A voice memo appeared in a text from one of my hemophilia mom friends. We usually see each other at national meetings or on social media, but we don’t talk much outside of that. She’s one of the coolest women I know, so I always wonder why we don’t…
Read more
My husband, Joe, and I recently officiated a marriage vow renewal for close friends in Santa Fe, New Mexico, one of our favorite places. We made a long weekend of it, spending time with friends, meeting new people, and enjoying each other’s company. The next morning, we had breakfast at…
I love making quilts. Some people wonder why anyone would buy new fabric just to cut it up and sew it back together. It might sound odd, but for quilters like me, creating something by hand brings comfort, joy, and satisfaction. There is a rule when preparing to make…
I have a bad habit. When I shop for groceries, I grab what I need but often get distracted by a bright package. A new cookie? How many carbs are in it? The same thing happens when I watch a movie or listen to a podcast with lots of twists.
My husband, Joe, and my sons, Julian and Caeleb, each have their own unofficial jobs when we decorate for the holidays. Julian brings the dusty red and green totes full of Christmas decorations in from the shed. I open them and decide what comes inside first. Joe and Caeleb…
In my work as a hospice chaplain, I take the same routes when I drive to patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or hospitals. Without thinking about changing lanes or adjusting my speed, my mind settles into autopilot, and I often arrive at my destination without realizing how far I’ve…
I rumbled around the house one evening, wrapped in my favorite oversized sweatshirt and cozy socks, the comfort like a warm embrace. I left my latest craft, hands marked with thread and bits of fabric, to refill my iced tea. As I made my way to the kitchen, I left…
Moving is challenging. Moving means packing, having to decide what to keep and what not to keep, learning a new place, having to find a new grocery store, a new hair and nail salon, a new healthcare provider. Doing all that this time offered an opportunity to remember and…
My last home had a great fence. It was a wall of concrete blocks surrounding my backyard and stood 7 feet high. With two dogs who bark at the wind blowing, the wall deterred them from jumping and kept some of their barking at bay. However, there was an iron…
I have a friend from middle school who has a special place in my heart. We call each other “friends of a lifetime.” Years can pass without us speaking to each other, but we pick up as if no time has passed at all. I am part of her family…
I’m a hospice chaplain, and one day I was at the nurses’ station, completing my notes from a patient visit, when the fire alarm sounded. Startled, I turned to the nurse, who said the alarm had been going off all day due to a system glitch. The piercing, unrelenting sound…
I recently helped a colleague with an exhibit at a fall festival. The venue was an assisted living facility, and we provided games and treats for the residents and children in the community. Our inflatable blue pool with colorful plastic fish made for a fun fishing expedition for all…
Get regular updates to your inbox.
