I'm just trying to walk myself home.
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In 2010, my husband and son, Taido and Cole, had a trip planned to go hiking in Switzerland for Cole’s 13th birthday. The night before the trip, there was a small problem. This was first published on my blog that same autumn. A Story about A Passport We were all leaving town on Friday morning, …
This story about my daddy was previously published as guest post on Sarabeth Jones’ beautiful storytelling site, The Dramatic. A Story about My Daddy Some people take trips to the beach for their family vacations. Others go to Disneyworld. But me. In exchange for the beach or for Disney, I got mountains. And even though …
This story was first published in September 2008 when my oldest son, Cole, started middle school. Actually, this story was also published in a story collection. I, of course, told no one about this because that was before I could say out loud that I Am A Writer. Tread Lightly When It Comes To Middle …
Don’t worry. This story has a happy ending. I feel like I owe you that much after yesterday’s story. And if you stay tuned through all twelve days, I also promise to redeem my father from Christmas Gambler to Mountain Hero. Deal? So like I said, a happy ending. I, myself, really enjoy happy endings, …
A Story about Christmas This is not a warm fuzzy Christmas story. Because it is Christmas, and because I myself enjoy happy tales on Christmas, I feel the need to warn you that this one ends in tears and fighting.
Welcome to the first story of Twelve Days of Stories. Since it is Christmas Eve, I have a really happy, sweet story for you. (I am trying to make up for tomorrow’s sad story by making you feel all warm and fuzzy inside today.)
Friends, I have an announcement. I am giving myself a gift this Christmas. A big one. I am opening a gift this Christmas Eve that I should have given myself a long time ago. I am giving myself the gift of being a writer.
Cold weather makes for lonelier walking paths and on our latest foray into the woods, on the first weekend of Advent, I let the boys get ahead of me on the trail. Autumn is now almost gone. The bare branches of the trees and the quiet trails work together to calm my soul. Simple beauty …
A Love Letter to Lakewood Lake In honor of wishing I was smack dab in the middle of a giant family gathering today, I am sharing an ode to one of my favorite spots in my hometown, Lakewood Lake. A Love Letter to Lakewood Lake You have been my stomping grounds since I was a …
I am sad to say that I did not visit a single place on my list of sights to see in Dublin. I don’t regret for a minute that I spent the bulk of my time in Ireland on a tour of the Wild Atlantic Way, because it was the trip of a lifetime, to …
Let me tell you about a little treasure hunt we went on to find a hidden letter in Edinburgh. Almost as soon as we arrived in Edinburgh a few weeks ago, Cole and Mary Polly were insistent that we find a place called the Jolly Judge. While Taido seemed to understand their need to find …
A year ago Mary Polly and I were about to set sail on our Mediterranean Cruise. We’ve been reliving the memories and marveling at all that has happened in a year. When Mary Polly and I boarded our airplane for home at the end of our trip, we had no idea that less than a …
2 families, 4 days, 3 nights, 15 miles, 3,000 feet of elevation gain. This summer our family hiked from Aspen to Crested Butte with another precious family. Read about our first day on the trail here. And second day here. Third day here. Aspen To Crested Butte: Day 4 Taido woke us up early with …
2 families, 4 days, 3 nights, 15 miles, 3,000 feet of elevation gain. This summer our family hiked from Aspen to Crested Butte with another precious family. Read about our first day on the trail here. Aspen To Crested Butte: Day 2 Before the sun was up, Taido was gone from his sleeping bag. I …
2 families, 4 days, 3 nights, 15 miles, 3,000 feet of elevation gain. This summer our family hiked from Aspen to Crested Butte with another precious family. Preserving my vacation memories is part of why I started this blog six years ago, so I’m going to give each day its own attention in order to …
Today would have been my precious Grandmother’s 90th birthday. In memory of her, I wanted to share this fun story I wrote about her 20 years ago. She had just remarried her high school sweetheart after being reunited with him at her 50th high school reunion. She had been a widow for 16 years, so …
photo by Jacob Slaton Do you remember the first time you ever flew on an airplane? When you first felt the now everyday miracle of accelerating down the runway and then the nose of the aircraft lifting up into the air? Just like that. All of a sudden, you are flying. Houses below you become …
photo by Scott Krycia This is a story about learning to wander from one of the most interesting people I have ever met while traveling. My first trip to Europe began in a customs line in Prague, where I met Shep, a tall, dark and handsome fellow who was carrying a backpack and a guitar. …
Every day, I drive over one of the many bridges that connects my town to downtown Little Rock. We walk on them, ride bikes over them, drive to and from school over them. Most days, I give no thought to what is happening underneath these bridges, or more accurately, who is under them. This is …
My beautiful grandmother went home home to be with Jesus last Saturday. And though I earnestly prayed all last week that she might be released from her earthly body, I have found that with each day that dawns, the world seems darker without her in it. Today we will bury her and say goodbye. We …