Short stories and photos shared with humor and love
Our three-year-old is made of pixie dust and spunk. She loves sweet things like cupcakes, ripe apricots and her new baby sister. She spins through her days like a whirling dervish of creativity. She’s an artist — painting, cutting, tracing, gluing, coloring and then… …she’s a teacher — lining up her stuffed turtle, princess doll, [...]
I'll always remember Christmas 2025 as the year I accidentally made three cakes (plus two pies and some cookies). I'll remember it for a lot of other sweet reasons too. We're always so grateful when family comes to town, because it isn't always easy for them to get here. Our poor daughter Molly said she [...]
It takes me a long time to hang my Christmas ornaments because each one tells a story. There’s the garlic ornament that connects me to my dad’s hometown in Colver, Pennsylvania. My friend Nick made me that ornament and I think about him each time I hang it. Nick’s a retired coal miner who sends [...]
I got to see our granddaughter do something that scared her this weekend and what a privilege that was. I think the ability to be brave is the most important thing we teach our children. It transcends all the rest. Kindness? Empathy? Honesty? Curiosity? Respect? Those are all important qualities, too. But they wither in [...]
Listen, I'm all for seasons. I like to give them each their due. And I'm thankful for almost everything -- my family and friends, of course. I'm also grateful for the honey I ladle on my morning yogurt, the gecko that lives amiably upstairs and never asks me for anything, the pillow on my bed [...]