I’ve struggled all week to find a theme for this post, putting pressure on myself to impart some great nuggets of wisdom—some lasting takeaways—for you, my reader. I haven’t written to you in over a month, and during that time, I’ve had countless bright ideas pop into my head. Unfortunately, if I don’t jot them down, they vanish. Midlife brain works that way.
Read MoreWhile I get real satisfaction from turning real pages, I also really enjoy audiobooks. I love that I’m able to do other things (i.e. knit, clean house, and DRIVE!) while reading a book. I’m curious how common audiobooks are with my readers.
Read MoreLast Saturday, in nearly 90-degree heat (thankfully with a canopy for shade, a nice breeze, and lots of water), I attended my first local author fair, “3rd Street Festival” in Park Rapids, Minnesota. Since I call this up-north lake country “home” for much of the summer, I now qualify as a “local,” and I’m loving it!
Read MoreA guest post interview by my writer-friend, Michelle Rayburn. Michelle interviewed me about the release of my new book, Empty-Nest Joyride.
Read MoreI arrived back at our Minnesota cabin on May 19th and, after two weeks of up-north living, I’ll head back to Michigan on Tuesday. I’ve already enjoyed many of the perks that comes with our cabin life—lively dinners with neighbors, invigorating bike spins with Tom, captivating views of the lake and eagle sightings, relaxing kayak rides, Minnesota brats (sausage mixed with wild rice and blueberries), and evenings spent reading with loon songs—my favorite thing—in the background.
Read MoreThis week, I discovered the secret ingredient to pulling off live video. Surprisingly, it has nothing to do with camera angle, although making sure your face is well-lighted and not silhouetted by a bright backlit window helps. And it’s not having a memorized script, although being familiar with your topic is a plus. It’s not even about your hair and makeup, but if that builds your confidence, go for it.
Read MoreEmpty-Nest Joyride made her debut into the world today and she’s ready to fly! One thing I’ve learned is that launching a book is not for the faint of heart! There were a few times this week I thought my brain might explode with all the different tasks I was trying to juggle. But giving birth was never easy, was it?
Read MoreThe past TWO months have been a little crazy as I finish up editing, publishing, and will soon be launching my book! So, with limited time for reading, I only finished TWO books. Because I have only TWO books to share, I’ll give you a few more gems to add truth, beauty, and goodness—or at least a little entertainment—to your life.
Read MoreMom was pretty lonely after Dad died ten years ago, so after a while, we started a routine of calling her every Sunday evening at 8:00. She was usually sitting by the phone, waiting for that call.
Read MoreHow do I begin to describe the past ten days? When you lose a loved one, everything about your normal life stops, even as the rest of the world keeps spinning around you.
On Thursday, April 10, my dear mother-in-law, Joyce, went to be with Jesus.
Read MoreWhat’s worse? Picking a paint color or choosing a subtitle?
I struggle with paint colors. But I’ve discovered that choosing a subtitle is worse by far. Who knew?
Read MoreLike daffodil and tulip bulbs that sleep quietly underground for a season, there’s a special project that I’ve been keeping under wraps. Unlike flower bulbs which pop up after a few months in hiding, this project—once just a dream—took root over six years ago. And it’s finally ready to bloom!
Read MoreEach person we encounter possesses a life and past we cannot see at first glance. They carry pain and sadness, worry and stress. Hopefully, they also carry love, joy, and some happiness. But how can we know? We can’t walk in their shoes.
Read MoreIt goes without saying (but I’ll say it anyway): there’s much turmoil, change, and upheaval in our world these days. And it’s hard. I managed to distract myself with some sister time and a mother-daughter visit over the past week, but whenever I turned on the news, I was hit with harsh reality again.
Read MoreAfter a busy “hump day” at work, I hustle off to church with my family for one of the most somber days on the church calendar—Ash Wednesday. As if our never-ending Midwest winter isn’t depressing enough, the church summons us to a mid-week service reminding us of our mortality in ten words.
Read MoreI did something this week that I haven’t done in a long time. I spent the week as a total and complete homebody. For six days, I didn’t leave the house. Not even to get the mail. No, I wasn’t sick or laid up after hip surgery (like last year). I simply had nowhere to go.
Read MoreWe were all tired after the fireworks, so we returned to the hotel and were in bed by 1:00 a.m. We slept well, oblivious to the horror happening just blocks away.
When I woke the next morning, I reached for my phone, as I often do. I checked for texts, then opened my email and immediately saw a “breaking news” story from the New York Times that made me gasp.
Read MoreOn the final day of 2024, after a lazy morning, we sauntered out into the warmth of the Louisiana sunshine. In Jackson Square, we again took in the sounds of street musicians and the work of artists lining the square. First on the agenda: a beignet breakfast.
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