Dear Kids, You’re too young now to really remember, but we find ourselves under a unique situation. Right now you’re 5.5 and almost 3, and I’m hoping you know little more beyond the fact that something bad is going on in the world right now and it’s safer to not take you to the park or on walks. I’ve debated whether to start this journal and post in online, but I think it’s important you know. When you’re older, you’ll probably hear about coronavirus and COVID-19. You’ll wonder how old you were during that time. Well, you’re 5.5 and almost 3. You’re stuck at home with me. Schools have now…
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6 Perks of Being Stuck at Home During the Coronavirus Outbreak
The first thing you need to know about me is that I’m an introvert. I absolutely loathe being around people and much prefer staying in with my family. Or a good book, especially when the kids have depleted me. The second thing you need to know is that our school district is closed, so my oldest is home and I get to be his secondary teacher (his teacher is still doing everything in her power to do video classes, of which I’m insanely grateful because having to homeschool at the drop of a hat has been a bit stressful). The third thing you need to know is that I’m actually…
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Laugh Often, People
Too many years ago, my lifelong best friend up and moved away to China, of all places. She’s still there. She was there when the coronavirus broke out. She was there when events and celebrations and parades were cancelled. She was there when her whole city basically went under lock down. She was there for the worst of it. She’s still there, still healthy and alive. She’s also still kept her humor, her unique way of looking at the world. She still finds the bright spots, still finds the little ways she can enjoy life. We communicate over social media and seeing her posts and stories about life over there…
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Getting Back to Normal
Last week I was involved in an unfortunate incident. Nothing too serious as no one was really injured, but still really scary. Emotionally and mentally, I’m still recovering, and trying desperately to get back into the swing of things. I’m so very grateful for all the kind comments here and the good thoughts, and can’t tell you how much they mean to me. But, even more so, I can’t express my gratitude to the kind souls who helped out at the time enough. Everyone was helpful and supportive and I couldn’t have made it through the day without them. At a time when people would rather walk on by as fast…
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Just a Quick Note for This Week
Unforeseeable. Unpredictable. I’ve just come back from a blogging break, but circumstances I could not foresee have skewered my plans for this week. My family is fine, but an unpredictable event earlier today has taken a heavy mental, emotional, and, to a lesser degree, physical toll on me. I find I am currently unable to handle the demands of this blog for at least the next few days, but hope to be back to normal next week. That said, I do have a post scheduled for tomorrow that will post on time. After that, though, I have nothing. I usually have posts ready for a week or two following my…
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You Ask “Again?” I Say “Because I Can”
I must at least be a princess of blog changes. Let’s see. I started up again a little over 2 years ago and have made…well, I can’t remember now how many changes. Then again, I’m probably one of the most indecisive people you’ll ever know, so it can’t be surprising, right? Okay, in all honesty I’m not making too many changes. Actually, it might not even really be noticeable. But, first, I’d like to explain myself, if I may. I Want You to Know…I Am Privileged Some people blog because it’s their job or side hustle. Other people blog because it’s a hobby. I blog because, well, it’s just something…
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Catching My Breath
The universe communicates with me in unexpected ways. Perhaps you think I’m crazy or perhaps you completely understand. Either way, all that really matters is that I’m not completely in charge of my own life. Life has it’s plans for me and, no matter how much I fight against it, it’s a losing battle for me. Anyways, yes, the universe communicates with me in unexpected ways. For the past few months, it has been speaking to me through a dear blogging friend, Brooke, to remind me to keep my heart and mind open, to let the good and bad in and simply experience them for a fuller, richer life. But…
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Balancing Blogging and Living, Part 2
Life has a funny way of handing me lemons, sometimes asked for and sometimes not even close, and telling me to make lemonade. She’s determined to show me she knows what’s best for me, so who am I to argue? Apparently, it wasn’t enough for me to bow my head and say, yes, I understand why I must find a new balance. The day after I posted about finding a new balance between blogging and living, I ended up with a relatively minor infection, a very routine one in general, but one I hadn’t had for about 30 years. Between the discomfort of it and the antibiotics, I felt like…
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Balancing Blogging and Living
On Tuesdays, I usually share the stories, writing related posts, book reviews, and book releases I’ve come across over the past week. Last week I was fortunate to host an author and his nonfiction book Taking Action for a Better Tomorrow. I had planned on doing another stories, etc. post today, but I must also be a person with a life to live. I’m a busy wife and mother. Even though I never, ever had any plans of being a stay-at-home mom, it’s where I’ve found myself for nearly three years now. Recently, thanks to a lovely mom sharing another lovely mom’s story, I’ve been trying to take my role to heart,…
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NaNo My Way
I’m a reader and a writer. Or should that be a writer and a reader? My mom tells me I fell in love with books before I could read and that I used to sit outside and tell myself stories when I was 2, so it’s hard to know which one came first. But reading and writing so often go hand in hand. Every time I read a book, ten ideas manifest in my head. Someone help me… I discovered National Novel Writing Month in 2007, when I was bored while studying abroad in Denmark because I did not relish wandering alone outside in the dark at 5pm. I needed something…
