My seven-year-old didn’t want any part of the piano recital. He fought me on the song choice, refused to practice and balked at my insistence that he shower and put on a decent outfit. I knew that all of this was […]
My seven-year-old didn’t want any part of the piano recital. He fought me on the song choice, refused to practice and balked at my insistence that he shower and put on a decent outfit. I knew that all of this was […]
Our dream hobby farm wasn’t a fixer-upper per se, but it did need fixing up. The interior needed new flooring, fresh paint and a facelift on all three levels. The five acres outside required even more serious work. Most …
For several years, I hosted the same boys over and over again. These kids counted my home as their second home and my family as their extended family. They were familiar with my quirky sense of humor …
I recently was getting ready for an event which required makeup and taming of my unruly hair. I’d just clipped the final hot roller in place when I heard a commotion outside my window. I glanced out …
I got the message while standing in the checkout line. We’d be hosting a nine-year old girl over spring break. I was excited to be welcoming a child into my home again and announced the news …
Each year, as part of the End It Movement, dozens of the leading anti-trafficking organizations band together to raise awareness, fundraise and speak out against human trafficking. Social media lights up with red X’s on …
A couple of years ago I arrived home one day to find a Ninja blender on my driveway. Confused, I brought it inside and called Kohl’s to ask what happened. Apparently my account had been hacked …
I take care of prisoners all the time in the Emergency Department. On any given shift I see the aftermath of jailhouse fights, skirmishes with guards, needle sticks or even shenanigans orchestrated for the sole …
I grew up downhill skiing on a glorified landfill at the old Playboy Club. The small town Wisconsin “ski resort” boasted just three chairlifts, a tow rope and a whisper of an incline. But to me, …
Facebook was founded in 2004, nearly three years after I had my first child. So when I embarked on this parenting thing, I didn’t have access to everyone’s opinion about everything. Schedule or no schedule? Commercial or …

Here I am. Smack dab in the middle of life. Married to my best friend. Raising four amazing kids. Growing in faith. Passionate about building community and serving the vulnerable. Laughing, sassing, and writing as I go.