“Go Landry!  Go Landry!  Run!  Run!  Push it!  Push it!” Landry is my 7th grade son, participating in track for the first time, and these were the words that the other fans and I cheered out as Landry competed in his first few races the past couple of weeks. These are not words that Landry is accustomed to hearing. 

February has always been one of my favorite months. Perhaps I’m a bit partial to it because it’s my birth month.  And like me, February is a little bit different and quirky, with its 28 days compared to other months’ 30-31 days, and with the added oddity of having 29 days every four years. But the main reason I’m partial to February is because it’s the month of love, being the home to Valentine’s Day and all things sweet and sentimental.  It’s a time where we make a point to spread a little love to our friends and family.

Have you noticed how many people seem to get offended so easily nowadays? It’s like everyone wears their feelings on their sleeves just waiting for someone to offend them.  And we walk around on eggshells afraid of doing or saying something that might hurt someone else’s feelings.

It’s the beginning of a new year. Like many others, perhaps you have settled on one or more new year’s resolutions … exercise more, eat healthier, get organized, get out of debt, hone a skill, learn something new, etc. These resolutions and many others are all worthwhile and are great goals to strive for.  However, I can’t help but notice, though all of these resolutions are different, they have one thing in common. 

Do you ever find that you start things that you don’t finish?  Do you ever find yourself pursuing something that doesn’t quite turn out as you had planned, and you wonder if you should even bother? Well just because things don’t play out the way we thought they would doesn’t mean that we are to let go of the vision.  Perhaps we are just to let go of our expectations of how things will unfold.

I haven’t posted a blog in several months because my family has had quite a lot going on during this time. But after the events that have unfolded this week in my beloved country, beloved state, and beloved city, I cannot stay silent.  I am grief-stricken, and I am compelled to give voice to the silent cries of my heart.

It’s been awhile since my last blog post, almost 7 months actually.  It’s not that I’ve had nothing to write about nor lacked the motivation to do so, it’s just that life has left me, well, breathless.

Have you ever been lost, literally or figuratively speaking? I have experienced both, and it can be terrifying and paralyzing. One of my most memorable moments occurred when I was a young girl.  My family lived in the country at the time, in an unnamed territory sandwiched between the boundaries of two small communities.  Our home was located on a few acres of land that backed up to numerous acres of woods. My mom gave me strict instructions to never go into the woods unaccompanied by an adult or older sibling who had learned how to navigate their way through the woods.  She warned that it would be easy for…

“What a beautiful family!” the photographer exclaimed as she snapped various poses of my family during a recent photo session.  She commented on how easy we were to photograph and how well we all got along.  She commented on how respectful our kids were and how much they seemed to love each other. My initial thoughts were, “If she saw us at home, she might have a different opinion.” 

If you’re like me, I’m sure you have some things in your life that you regret.  Words that you wish you would have said, or words that you wish you could take back.  Actions that you wish you had taken, or things you wish you hadn’t done.  Opportunities that you missed or allowed to pass you by.  Perhaps some things that have completely altered the course of your life and/or someone else’s life.