Have you ever met someone and thought: this person will certainly go places! While in college, many of my fellow students impressed me with their talent. But one particular classmate made me sit up and take notice. We both majored in music and sang in the same choir,...
Diapers and 2 a.m. feedings. Car seats and Legos. Preschool and playdates. These things filled my early days of parenting. I had longed for motherhood, so I embraced the busyness along with the joy. As my children grew, things became even more hectic. My husband and I...
I sat at my computer, trying desperately to come up with a few words that made sense. But nothing came. I felt empty. Overwhelmed. Beaten down. I questioned my ability to write. My power to keep going. My worth as a person. These feelings were not new. In fact, they...
What did you do during quarantine? Since we all had to act like hermits during the coronavirus pandemic, I decided to tackle my closet. As I sorted through much-loved outfits and unworn clothing, I tossed out rejects, sewed on missing buttons, and rediscovered...
“Hi Erika. We missed you last week. How are you?” I greeted my friend as she arrived at the Toastmasters meeting. “I’m fine.” Erika’s words tried to communicate health and happiness, but the locked mouth and downcast eyes spoke louder than the sounds that came out of...
The red light on our answering machine blinked. We had just returned home from an evening children’s Christmas program, joyful in the spirit of the holiday. But my mood suddenly changed when I pressed the button on the machine and heard my mother’s voice, “We had to...
I was in the kitchen making a cup of tea when our phone rang. Our family physician was on the other end of the line. Dr. Love (don’t you love his name?) wanted to speak to my husband. I carried the receiver up to John, then left the room to give him some privacy. When...
