My doctor has ordered me to take time to rest. Sounds easy enough, doesn’t it? After all, I am tired. How difficult would it be to lie down and rest? Actually, it’s tougher than I thought. You see, I’ve got places to go and people to see. I have stories to write....
Have you ever heard of the children’s book called, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day? Well, last Sunday I had one of those days. I don’t know what I did to deserve it. Maybe I stayed up too late Saturday night. Maybe I shouldn’t have eaten...
One of the coolest things about being a ghostwriter (besides getting to use the word ghost) is having the opportunity to tell someone else's story. Many of the stories I write for Guideposts are ghostwritten. This means my name isn't listed as the author. But I'm okay...
Today I'm sharing a story I posted on my blog a couple of years ago. "O Holy Night" was previously published in the book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: It's Christmas. Since I have lots of new blog readers, I thought maybe a "throwback" was in order.And if you're a...
First band concerts ... I’ve witnessed this phenomenon three times now. Several years ago Emily played the clarinet. Then Taylor played the flute. Most recently it was Maddie’s turn. Somehow, I always forget what a band full of sixth graders sounds like. It’s not...
Madison ripped open the envelope and pulled out a gift certificate. Her eyes widened as she read the print. With a joyful squeal, she launched both arms into the air. “Yes! Thank you, thank you, thank you!” It was the reaction I was hoping for. Birthday shopping for...
One could say I’m a bit of a planner. Don’t worry; I’m not obsessive-compulsive. I just like to be prepared – especially when going on vacation. Scoff if you’d like, but I have THE most comprehensive packing checklist EVER. Heading to the beach? I won’t forget...
My kids took such pleasure in making fun of me. They were sure I was the last person on earth (besides Grandma and Grandpa) who didn’t have a smart phone. Honestly, I didn’t care. My beat-up old phone met my needs. I could make phone calls. I could send texts. I could...
I spent much of my early childhood years hugging my mom’s leg. I know, call me a mama’s girl, but sometimes you just need your mom close by. Like when a strange man talked to me at the grocery store. Or when I waited for the bus on my first day of school. Or even the...
The other day I came across a picture I hadn't seen in years. Oh. My. Gosh. Our family had such a good laugh over that one. Never mind that Maddie’s little fingers are digging into Curt’s leg. Forget about Curt’s goofy expression. No matter how hard we tried, we...
We arrived home late that Sunday night. Curt unhooked my car from the RV, and I parked it in the driveway. Normally I would pull it into the garage, but we’d been gone for the weekend and my daughter’s vehicle was in my spot. I thought Curt was going to finish up with...
Two ridiculously cute shih tzu puppies wrestled and played while I asked myself the same question I’d pondered many times before. Why do I put myself through this? I scooped up a sweet little fluff ball, snuggled her against my cheek and snapped a selfie. Then I...
I don't know about you, but this sheltering-in-place thing is making it hard for me to keep track of what day it is. Is it Monday? Is it Saturday? Who knows? I still have two college girls, a high-schooler and a husband here every day. To make matters worse, last week...