Latest Blogs

It hurts because it matters ~ John Green
Daring me back
It has been over twenty years since the sudden death of my father. His death, the same day as my husband’s birth, can still trigger the sting of grief that leaves a wound of unresolved feelings. I resent that his weakness to smoking cigarettes reduced his life, yet is that what created my strength to quit? 
Bereavement curdles like a...

Worship springs from amazement
The Year of Focus:  Week Six
Word of the week: Worship
Worship - noun
reverent honor and homage paid to God or a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred.We worship the sun after a rainy day, a day off after weeks at work or even the time to just create. Worship comes in many forms; in the many ways we use our time and thoughts. And of course, I am...

"Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most"  ~ Abraham Lincoln 
The Year Of Focus: Week Five
Word of the week: Discipline
Discipline - noun
an activity, exercise, or regimen that develops or improves a skill; training:How often do we make apologies for our situation, or put things off for another day, another time when we “feel like it.” But did you know,...

You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through...
The Year Of Focus:  Week Four
Word of the Week:  Follow
Follow – verb
to go or come after; move behind in the same direction:Recently when I noticed the repetition of my days there was a nudge to transform the use of my time. Noticing I was no longer doing things that fulfilled me, like writing, running,...

When you're in peace, it's a position of power...
The Year Of Focus:  Week Three
Word of Week:  Position
Position - noun
condition with reference to place; location; situation.There have always been times in my journey through life, job, and/or career where I have not achieved the position I had hoped for. Maybe it takes longer to reach the desired results, or that things for others appear...

Kindness is spreading sunshine into people's lives, regardless of the weather... 
The Year Of Focus: Week Two
Word of  the Week: Kindness
Kindness - noun
the state or quality of being kindIf kindness is a choice, why on some days is it so hard to choose? When I think about the times when someone interrupts my schedule for what they need, do I respond with kindness? Or when kindness does not...

 
"Diligence is the Mother of good fortune"
The Year Of Focus
Word of Week: Diligent
A couple months ago, I attended a weekend scrapbook getaway and had the opportunity to relax, visit and be creative  which instilled a sense of renewal when it was time to return to my responsibilities. During one of our conversations, I learned the phrase "Chop Wood Carry Water" which basically means, just...

Found this blog post from 2008 - thought it would be good for the New Year...
This is something I’ve been wanting to write for some time — a Handbook for Life. Now, is there any handbook that can be a guide to every single person? Of course not. This is just a list of tips that I think will help many people in life — some of them common-sense tips that we often forget about. Consider this...

Christmas season growing up
As the Christmas season approaches, I always fall back into memories of the past. Often drowning myself in the negative thoughts of loss. Grief tugs at the future we lost, the things they will never see, the joy we can no longer share.
Memories swell as the room fills with the smooth sound of Johnny Mathis “it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas,” a favorite...

 
Week 28: The need for speed – running
Theme: Movie quotes
Craving that feeling that comes from an outdoor race, I was ready to sign up for the Twin Sizzler 5k when I learned my daughter had already signed us up for my birthday. I cannot remember the last official outdoor race I ran, but on July 4th, I finally had my opportunity to run. It was the perfect time to run, time for change, and time...