Writer, Author & Speaker
Happy First Anniversary to “Mondays by Midnight.” A year ago I challenged myself to write something and post it online each week by midnight on Mondays. I figured giving myself a deadline would encourage me to do it. The midnight deadline soon gave way to finishing it before I went to bed. Which then gave …
A guitar hangs on the wall. Its broken string testifies that it’s been awhile since anyone strummed it. The half-marathon medals still clang a little bit when the rocking chair hits them even though it’s been a couple of years since I’ve run at all, much less run a race that handed out a medal. …
In honor of my birthday — which was three days ago — here are five tidbits of trivia about me (in no particular order): I spent the last 20 years educating all four of my children at home. It was a great fit for our family. I loved it (not every minute of every day …
We met in the city where our friendships began. We came from Colorado, Iowa, Tennessee, North Dakota, and Minnesota to spend 48 hours together. Back in the day, we forged our friendships through homework, tests, first kisses, prom dresses, broken hearts, early morning bible studies, and late night slumber parties. We went rollerskating & sledding. …
We drove past the rolling Illinois farmland late into the night. The sky was warm with orange and pink. It was the night of the summer solstice, light lingering longer than any other day of the year. It reminded me of late summer nights in northern Minnesota sitting at the campfire when I wouldn’t realize …
The journey of motherhood is always changing. This year only one child was with me in person to celebrate Mother’s Day. I chatted with the other three children on the phone at different times. It was a lovely day. I was more content on this Mother’s Day than I have been over these last few …
The pink magnolia flowers have begun to open on the tree outside my kitchen window—a splash of needed color against the gray and dreary sky. The daffodils by the creek wave their bright yellow petals, reminding us that spring is coming. Our hope for warmer days and growing things is not in vain. The world …
December 2010 was a memorable one. My husband had been out of work for 5 months and we were still knee-deep into the season of ‘being-anxious-about-every-single-thing-we -purchased.’ Should I buy this bag of coffee? Do we need it? Isn’t coffee a luxury? Will I regret buying this later? The time had finally come to decide if we …
Once upon a time a young dad and a young mom were busy changing diapers, folding laundry, picking up toys, reading books over and over again, and making meals for a four. a three, and a one-year-old. Occasionally they remembered that it had been just the two of them once. They knew it in their minds but …
I like to speak them, write them, listen to them, and read them. I have a college degree in words – they call it Communications, which also happens to be the name of my top strength in Clifton Strength Finders. My love language is Words of Affirmation. I have always loved the smell and feel …