I remember attending my first Twelve Step recovery meeting ever. It was an open meeting, and I attended with a friend. I listened. I learned a lot and felt that even though what people were sharing didn't totally apply to me, there was something warm and familiar about it all the same. I couldn't put... Continue Reading →
I woke up humming a tune. “Whippoorwills in the willows…” I love that little song. It takes me back to a sweet time in my life when I had fewer cares and responsibilities, a time when love enveloped me like the warm comforter I nestled in as I awoke with the June sunshine streaming in... Continue Reading →
“Kindness is the mightiest force in the world,” according to One Day at a Time (299). In the past, I didn’t feel kind. I didn’t even feel like being kind. I felt like stabbing my ex-husband’s eyeballs with a handful of forks. If you know me now, you may be laughing and trying to imagine me... Continue Reading →
I found myself whispering, too, even though I wasn’t the one hiding in a closet while a drunken man beat on the door. “Bridgett, it’s okay. You’ll be okay. You do not have to answer that door. DO NOT answer the door, okay?” Bridgett cried snotty tears on the other end of the phone. “But... Continue Reading →
Recently, one of my friends reached out to me to inform me that she'd been viciously attacked by her boyfriend (now ex). She described the bruises, and she admitted she felt scared for her life. "You were right about him." In the pit of my gut, I winced. There was a time when I reveled in... Continue Reading →
*My English Composition I students wrote their final exam essays about three gifts they received in 2014. Some of their essays were exceptionally touching, meaningful, or humorous. I believe you'll enjoy reading a few of these--whose authors have granted permission for me to share on the blog--over the next few weeks. This essay is by... Continue Reading →
Dear Rhonda, Thank you for helping me find my house. I resisted liking that house since it was more my ex-husband's preference than mine. You might even say that I resented that darn house for a long, long time, actually. Slowly but surely, the longer I lived in it (particularly the longer I lived in it... Continue Reading →
This piece was written by my former professor, who I like to consider one of my writing mentors, Dr. Teresa Burns Murphy, as a tribute to her parents. They will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary this month. Happy anniversary to a couple who obviously understand what it takes to love others well. My parents were... Continue Reading →
Today's post is written by my great friend, Debra Dickey. Thanks for the great reminder, Debra, that God is always faithful to me in the small things, too. I have had the honor of an unconventional amount of both during this past year. At first, the phenomenon was a bit of a nuisance, but by... Continue Reading →
*It's Day 14 of the Dear Gratitude project. Today, I'm sharing a letter to my students. There is no way I could ever thank each of them individually for all they've added to my life. I'm grateful for the opportunity to teach today, and I look forward to teaching for years to come, hopefully!* Dear... Continue Reading →
Gratitude Cup 