Tag: friends

Overwhelmed

I received a rejection slip! Of course I'm disappointed, but here's the catch: all creative ventures involve risk. I took a risk. It didn't pan out the way I'd hoped, but I took it nonetheless. I am creating, and putting my work out there, and it's a step in the right direction. This post just … Continue reading Overwhelmed

Thankful Thursday – Spring Break Through

A friend emailed: "Are you ok? Your 'miracles' are sounding like you need a lot of hugs." Hmmm... Good feedback, since I hadn't intended to sound like a downer. I am okay, generally. This has been a month of long work hours unbalanced by enough fun or activity as I've recuperated this ankle sprain. Every day … Continue reading Thankful Thursday – Spring Break Through

Thankful Thursday – My Awesome Doghouse

No matter what you do, how hard you work, how much you invest, how great your love or commitment, you will disappoint people. The junior high and high school popular kids. Certain teachers or college professors. Friends and neighbors. Bosses and authority figures of all stripes and spots. Family members, community members, and church members. … Continue reading Thankful Thursday – My Awesome Doghouse

Better Together

I've been thinking about community... Recently a friend posted about setting "Better Together" goals with her husband. It got me thinking (thanks, Cara!). I'm not much of a goal setter, too generally scatter-brained. But Guy's more organized along those lines. What if we set goals together and held each other accountable? During my Inauguration Day … Continue reading Better Together

2016 Create Challenge & (Re)Discovering My POV

Just about a year ago, my brother-in-law and I discussed creativity as we washed Christmas china. We hatched a plan to invite people to post on my blog about creativity. As a result, this year 39 people have guest-posted, one friend 2x, and I have been moved, inspired, blessed. Throughout this year, I have heard two … Continue reading 2016 Create Challenge & (Re)Discovering My POV

Pride & Joy

Parents often speak of their children as their Pride and Joy. My mom has often said that she can’t be proud of her children. Not that she doesn’t have reason to feel pride, but that she won’t take credit for our accomplishments. I hope it's not disrespectful, on Mother's Day of all days, to say: … Continue reading Pride & Joy

How Do We Pray?

As we walked the trail, my friends talked about dealing with stress: exercise, meditation, therapy, hypnosis… I said, “Or you could pray.” They expected that from me, but I didn’t expect their response: “Well, you know how to do that. We don’t know how to pray. Maybe you need to pray for us every morning.” … Continue reading How Do We Pray?

Project Parenting

This morning I had a long-overdue cuppa tea with a friend. Of course we talked about our kids. My Teen is a few years ahead of hers, and so conversations in our home run a different course than she has to deal with quite yet – driving, drinking, dating, college, life goals and plans… My … Continue reading Project Parenting

A Beauty-Filled Year

Never big on resolutions, last year I kicked that concept to the curb and instead chose a word. Truly, a phrase: Put yourself in the way of beauty. As I explained here, the phrase came from Cheryl Strayed's book, Wild. She received the advice from her mother and lived into it as she trekked the … Continue reading A Beauty-Filled Year

Tell the Truth

A few nights ago, just as I realized I had an unforeseen free evening ahead of me, my neighbor popped over to spontaneously invite me to a panel on teen stress at a nearby high school. I said yes. An hour later I fought back tears as a well-dressed dad pointed to a picture of his … Continue reading Tell the Truth