I need to be real here. Our topic of self-care this month is a tough one for me. There are the standard categories that define self-care and all are widely published online. If you are a list person, and like clear definitions blogger Erin was kind enough to write The Seven Pillars of Self Care … More Knowing, and Loving Oneself is the Ultimate Form of Self-Care
Good morning everyone! Erin is enjoying a bit of down time so I’m jumping in today to cover her regular Tuesday post. What follows is a true story about facing (certain?) death and coming out on the other side stronger…while carrying ahead a slightly less dramatic viewpoint that allows for a giggle or two to … More Terror on the Hiking Trail
The other day I had a moment where I was sitting out on my back steps in the sun. My kids and I had been gardening with my mom and I stopped for a moment to look at a splinter that had penetrated my gardening gloves and was embedded in my thumb. Of course, I … More A Brief Moment in Time
I like to go back and read the 25-page report. The report is dated from the early 2000s and gives a medical history on my son and lists the tests the doctors administered. I’m barely a page into the report and my heart is already breaking. “The patient is still fairly young and needs intensive … More Proving the experts wrong!
“You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.” Bob Marley Yes, the c-word I refer to is cancer. It was early May 1996 and a routine pap test detected an abnormality on my cervix. Further testing confirmed the lesion was cervical cancer. After the confirmation things moved … More When the “C” Word Entered My Life
There’s been one of those blog challenge queries floating around on WordPress recently. I know you’ve seen the format- those prompts that ask the blogger to answer a series of questions. I love to read other peoples answers but I’m typically not a fan of participating myself. However, one question in a recent challenge, “What … More Acceptance
I wrote a piece recently on my personal blog about a beloved rocking chair that my dad restored. He’s been gone for many years, but the sweet little rocker is a cherished memento of something he lovingly touched as he restored it. I’d say he improved it…the luster is pretty fabulous: When I wrote about … More Grace & Patience
Living in a very small, semi-rural town is important to me and I can’t imagine ever embracing big city life. I grew up one town over, although that town has changed dramatically since 1960 when my parents bought my childhood home. I believe the planners call it urban sprawl. Fortunately my current small town has … More The Essence of Community
Today, April 22, marks Earth Day. Next Friday, April 28th, marks Arbor Day. I continue to hope when I think about these two days. I direct that hope towards an increasing number of people gaining awareness of why these two days are marked yearly on our calendars and towards those who strive to learn the … More Quiet Reflection
Just a few months before my dad passed away, the Easter Bunny (aka my mom) gifted her not quite three-year old granddaughter, Delaney, with an unconventional gift in her basket of goodies. An umbrella. A pretty pink parasol, along with a “Mary Poppins” DVD and the standard jellybeans and marshmallow “Peep” confections. When she was … More Fresh Peeps & Pink Parasols
The Heart of the Matter 