I am glad my kids like me. Parenting is scary. You want to do the best, but sometimes doubt creeps in. Children do not come with a manual. My husband died when my daughter was 12 years old and my [...]
One Christmas I decided that I needed to really get into the spirit and play Santa. I cobbled together the best costume possible with the meager resources at hand. Then I made my sisters play [...]
Christmas gifts come in all shapes and sizes. Some have ribbons and some have bows. I wrote this story in 2012 about one of the best gifts I ever received. My story appeared in three holiday [...]
Halloween in Ames, NY in the 1950’s and 60’s was simple, yet memorable. For me, the focal point of the scary season was the anticipation. Once the leaves started to fall and waist-high orange, [...]
The view on the beach of my son and daughter playing with their own children mirrored my life of three decades ago. I thanked God for the reflection. Ocean Whisper: The ripples of my life pool [...]
Young girls sold painted sea shells on the sidewalk outside of their beach house. I bought four. Ocean Whisper: My grandchildren will inherit my world; I like to pave the way with kindness. [...]
“Here.” Will, my two-year-old grandson picked up the first shell he saw and handed it to me. His decision was swift. Ocean Whisper: Measured decision making skills take years to fully [...]
What a pretty girl’s name for a very beautiful place. I was invited by the Founder and Bereavement Specialist, Leslie Delp, to visit her premier freestanding, independent grief and [...]