I came out to the country with my clothes, some food, and a whole set of expectations I didn’t realize I was carrying. I had this picture in my mind of quiet days, fresh air, and long stretches of time to write. Out here, the trees are tall, the land is big, and it’s easy to believe you’ll finally get a moment to breathe. The first night, I wasn’t alone. Shanna and Christie were here with me, and the house felt warm and familiar. We talked, settled in, and it all felt like th

Honoring My Mother As Mother’s Day approaches, I’ve been sitting with thoughts of my mom. This will be the fourth year without her, and I remember how the first three felt—heavy, sharp, and full of sadness. The holiday became a spotlight on everything I missed about her, everything I still wanted to say, everything I wished I could feel again. This year, something has shifted. I still honor her memory, but my reflections have widened. I’ve been thinking about her love for wri

For as long as I can remember, Thanksgiving has been about gathering—family, friends, food, and gratitude. It’s the season where we pause to notice the blessings we might otherwise overlook, and I’ve tried to carry that practice into my everyday life. Three years ago, on November 27th, my mom passed away. Thanksgiving was one of her favorite holidays. She loved creating her recipes, filling the house with the smell of cornbread dressing and banana pudding, and watching her fa

I don’t know exactly when it began — the wariness around strangers. It wasn’t one terrible event. Nothing dramatic happened. I had just...

When my sister asked me to join her on a road trip to Colorado, I didn’t hesitate. The thought of time together, of reconnecting with her...

I don’t make New Year's Resolutions. I used to. I would write down everything I wanted to change, do, and be. I set the New Year goals...

There are times when I feel scattered and entirely out of control. Finding a balance between my work, home, and personal responsibilities...

The mood of midnight and turmoil deep Crashing thunder and forests of green Seas of blue and stars so bright Constant hunger and heart of...

The following is different from what I envisioned as my first blog post. I saw more of a happy-go-lucky intro post, but when I saw a meme...