Post Archive by Month

My intent in writing this isn’t to be controversial.  Every word in this post comes from my heart—and my heart beats with love for my country. I look at Monty next to me on our couch, sitting with two cats in his lap, holding my hand as we watch the news.  We see a story about an abused dog, and …

About two months before Monty and I got married, Monty went to Peoria, Illinois for an interview.  One night when he was gone and Mom and Adam were out, Dad suggested that he and I order a pizza and watch “The Wizard of Oz.”  Dad and I share a special love for that movie.  We’ve seen it together countless times, …

In this last month of being sick, I have read many, many books and watched countless hours of TV.  When I’m sick, I like to watch reruns of my favorite shows—they’re comfort food for my soul.  These are the three best quotes I heard in those reruns: “Whenever I’m about to do something, I think, ‘Would an idiot do that?’  …

Last week, my older sister Heather texted me on an afternoon when I was feeling discouraged and defeated.  She sent me a picture of herself looking purposefully ridiculous, and I laughed for the first time in days.  Right at that moment, I looked up and noticed that the afternoon light had formed a perfect heart on the blinds in our …

I’ve been battling illness since the beginning of October—a complicated illness that began with a flu shot and led to a bizarre chain of events that left me feeling broken in body and spirit and more exhausted than I ever thought possible.  My brother Adam texted me every day, asking me how I was feeling.  I’d answer him, and he’d …

Are you tired of all the negative news lately?  I am.  Every time I turn on the TV or look at social media, there’s more negativity.  I need a recess.  So I’m going to write one and invite you to read it—to take a little respite from the negativity with me. When Monty and I were newlyweds, I saw an …