Hi -- I'm Vicki and I’m a big believer in the power of connection – taking time to share what matters most. I love pondering...thinking about work, family and home life and I enjoy blogging about all of it. Cheers!
Here at Heart of the Matter we writers are dabbling with the concept of “light” this month. As you may have read, our talented team has done a terrific job of bringing heartfelt stories forward, literally reflecting their creative insight about the word LIGHT and all the various manifestations of its meaning. LIGHT. LIGHT. LIGHT. In … More Light, Love & Gifting
Congratulations to our friend, Lois Roelofs! We posted about Lois’ nomination for a Chicago Writers Association Award just two weeks ago and we learned this morning…she’s a winner! From all of your Heart of the Matter friends, Lois, we salute you and your beautiful book about Marv. What a wonderful, well-deserved win. 💕 (And for … More She’s a Winner!
Last week we learned that one of hubster Paul’s cousins – who was also named Paul – passed away. His mother was Paul’s father’s sister…and wait for it…his father was Paul’s mother’s brother. A geneticist would no doubt enlighten me about the quirky double-dose of DNA but in a moment of melancholy yesterday, my heart … More A Table with Nine Lives?
We couldn’t be more excited for our friend – author and podcaster – Lois Roelofs whose book “Marv Taking Charge: A Story of Bold Love and Courage” is a finalist for a Chicago Writers Association Award! Read all about the finalists – including Lois’ beautiful book here: 2023 Book of the Year Awards (chicagowrites.org) Wynne … More Cheers to Lois!
Heads Up, and Gobble Gobble… I can’t help but share a ‘take two’ of this Thanksgiving piece. Of all the things I wrote on WordPress last year, a post about mashed potatoes still gets a lot of attention. I suspect it has little to do with the holiday itself – or the spuds in question … More Mashed Potato Madness
I am my sister’s keeper. Her guardian, her advocate, her ally and proudly, I am her best friend. Given her many disabilities I learned as a child that despite Lisa’s status as my older sister, she needed me to rise to be her protector. Our relationship has changed as we’ve watched life unfold but the … More I Love Her Better…Now That She’s Gone
I love musing about the symbolism of rain and raindrops. I wrote about my sweet sister’s love of the B.J. Thomas song, “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head” a while back. Lisa is one of the most courageous humans I know as she navigates complicated memories of love and loss – mixed-up recollections from her head … More Inspired by Raindrops
I saw a sweet father-daughter moment the other day as a new driver slowly circled an empty parking lot with her father (I presumed) riding along – pointing and directing as they swooped and turned and practiced parking, reversing and cornering. I smiled as I passed them and thought about my dad, Sonny, and what … More Courage Behind the Wheel
I’m going to tell a less-than-flattering story about myself. A reminder to anyone who thinks life with Vicki might be all sunshine and rainbows. Oh, good gosh, no. Whether it’s control related or my potent ego, always thinking I know best, I can be a real pain in the posterior (and isn’t THAT a fine … More Mum About Mums
Hello, October! This month at Heart of the Matter we’re focusing on courage, or as my sometimes-countrified father might’ve said, “gumption”. I loved how my papa could pivot from a corporate, buttoned-up dude to his downhome, rural roots. One of his charms, I think. He had a knack for putting people at ease and it … More The Courage Bucket
