Kids growing up in the '60s and early '70s can attest to the fact that very little, outside of snow days and Christmas break, could come close to the anticipation of Christmas Day and Santa's arrival. With one exception that is; The arrival of the Sears Christmas wishbook! Oh, the hours spent drooling over all of the fabulous toys in the Christmas wishbook. That was certainly my position, huddled on the floor, Christmas 1972. It was on page 523 of this magical wishbook where my hopes and dreams soared to new heights. I could not wait to tell my mom…
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Our lives are made up of a million stories. Some stories are worth sharing; some not so much. There are stories in life made up of magical moments that bring great joy, and there are stories of heart-wrenching moments that bring you to your knees. All your unique stories are pieces of you and make you who you are. Your "You-nique" self. I, like you, have lived a life full of stories, some exhilaratingly joyful, and some excruciatingly painful. I share stories of my life and lessons I have learned throughout my website. Perhaps we have shared similar stories? Many people…
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It's amazing how tiny moments can last a lifetime. Simple, seemingly insignificant moments that become monumental as we age. Monumental in that these tiny moments help to form the person a child will become. And so it was, a tiny moment for a tiny child that became a monumental, life-changing moment. My grandmother was a matron of what was named "The Old Ladies' Home" in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The Old Ladies' Home was a beautiful 1881 three-story Second Empire Mansard style mansion, now a popular bed and breakfast facing the Ohio River. As matron, she managed the home, caring for approximately…
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The best things in life often come through hard-fought battles. It is in the striving, the pressing forward, and the perseverance that we discover the most beautiful rewards. Though the journey may be difficult, what awaits on the other side of hardship is often beyond what we could have imagined. I have experienced this many times, but one such moment in particular remains etched in my heart. On a trip through Banff, Alberta, curiosity—and perhaps a little fear of missing out—drew my partner and me to a crowded trailhead where cars lined the roadside. Unsure of what awaited us at…
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The probability of a certain set of circumstances coming together in a meaningful (or tragic) way is so low that it simply cannot be considered mere coincidence. ~V.C. King We used to visit my father's aunt and uncle, Clyde and Vern, in Cincinnati, Ohio. They were very much the quintessential loving couple, two peas in a pod. When we were children, they gave my father a very old German cuckoo. Although it became a bit annoying to hear the old cuckoo clock "cuckooing" every hour on the hour, we eventually got used to it. One evening as we all sat…
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A God wise enough to create me and the world I live in is wise enough to watch out for me. ~Philip Yancey I was sixteen years old, and he was seventeen. He was not my first love and certainly not my last. He wasn't even someone that I was interested in, but I knew he was crazy about me, so I gave in and dated him. As teenagers, it was mostly hanging out and doing things we had no business doing. Definitely not the makings of prom queen or king. No, we were just kids trying to grow up…
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How often do you pray for direction? I pray constantly for the Lord to guide me on the path he has chosen for my life. Because in my life, I have been willful and hardheaded, and still am at times, my prayers are specifically for a "clear" path. As long as I have faith and trust in him, he provides. This morning, as most mornings, I fire up my coffee pot and reach for the coffee tin, only to realize I am nearly out of coffee. Rather than write it down, I call out to Alexa to add coffee to…
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For weeks now, I've been feeling the end-of-winter blues. I know many of us here in the Ohio valley experience this. Week after week of continuous gray skies can cloud the mind with feelings of anxiety, frustration, and helplessness. We become consumed with intense anticipation of brilliant blue skies and all the glorious sights and sounds of spring. To occupy my mind, each morning I receive daily prayers and devotionals via email. I look forward to reading each one. It has been so good for my soul, and at times, a lifesaver. These daily devotionals guide my Bible study and…
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There is something about a Sunday morning. Perhaps it stems from my Christian beliefs that Sunday is the “Lord’s Day” or the Sabbath. Perhaps. For me, it has always been a special day. As I write this, I hear Lionel Richie singing “Easy” in the back of my mind. Such a great song. As a child, Sunday meant going to church, which I loved. As a wife and mother, it was a day when my little family was safe at home and I could prepare myself for the week ahead. When I lived in Canada, Sunday was an emotional day…
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No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. ~Aesop Kurt walked into my office. “We’ll be meeting in the boardroom at eleven o’clock.” “Why the boardroom?” I asked nervously. “It will be fine,” he replied, as he smiled and left. Oh no, I thought, what’s going on? It was my last week of work at the school division, as I was returning home to the United States. I was a union member, and usually the group just bought a cake and said their goodbyes in the break room. I figured today there would be an American flag…
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Many times in life, we catch ourselves saying things our parents used to say. The older I get the more I hear my parents coming out of my mouth, especially my mom. Mom could quote scripture or cite adages that applied to just about any situation. One such saying was "don't wish your life away" which I heard many times, especially once I became a mother. I remember venting to mom about one kid or the other doing this or that. Nothing in particular, just kids being kids. Out of frustration, I would say "I wish they were grown!" to…
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In a world of abundance, how do you find that "one thing" that drives you? What gives your life purpose? Where do you find your joy? If you have found the answer to that question, you are truly blessed. Congratulations on finding the meaning of your life! As for me, I'm still searching. Today, I received a package from Turkey, with ten stones. I found great joy in receiving these ten stones. I waited for months and had almost forgotten I ordered them. But here they were, ten stunningly beautiful, delicate little stones wrapped with the utmost care in two…
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February, it's like that "in-between haircut" month. The anxiously waiting to hear news month. It must be the official SADD diagnosis month, especially in the Ohio Valley. Those continuous dark and gray days can certainly give this girl the blues sometimes! Then again, if you work in an office devoid of windows as I do, walking out at the end of the workday when the sun IS shining is almost painful. You want to make sure your shades are in the ready position when that door opens. Of course, once you acclimate yourself to those rare glimpses of sunlight, you…
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New beginnings on your horizon? Most of us have moments where it feels like nothing we do makes a difference. Whether it’s at home, at work, or simply within a group of people, feeling like your efforts are in vain can deplete you. It's discouraging to begin each day with the belief that what you're doing is worthwhile, only to realize that regardless of your efforts, no one really cares and progress is non-existent. Oh, you CAN do it. You can remain steadfast, diligent, and eternally optimistic....until you just can’t anymore. Such foolish optimism can eventually take a toll on…
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Today, January 11th is considered the "anniversary" of the heinous murder of a beautiful young girl from our region; Shanda Renee Sharer. Honestly, anniversary is certainly not a term I would choose to use for today, and I didn't know this little girl or her family, but I knew the moment I woke up, that today was that day. I am far from the only one. Her heart-wrenching story is known around the world. Empathy emanates. Like most days, this morning I look at my phone to check email, texts, etc. I noticed I’d been tagged on Facebook, so I…