You Are Not . . . Revisited

This post originally ran on July 2, 2022 and is reprinted here in honor of Thanksgiving Week  I’ve been reading a book called Real: The Inside-Out Guide to Being Yourself by Clare Diamond. In Part One, Diamond deconstructs “self” by telling us all the things we are not. We are not our thoughts, emotions, beliefs,...

Thank You to Our Newest Voters

I was once asked by a very nice homeschooling mother if my children’s books incorporated religious messages. “Not specifically,” I said, “but they do address issues of strong character, like being honest, responsible, caring, courageous, thoughtful, loyal, and hard working.” She felt those were messages her children would benefit from hearing, and she bought my...

Time’s Up

It’s time to write my blog post (tick) But I can’t think of a single thing to say this week (tick) It’s probably just the foggy brain from this sinus infection (tick) Oh, what does it matter anyway? The world does not need another blog post (tick) But you usually enjoy writing your blog posts....

The Real Treat of Halloween

I’m sorry to admit, Halloween has never been my favorite holiday. But I give it due credit for being one of our most creative holidays. Witness all the clever yard displays in your neighborhood, or the variety of spooky or adorable appetizers popping up on your social media feeds, or the myriad Halloween-themed crafts you...

Running for the Henhouse

My husband showed me a TikTok video the other day of a chicken high-tailing it across a field headed for the henhouse, while a hawk swoops down repeatedly trying to snatch it. The people filming the video are too far away to help, but they’re screaming at the chicken. “Go, RUN, go, go, go!” Some...

Please, Surprise Me

When I was young and listening in as the adults talked, I heard a common refrain, “Nothing surprises me anymore.” Usually, it referred to any type of behavior or trends with which they disagreed. As a kid, though, I found the expression kind of sad. I mean, surprises were the best thing ever. In my...