December is upon us already, and there will be no shortage of reasons to celebrate. At the end of the month, three holidays align this year: Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanza. We all have our reasons for celebrating. The three holidays acknowledge different points in history that represent hope and the idea of overcoming the impossible.…
This week, I’m going to share the words of others in a short Pink Elephants playlist: Pink Elephants Playlist Everyone can benefit from the words of some very talented musicians. Please know that the songs selected do not reflect the political views or opinions of the musicians themselves. I have no idea how they cast their…
Life doesn’t always make sense, especially as it’s unfolding. We might never know “why” things happen, but if we can find acceptance, we can make sense of life’s hard knocks. There are silver linings if we are willing to look up. Last fall kicked off a series of events that left my family reeling. Challenges…
The Junior-Senior T.P. Wars are a part of the Homecoming traditions at my daughter’s high school. Every evening during homecoming week, the 11th and 12th graders hit many of the opposing classmate’s houses. Hundreds of toilet paper rolls are tossed into trees, wrapped around plants and furniture, torn into tiny bits, and strewn across the…
What did the horse say after it tripped? I can’t giddyup! What do you call an angry carrot? A steamed veggie! These aren’t stage-worthy jokes, but I bet they at least made you chuckle, which is worth something. A sense of humor is good for the body, mind, and soul. Beyond lifting spirits, laughing has…
Fantasizing about what life will be like as grown-ups is part of childhood. Children’s imaginations continually bloom with thoughts of careers, houses, spouses, and the possibility of children. They paint colorful pictures of what their lives will be like. They dream, without abandon, about their futures. With time and maturity, those dreams, or variations of…
Monumental events leave a lasting impression. Some years roll over into one another with no distinct variation. You go through the motions without noteworthy happenings. Other years go down in the books for being extraordinarily eventful. The past twelve months have been of the eventful kind for my family. There have been plenty of blessings…
Most people equate luck to winning the lottery or something similar. However, due to several experiences, my family’s take on luck is different. We call it the Lottery of Blessings. It’s hard for us to believe in bad luck when we feel like the luckiest, unlucky people in the world. I’ll explain. Years ago, I…
Many will agree that mothers are notorious for endlessly giving to others. What we’re not guilty of giving is enough grace to ourselves. As mothers, the needs of everyone around us come first. We put ourselves much further down the list. Our happiness is directly influenced by that of our family. The happier the people in…
Spring has announced its arrival. If you don’t stop and admire, you’ll miss the awesomeness of the season. In addition to the lawns turning green, flowers bursting, and trees budding, animal babies are starting to appear. These fluffy bundles are a marvel to watch as they rapidly learn their way of life. Before their fluff…