Meet Your Neighbors: An Adventure Awaits
Meet your neighbors. It sounds intimidating. Trust me–I know! As an introvert, I get all nervous and shaky inside when it comes to introducing myself to strangers.…
The Profound Impact Of One’s Name
Have you ever stopped to wonder about the beauty and power of a name? Each name has a story. Perhaps you were named after a grandparent, your moms’ best…
The Life-Changing Effect of Shared Stories
Our Beautiful And Painful Stories Some time ago, a friend mentioned that she loves sitting with people who are authentic and vulnerable, showing her what love looks like. I…
Refugees: The Actions That Define Us
Some time ago I found myself in the company of twenty-one refugees and individuals who, in one way or another, are assisting refugees. Being a refugee may be a defining…
Recycled Gratitude: Thoughts On Recycle Bins and Authenticity
It was a typical fall morning in my neighborhood as I walked to the curb to retrieve our recycle bin. I paused for a moment, noticing a simple note taped…
Judge Not: A Hard Lesson Learned
“Thou Shalt Not Judge” is a lesson I tend to learn over and over again. The following experience happened to our family last year and still weighs on my…
Hope For Bad Moms Everywhere
A QUESTION “Do all moms think they are bad moms?” my eight-year-old daughter asked me, her eyes full of innocence.We were sitting around the dinner table; I was telling my…
Freeing Ourselves Of Barnacles: Learning How To Forgive
THE BARNACLES IN OUR LIVES He was a sailor. He loved the ocean and the ships on which he sailed. And despite the rough and temperamental seas, he always managed…
Safe and Happy Neighborhoods
Some time ago I sat with a city councilman and other members of the community to discuss how we might improve our neighborhoods. “We need more police presence in…
For The Sake Of The Children: A Life-Changing Conversation
It was a life-changing experience for our family, an experience that my daughter and I have discussed in great depth. She feels it is an important message to share with others—for the…