I’m currently reading AWOL on the Appalachian Trail by David Miller. After reading Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed, I’ve been fascinated with these long, daunting hikes across North American mountains. Both books highlight the difficulties and awe-some aspects of such hikes. However, no book can truly convey the realities… Continue reading Next
Category: lent
Feelings
One evening during our vacation I got teary about a situation and Brad said, with concern in his voice, “I think you feel too much.” He might be right. A couple evenings before that we were at dinner – oceanfront view, warm breeze. It was the perfect setting for our beach vacation. There were even… Continue reading Feelings
Thanks
Dear 3-month-ago me, Thanks. Thanks for thinking to plan a trip in the not-so-distant future to help us get through the winter - through the long, dark nights of the season. Thanks for being willing to spend a little more than usual so that we wouldn't have to think about where to eat or what… Continue reading Thanks
Break
I'm a rule follower. It makes me uneasy to break rules. Even if it's not a "rule" - if it's strongly suggested, I follow that too. So, when Brad got me a FitBit a few years ago at Christmas, I knew what I had to do. 10,000 steps a day. I wanted to feel the… Continue reading Break
Nothing
I didn't write a blog yesterday. Nothing seemed that important to write about. I figured a new thought to explore would materialize the next morning. So far this morning I've started writing three different times. I think each of the three had potential and will need to be written at some point, but today's not… Continue reading Nothing
Abundance
Spring is progressing along nicely here in Indiana. We had that false spring in February that concerned me a bit, but I think we’re finally into the real thing now. On Tuesday, it was so beautiful out, I couldn’t resist getting my hands dirty for an hour or so. I decided it was time for… Continue reading Abundance
Fail
A year ago or so a woman contacted me about making her wedding quilt. It’s similar to the one I made for us, but instead of only having guests at showers write messages on fabric, she had all of her wedding guests do this. So, her fabric squares ended up being her guest book. After… Continue reading Fail
Turn
We don’t have a fenced in backyard, so for the last two-and-a-half years we take Denali out on a leash each time she needs to go out. Since I’m usually up first, I take her out most mornings. We go out the basement door, cross the deck and into the backyard. Often I just stare… Continue reading Turn
Hope
Yesterday, the first day of spring, started with a bang around here. Before the storm even began, as I was sitting here typing, Denali started getting antsy. At first I thought she needed to go out or wanted to play, then I saw the flash of lightning and realized what she needed – comfort. She… Continue reading Hope
Sorrows
Since returning from my sabbatical, I’ve started sitting in the back of the sanctuary. For the 8.5 years prior to that, I sat in the middle section in the first third of the sanctuary. It feels strange sitting in a new pew, in a different part of the space. But, at the same time, it… Continue reading Sorrows