Monday, September 23, 2024

A Seamless Tunic

Growing up with a mom who is a seamstress, you inadvertently absorb some of their processes; well at least I did. I was always amazed at how skeins of fabric, combined with thread, notions, scissors, and sweat equity could produce a finished garment. If my mom was making a dress, she always started with a pattern. The pattern jacket displayed the finished product and the inside contained detailed instructions with pattern pieces. I also remember her spreading the fabric on the table, laying and pinning the pattern pieces on the fabric, and cutting them out. Then the magic happened.

She followed those directions from the pattern, connecting piece A with piece B until she had a dress, a shirt, a skirt or


Sunday, September 8, 2024

How to Blow Your Nose


I'm slowly adjusting to the joy of being a grandmother. Seeing the world through a child's eyes while having no direct responsibility for their upbringing. The pleasure of doing little things that bring joy like planting flowers or sitting for long periods coloring. Listening to her talk while she colors and learning her new favorite word - boring. "This TV show is boring." or "This music is boring." Everything is currently boring if it's not what she selected. 



Monday, August 12, 2024

Tap Tap Tap


I have a love-hate relationship with my dentist. I hate hearing the drill when fixing a cavity or the inordinate amount of time I have to keep my mouth open or X-rays. I dislike deep cleaning. I hate getting the first shot of anesthesia to numb my gums. But I do it all because a beautiful smile is worthwhile (to me). Teeth are one of the first things I notice when I meet a person.

Twenty years ago, I suffered a traumatic accident where my front teeth were damaged. My wonderful dentist (at the time) fixed my teeth so my smile looked as original as possible. But the work she did was temporary. Recently I've had to go through a series of procedures to permanently fix my smile.



Monday, May 6, 2024

Our Bodies


The human body is amazing. At my big age, I can still think clearly, walk smoothly, and push myself to try new things. I'm still afraid of dogs and have an aversion to cats but I often tell myself not to be afraid. The day a dog sits on my lap of my own volition will be monumental. I often feel awkward when my coworkers share pet stories or have their cats walking across their keyboard. (I digress).

Each day when I awake, I'm grateful for this machine that is my body. I hope I never take it for granted and that I nourish it as often as it needs it.

At this age, doctors become our friends; they fill our calendars. Being ever vigilant in taking care of our bodies every new ache may make us run to the doctor. While I'm grateful for doctors and their knowledge I do my best to rule out some things before I immediately call a doctor.

Recently I had a health scare - my blood pressure was ridiculously high combined with a heart


Monday, March 25, 2024

Holy Week Reflections

This post may be all over the place, but bear with me. This time of year holds immense significance for me as a Christian and an ordinary individual. Both of these things coincide with the timing behind my book.


Sunday, Palm Sunday, marks the beginning of Holy Week. Holy Week culminates with Jesus' resurrection on the following Sunday, what we call Easter Sunday. The events that happened this week are the bedrock of the Christian faith. Sometimes, traditions can wear thin when you've been part of a tradition for a while. You participate in the celebrations, but the reasons aren't always at the top of your mind. Sadly, there have been some Easters where I only focused on my outfit, what the children would wear, or the dinner menu. But this year, my spiritual purpose has reawakened. There's a more profound desire to express praise because of what happened that first week.



Monday, March 11, 2024

Disconnected: My Journey Through the Abyss of Losing My Phone


I pride myself on always keeping my phone. My phone is the keeper of information for me and my family. It acts like Grand Central Station, providing direction for multiple locations/people.

Late Friday evening, we decided to go out to dinner. I quickly changed, grabbed my phone, and headed to the car. Our first stop was at a restaurant closing in thirty minutes, so the kitchen was already closed. Bummer.

I misplaced my phone somewhere between leaving


Monday, February 19, 2024

Driving Thoughts - Road Conditions May Vary


The daily rituals of living provide many opportunities for us to view life through a spiritual lens; driving is one such thing. Many years ago, I did some posts called Driving Thoughts, which resonated with so many and focused on things I've learned and applied to my life.

When I read this devotional from Sisters In Faith, I knew immediately this would provide a great spiritual application for many.

As you travel, you will encounter ever-changing weather. In some places, you will encounter problems caused by rain, but just as cars are built with windshield wipers, God will clear your vision when things get stormy. 


Monday, January 22, 2024

New Year; New Me


Last year, I read through the Bible audibly by listening to Get In the Word with Truth's Table. This is a podcast by the women of Truth's Table. It's not a podcast, though; the two hosts read through passages from the Old and New Testaments and then end with a spirit-inspired prayer. It seems the Bible is read in chronological order, so on listening, you'll learn, for example, that a lot of Chronicles is a recap or sometimes a repeat of other books - Genesis, Kings, and Daniel.

Listening to the Word makes certain words and phrases stand out that you may have glossed over previously. This practice of waking up and listening to the word provides an excellent start to my day. I used to try to listen while walking or muddling around the kitchen, but these days, I simply sit and do nothing but listen. I am 100% present.



Monday, January 15, 2024

If I Had Sneezed


On this annual commemoration of Martin Luther King, I took my granddaughter to a local celebration. Today I learned for the first time of this speech. I'd heard parts of it before, but not in the context of surviving a life-threatening event.

On April 3, 1968, Dr. King gave his last speech before being assassinated. Before this speech, a couple of years back, while he was at a book signing, a demented lady stabbed Dr. King with a


Monday, January 1, 2024

2023 Year in Review

There are years that ask questions and years that answer." ~Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God."

2023 asked many questions, and I'm still searching for answers.

It's good to question because it forces us to dig deeper, become more self-aware, and ultimately become more courageous as we answer those questions. I asked myself about my circumstances, friendships, and relationships. I even directed some of these questions to  God, which was not an exercise in futility. I was pointed to Him and His