Season of Gratitude, Season of Sadness

As I write this, it’s Christmas Eve, and I’m so aware of all the people and things in my life I’m grateful for—my husband, my children and grandchildren, my amazing sisters, dear friends, the choral group I sing with, and of course, my writing work. Snow is on the ground, our holiday lights twinkle, and…

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Dealing with my Own “Stuff”

This past week, I took a professional development workshop on first aid for mental health, a program that originated in Australia and is now gaining widespread adoption in the states. It’s designed to teach skills in recognizing and responding to folks who may be in the early-stages of a mental health crisis

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Still My Mom

When I was twelve, my single parent dad remarried. I was ecstatic beyond belief. My new stepmom was warm, caring, and fun-loving. Best of all, she was the first parent I’d ever had who wanted the job. It didn’t matter that most of the other kids in seventh grade thought it was babyish to hang…

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