The last days of 2025 draw to a close. What a year! I cling to a phrase I came across five years ago while the pandemic separated us, and we lived with uncertainty. Hope will not be canceled! * Indeed, with hope we “cherish a desire with anticipation.” [...]
I don’t know anyone who would argue against kindness. Without imperative data, I would guess that if you ask a random sampling of people in your local supermarket, they will all agree on the value of kindness. Then, at least one of those individuals might give a loud [...]
I’ve heard more than once that the answer to many of life’s problems, large or small, can benefit from one simple activity. Need to lift your spirits? Take a walk. Looking for a new idea? Take a walk. Want to reduce the risk of dementia? Take a walk. I’ve [...]
Life is full of milestones. Births, weddings, reunions, and the list goes on. This weekend, our family celebrated two such milestones: a college graduation for one and turning twenty-one for another. Both big moments filled with gifts, cheers, and family dinners, all held tightly in place with one [...]
“I think that I will never see A poem lovely as a tree.” I’m crazy about trees. Always have been. As a child, I held a fascination for their strong limbs and green leaves. High above, you can hide from the world. I think I could use a sturdy [...]
In the dark, I stared at the phone. Please don’t ring. We left our small, helpless newborn in the neonatal ICU. He struggled to stay alive with every breath. “The next 48 to 72 hours will be the most critical. If his lungs develop in that time, his prospects [...]
So, how hot is it? When the Texas heat brought scorching days and humid nights, my dad would fuss and fume about the heat shriveling his tomatoes or thwarting the growth of his crooknecked yellow squash. We heard, more than once, “It is so hot you can fry [...]
I watch for little signs of hope. I hear a new birdsong, a visitor to our feeder found his way and stopped. I wish I could hear more songs and less shouting, yelling, anger-filled voices. February seems to revel in bewilderment, moving seamlessly from ice to gentle breezes, and then, [...]
New Beginnings: A New Year Every set of eyes holds a dream, a hope a new beginning. I ponder what the year promises, what wonders, awe, and magic lie hidden within each day’s unfolding. On this, the last day, the ending, We remember moments, laughter, fears, and longings buried [...]
I’m working on building my gratitude muscles keeping them firm and steady. The first line of the poem "Two Weeks After a Silent Retreat" by Heather Lanier gives a gentle indictment of the times I lose my love, even if for a heartbeat. Lanier’s poem is one of many [...]
