A few weeks ago, we traveled to my parents’ house for a quick visit. The kids played, and my mom and I tackled part of a long-overdue project – cleaning out some of my stuff from their house. I lived with my parents well into my 20s, so this was a daunting task. We spent …
Some writing is easy. It comes easily and flows almost automatically from my brain through my fingers and on to the page. My brain has already done all the work and doesn’t feel the need to interfere with editing or additions while I’m writing. This kind of writing doesn’t make me stop and consider whether …
I recently got a new laptop. Not really because I wanted one, but more out of necessity. My old machine is being phased out, as Microsoft ends support for Windows 10. So I did my research. I created a spreadsheet, outlining the pros and cons of laptops in my price range (as any Type A …
Writing is not romantic. Growing up, I thought writers lived this wonderful life. They travelled often, wandering down cobblestone streets, notebook in hand, jotting down observations and thoughts. When it came time to write, words just flowed out of them. They would sit at a desk or a table in a little cabin tucked away …
Well, friends, it’s finally happened. After 10 years of living this military life, I’m just now starting to let go of the awkwardness of asking a new friend for her phone number. Oh, how I’ve waited for this day. A few weeks ago, my kids and I, along with one other mom and her kids, …
Things have been a little wonky over here lately. Not in a bad way. More like “I’m trying to figure things out without getting discouraged” kind of way. It’s no secret that the writing on the blog has been different. I’m working on a longer writing project and trying to save my creative energy for …
This post comes from January 2010. During my senior year of college, I took a class entitled “Life Journeys.” Part of our grade involved keeping a journal and submitting “small writings.” Small writings had particular requirements, including printing enough copies for everyone in the class. We played a song, passed around our writings for everyone …
I originally wrote this in April 2014. At the time, I was working in my hometown at a small local nonprofit. Housed in a church, it was the only free after-school program in the Valley. We provided after-school care for 30 upper elementary school and middle school students, many of whom were first-generation immigrants to …
I found this writing in a folder from a long-ago (and very short) stint of writing for a small local magazine in my hometown. I had titled it “Bread is Like Life,” which I still think can be true. Originally, I wrote it in 2013 after spending the morning in the world’s tiniest kitchen trying …
I’m the primary cook in our house. Part of that choice is because I’m the one at home. Part of it is because, for the most part, I like doing it. I’m not a great cook, but as time has gone on, I’ve gotten more comfortable in the kitchen. But it didn’t start out that …
