The Sparrow’s Song

I woke to the morning calling my name. The wind across my face, and the colors of the sun on the autumn leaves. I smell the rain that is holding off and the moisture in the air that lightly touches my skin. Longing to stay, I see the sparrow hopping and taking wing. Transitions and…

Sometimes You Have to Wrestle

Love is… I have to admit that I started writing this post with Johnny Cash singing “Ring of Fire” in my mind. You know…”Love is a burning thing….” I’m not going there with this post, but I do love a good love song, and, Johnny, great job on this song! I love the trumpets! Truly…

Take a Moment

I recently read a book by Lisa See that illustrated the delicate spirituality of connection. The event, the consequences, the later in life connection to a story woven just for you and those who come in and out of your life for a reason. Some connections are obvious and purposeful–like mentors, friendships, and the love…

American Idol: It’s more than performance

Within each of us is a desire to fulfill our purpose. Within this pursuit, we encounter determination, set backs, great joy, and disappointment. My youngest daughter loves to sing and play the piano. Her love for music has led her to be curious about music’s impact on the brain and mood. She often tells me…

The After

Before and after. We often talk about the “messy middle” or being in the “thick of it”. This life’s journey has brought a greater awareness of the before and after. We are always in the middle of something; however, life can change and you find yourself redefining or figuring out how to live in the…

Begin with Love

Our brains are 20 times more likely to focus on the negative than the positive. This propensity is called negativity bias. I remember this precious picture of one of my girls. She sat on a chair in her pink dress for the professional photographer with the biggest smile! When we received the pictures back, we…

Mexican Street Corn (Elotes)

Mexican Street Corn (Elotes) INGREDIENTS 8 ears corn shucked 2 tablespoons vegetable oil Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste 1 cup crumbled cotija cheese, divided (We did not have cotija cheese. It’s a hard cheese, and is similar to Parmesan. We used half Mexican Queso Blanco and half Parmesan. We felt like…

GiGi Blanket

There are times that a simple gesture can be overwhelmingly divine. Dear Adelaide, you are such a joy. At only three years old, you bring a depth of understanding and compassion displayed through generous hugs, comments, and expressions. As I began my crochet journey, I took the suggestion from a friend about using the opportunity…

Peach Cobbler

Oh my goodness! What joy to watch my beautiful Adelaide picking peaches in our backyard! This spring and summer our plants and trees have bloomed with the bounty of goodness! I’ve re-posted this recipe several times. It never fails to deliver, and even if you make mistakes like an extra cup of sugar, it is…

His light is Freedom

Compassion is the connection or covenant relationship between two equal partners. This definition of compassion was expressed in my audible book Tattoos on the Heart. This book was recommended and given as a gift  by a friend at work.  The work of Gregory Boyle will compel you to explore compassion, boundaries, and empathy. For twenty years, Gregory…