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When A Childhood Dream Comes True
Crack! That was the sound my fifth metatarsal made as I hit the ground. It was my birthday, and my husband Eric and I had gone horseback riding in the Smoky Mountains. I didn’t realize we were getting off our horses for a glimpse of a majestic waterfall otherwise I’d like to think I would’ve chosen to wear my hiking boots instead of Toms. Yeah, Toms and the beach–fantastic. Toms and hiking–no! So there I was on the ground when a thought came clear pushing all pain aside. My foot’s broken, but I have a horse! My next thought was, wow, I should use this technique every time something goes…
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My Mother’s Day Wish
I remember the moment I became a mom for the first time. The love that surged through me was like no other. That love grew with each child I cared for whether the child was mine or not. Children have a way of making me see the world with fresh eyes. Being around them forces my wandering mind to be in the moment and appreciate simple things like playing whiffle ball on a beautiful afternoon, jumping off a diving board, or choosing the perfect crayon from a box of sixty-four. Their curiosity, their enthusiasm, and their energy have a way of making me remember what’s truly important in life. When…
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The Gift of Time
Time My husband received this poster in the mail: A 90-Year Human Life in Weeks My heart pounded, panic gripped me. I found my age, looked at how many boxes were left and told myself to breathe! The poster represented how I’ve felt since I was a teen. Time passing day by day. Now here it was right in front of me little boxes, a chart, showing how much time I’d have if I was lucky enough to live to ninety.
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The Superheroes of Society
Society Superheroes When I started fourth grade, I went to Reber Elementary in Vineland New Jersey. It was the fourth of five schools I attended from kindergarten to fifth grade. I remember the walk to school every morning. I’d meet my friend Ann Marie and walk with her to her Catholic school listening to her tales of her sisters and her friends at school; then I’d continue on to Reber where I knew no one. I remember arriving and standing in the cafeteria as they served breakfast counting the minutes until I could escape to the smaller quieter classroom. I didn’t have a single friend at Reber. I remember sitting in…
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What I’ve Learned About Marriage and Love
What I’ve Learned About Marriage and Love I’ve written a lot about my children. In fact, the original title of this blog was Parenting With a Dash of Inspiration. I’ve included my husband in many posts, but I haven’t written much about our relationship. There’s a reason for that… It scares me. Even though I’ve been with my husband for a long time, I never felt like I could ever offer marriage advice. Marriage is tough. I’m not an expert. But we are still together after twenty-nine years so I thought I could be brave, open up a little bit and share what I’ve learned. The Beginning I suppose the…
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Three Things I’ve Learned About Gratitude
When my kids were little, we attended lots of activities. There were piano lessons, basketball, soccer, tee ball, trips to the library, zoo, museum, birthday parties, and many play dates with friends. Because we lived in the land of sunshine rare was the day we stayed home. I remember as a young mom driving home after afternoon outings with my children, often feeling exhausted in need of alone time, stressed over what I’d make for dinner, and listening to them bicker or complain. I’d get upset. Here I was doing all I could to make sure my children had a wonderful life, and they seemed ungrateful. I remember explaining to…
