As a young, bookish child, I fell in love with the Choose Your Own Adventure series. If you aren’t familiar with them, they are a series of books for young readers who get to choose what the narrator will do at strategic plot points throughout the story. If you choose A, turn to page…, or Read More
Sobriety is a Mindset
Sobriety isn’t a punishment; it’s a gift. It isn’t a counting of days; it’s a celebration of time. It isn’t handcuffs; it’s freedom. It isn’t what we have to miss out on; it’s what we get to experience. It isn’t an empty social calendar; it is an invitation to live your potential. It isn’t a Read More
Discovering Perspective by Looking Back
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.” Rachel Carson I went out to nature this morning. To visit the swans, Canadian geese, and coots. The fog passed around me in wisps. I breathed in reserves of strength, contemplating the beauty of the Read More
Expectations on Life Expectancy
I haven’t seen or talked to my parents much lately. They live in the same town as me, and we usually see one another multiple times a week. They help out with watching the kids and the dog, and we enjoy sharing life and space. Toward the end of last year, my mom grew more Read More
Finding Meaning in the Wait
I’m continuing to live in the state of stillness and trusting the unknown in the new year. This quiet I’m drawn to, a waiting place, is starting to feel important. God often leads us into times of waiting so that we can accomplish productive inner work. There’s external waiting and internal waiting. I’ve experienced both Read More
No Excuse for Excuses
Excuse: (noun) a reason or explanation put forward to defend or justify a fault or offense. Recently, I wrote a guest post for my friend Barb’s lovely blog, about how life happens not in the occasional big moments, but in all the ordinary moments in between. And it’s not until we start to engage with Read More
New Year Musings
The questions… Sometimes, I seem to have way more questions than answers. Today, for instance, my new year musings began with: Why do I always side against myself, instead of for myself? Why do I fill my mouth with food, when trying to fill my heart? Why do I live in my head, instead of Read More
I Think I’ll Sit this One Out
This last week of the year, nestled between Christmas and New Year’s has always felt extra to me…like a bonus. In light of the year we’ve had, this time it feels like empty space to fill. I feel aimless, like I should be doing something productive, but have lost my to-do list. Part of it Read More
Peace on Earth
I am a pacifist, at heart. I come from a line of women who dislike conflict, are used to holding their tongues to avoid it, and consider mealtime a success only if no one disagrees. Unrealistic? Yes. Something to aspire to? No. In fact, my apologies in advance to my daughter… Try as I may, Read More
Carrying Out the Mission
My husband works on an Air Force base and was telling me that there are a number of COVID-19 cases confirmed and more that had to quarantine. He said that they were going to reduce staffing temporarily. “We still have enough people staffed to carry out the mission,” he explained. I almost inwardly rolled my Read More