In mid-September, I flew to Treasure Island, Florida…Who could have imagined that eleven days after I flew home, Hurricane Helene's storm surge and winds would devastate Treasure Island? And then, nearly two weeks later, Milton would deliver a second blow to the area. The island I had briefly enjoyed was underwater and buried beneath sand and debris.
Read MoreOur summer cabin in Northern Minnesota has presented many unexpected challenges, most having to do with plumbing. But one challenge we didn’t foresee was finding a summer church home.
Read MoreThe podcast preview arrived in my inbox just hours after our conversation was recorded. Not wanting anyone else to hear how inarticulate I might be, I stuck my Airpods in my ears and hit Play. How would my voice sound? How many times had I fumbled? Would our conversation help anyone? Or would my rambling way with spoken words turn listeners away?
Read MoreSummer is winding down and thoughts are turning to football and pumpkin spice. Before we turn the page to autumn, let’s look back at our summer reading.
I finished seven books in July and August, which keeps me on track (and four books ahead!) for my goal of 36 books in 2024.
Read MoreI don’t have a big “reveal” to help you untwist the midlife puzzles you might be encountering. But here are a few solid resources (websites, podcasts, Substack bloggers, and books) that have guided me in this transitional life stage.
Read MoreBut life isn’t perfect. And not accepting life’s imperfections will bring angst. Whereas holding on loosely to the worries of this world offers peace.
Read MoreRemember all those “What to Expect When…You’re Expecting” (“…in the First Year”, “…Second Year”, etc.) books? For years, they filled our bookshelves and covered our nightstands, teaching us everything we needed to know to tackle pregnancy and parenthood with confidence. But what about “What to Expect When You’re Empty Nesting”?
Read MoreSince the beginning of 2024, I’ve taken one newsletter every two months to review my recent reads. Not only does it keep me on track for my reading goals and push me to leave reviews online, but it’s also inspired at least some of you, my dear readers, to pick up a book, try an author you’ve not read before, or explore a new genre.
Read MoreIt’s mid-May, and I’ve returned to Northern Minnesota where my husband and I, approaching retirement, spend much of our summers. One of our favorite pastimes up north is riding bikes on the nearby trails, and I’m excited for my first ride of the year.
Read MoreWe’ve just begun the second summer of our Grand Marriage Experiment. Mind you, it didn’t start as a marriage experiment.
It started as a dream come true—the dream of owning a cabin on a lake in Minnesota.
Read MoreI took my first 2024 Up North bike ride, and since I love taking photos, I’ve got plenty of those to share. 📸
If you’ve been wondering what the Paul Bunyan Trail, between LaPorte and Walker, Minnesota, looks like in mid-May, I’ve got you covered!
Read MoreIn celebration of our daughter Chloe’s graduation from U-W Madison with a master’s degree in library and information studies, I’ve updated a story I first wrote three years ago.
Read MoreMy March-April BookStack includes two non-fiction, one memoir, and five fiction reads. There’s quite a mix, with a dystopian classic, time-travel story, 1950s murder mystery, present-day “Romantic Comedy”, and a historical fiction account of a 1960s rock band.
Read MoreIt’s impossible to share all the information, inspiration, and interactions I encountered at this writing festival. Instead, I’ll search my notes and find some highlights—nuggets I uncovered throughout the week. Unlike elusive beach glass, with my journal and highlighter, I know I’ll find some treasures to share!
Read MoreWhen our first grandson entered the world two months into a global pandemic, my husband—now a “Papa”—and I were in awe of this eight-and-a-half-pound miracle, as were his parents and our other three adult children. On our first visit, while wearing masks and visiting outside under a canopy, we put our worries of the world aside and gave thanks for this gift from God.
Read MoreThings get better. Things get worse. In seven years, many things can change. Despite global pandemics, wars and rumors of war, contentious elections, devastating earthquakes, hurricanes, and wildfires…our planet keeps spinning and circling and predictably falling in line with its moon and the sun at exactly the moment it's supposed to. I find that pretty miraculous!
Read MoreIn memory of my parents and the courage with which they faced a devastating diagnosis, I’m resharing a story I wrote for The Banner magazine in 2020. These events took place almost ten years ago, but it seems like yesterday. I can still picture my parents’ boat slowly submerging, and remember feeling helpless as I looked on from a distance.
Read MoreHave you heard the buzz about the New York Times game, Connections? Are you a slave to solving this daily puzzle, sometimes as soon as it’s available after midnight? (Not that I would know anyone like that! 😉)
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