The typical school year is a long, steady race to the finish line; most teachers take some time in June to pause. I chose the word Pause, even though I am teaching summer school for most of the month, because this time of year contains some space, a pause to rest and reflect, nap and Read More
Category: Growth
Weekend Book Review: Wholehearted Faith
Last weekend I began my weekend book review series, and if you missed it you can read it here. Today, I’m choosing and highly recommending a wonderful Christian non-fiction book I read by Rachel Held Evans called Wholehearted Faith. Happy reading! This Week’s Pick: Wholehearted Faith by Rachel Held Evans Genre: Christian non-fiction Page Length: Read More
May Intentions Update: Late Bloom
It turns out, May wasn’t the full bloom I expected. Instead of a realizing of potential and an unfolding of energy, the month became more of a frustrated attempt to progress. The blocked sun made me hide my head rather than fully flower. Yet like so many things, it ended in a late bloom. As Read More
Weekend Book Review: An Unlasting Home
In an effort to reflect and share the new passions I found once I ditched alcohol, I’m starting a weekend book review, featuring some of my favorite books. This weekly feature will share my insights and recommendations on literary and historical fiction and well as non-fiction quit-lit, memoirs, nature, Christian and self-help. My hope is Read More
Conversations with God in the Night
Lately, I find myself having conversations with God in the middle of the night. Actually, it’s more early morning hours, but definitely during my 6-7 hour sleep window. I’m protective of my sleep now that I don’t drink. When you go from disrupted, tortured sleep being the norm, you want to proctect and preserve your Read More
May’s Word of the Month: Bloom
I like words that are both nouns and verbs. The trees and flowers are in full bloom. My life, since I quit drinking, is blooming. When I think of the word bloom, I picture delicate buds opening, patience rewarded, and beauty released. This month, I want to live in full bloom. I changed the tagline Read More
April Intentions Update: Action and Avoidance
April, rather than being “the cruelest month,” as T.S. Eliot proclaimed, was a pendulum of action and avoidance. In some areas of my life, I made great progress and growth. In others, I found myself the cork bobbing on the wave of a week, as described in my last post. Sometimes intentions guide the day, Read More
Like Waves
Overall, life has a rhythm. A series of days that become weeks, months, and years. Each year, like a set of waves; fifty-two waves that rise, crest and fall. When you ride the wave of a week, it may seem small and uneventful, like you can float on your back and be rocked by the Read More
Not given but taken away
My daughter climbs into bed with me at 4:30 am, after awakening from a nightmare. She cuddles up against me and I stroke her hair, telling her to go back to sleep. Not minding that I am now up for the day. Glad I can be, in this moment, a comforter and a protector. A Read More
Too Much of a Good Thing
In my post March’s Word of the Month: Cultivate, I revealed my endeavor to give up sweets for Lent. Now that I’m wrapping up this season, I can reflect on this period of abstinence and evaluate the place of sugary food in my life. I also want to give an update on my overall healthy Read More