong for the role given my abysmal fashion sense and lack of appreciable sales skills. Plus, I didn’t wear jewelry. But for ten years I schlepped […]
My mother once told me that she sometimes regrets having four children. Not because she doesn’t love us, but because she does. Her mama heart of compassion ached when we were hurt for any reason. And at times, multiplying life’s […]
One of the delights of country living is the watching the landscape change with the seasons. I have a front row seat to the lazy transformation of fields from whitewashed in winter to windswept russet in early spring. I anticipate […]
Once upon a time I tried to become a runner. The problem was, I could only run one mile (down a slight incline) before my body managed to convince me of certain death should I take one more step. At […]
The after-service pancake breakfast was in full swing. Kids and adults milled about the multi-purpose room chatting amicably and scarfing down flapjacks together as one big church family. I was nibbling on a pancake when I felt someone throw an […]