A variety of fall leaves

Value in the Variety

This fall in Colorado has been unlike any I can remember despite being a native of the state. The variety of vibrant colors of the leaves and the length of time they hung around has been breath taking. Autumn this year has been more like those on the East coast. Colorado finally lived up to…

Fort Collins High School Lambkin Mascott

Knows How to Own It

My seventeen-year-old daughter knows how to own it. She used to be the mascot for her middle school, but set it aside during high school, until recently. Leave it to her senior year to put on the high school mascot costume. Most people think being a mascot would be embarrassing enough on its own. Take…

street sign pointing in the direction of the good, bad, and ugly

Bad Things Happen to Good People

It’s my belief that the majority of people are good. Why then do bad things happen to good people? The truth is, life happens to all people. Good things and bad things occur in the lives of good and bad people. Life doesn’t decipher people or situations into categories. There is no separating the deserving…

glass of fresh squeezed orange juice

Fresh Squeezed

There’s no doubt that fresh squeezed orange juice is better than any store bought kind. Sure there’s something to be said about the convenience of what comes off the shelf, but the taste isn’t nearly as good. Fresh squeezed orange juice is sweeter tasting and sweeter smelling. The texture is thicker, the color brighter. Juicing…

a pair of mating grasshoppers

A Grumpy Grasshopper

The other day my four-year-old neighbor approached me with an outstretched hand. On her palm lay a large, listless grasshopper. Lucy said, “Look what I have. It’s a grasshopper. I pulled it off another grasshopper. They were stuck together!” To which her mom replied with raised eyebrows, “Now you have a grumpy grasshopper.” Little did…

mountain sunset with the word Grace in the sky

No Better Gift

Recently, I was asked what I think it means to have grace. My answer was that grace and kindness are much the same. Both are gifts and there is no better gift than being kind. Having grace is a means to obtaining peace. The more I thought about it, the more it occurred to me…

Rolling Stone Wisdom

Life can be incredibly disappointing at times. People work hard for what they think they deserve only to be left wanting more. The want for more money, more accolades, more opportunities, or more breaks is never ending. Wanting more isn’t a bad thing as long as some “Rolling Stone Wisdom” is applied to situations. The…

box of confectionary chocolates

Box of Chocolates

I don’t pay much attention to “pop-up holidays” as I call them, but I think this Thursday is one worth noting. Thursday is National Chocolate Day! Milk, dark, white they are all delicious if you ask me. Pop a cholate in your mouth and savor the sweetness. Forest Gump coined the sentiment, “Life is like…

a weed pulled from root to tip

Root to Tip

Ridding a garden of weeds is a never ending task. Removing them before they get too big or out of control is important. Mowing over weeds blends them in but doesn’t stop their growth. The best way to mitigate weeds is to remove them from root to tip, especially before they establish themselves. When left…