While I was studying in Ireland I experienced many adventures traveling all over the country. One of my favorite memories is from my journey with friends to the town of Dingle. We thought we had left Dublin with plenty of time to hitch hike to Dingle with time to spare. We had not anticipated the problems we would encounter on the road down the … [Read more...]
Encouragement for Your Race
This is a true story for the 2009 Portland to Coast Relay Race that covers 127 miles. Linda’s finish line was nowhere in sight. She had already pushed her body past empty and was still moving forward. Hope of reaching her finish line was dwindling as she weighed the distance she still had to go against the energy reserves left in her body. She … [Read more...]
Dream Big, Dream Crazy
My new job as full time wife, mother and author has been a great blessing. At the same time it has been a big adjustment and learning experience as I’ve adjusted to going from having lots of help from employees to becoming a one woman show with the occasional help of a virtual assistant. But sometimes, you have to forge ahead alone when you have a … [Read more...]
“I Have a Dream”
I remember the very first paper I had to write in grade school. The assignment was to write about the American leader that we most admired. For me the choice was easy. In a previous assignment I had memorized a portion the "I Have a Dream" speech by Martin Luther King Jr. I remember as a young child being deeply and profoundly touched by his … [Read more...]
Scars Have Stories :: Their Power Depends on You
I was fascinated with the sound, th, th, thth, th, th, thth, as the tip of my shoe toe nipped against the spokes of my mother's bicycle. I was 4 years old and I loved the feeling the wind in my hair and the warmth of the sun on my back. I was particularly fascinated with the vibrational sound that my shoe made as it flirted with the spinning spokes … [Read more...]
Crossing the Border from 2012 to 2013
I love borders, borders of states, countries, time and imaginary lines that serve as worldwide dividers like the equator. I have stood with one foot in Italy and the other in the Vatican; one foot in Ireland, the other in Northern Ireland. My family has driven miles out of our way to cross the Artic Circle in Finland, the Continental Divide in … [Read more...]
Make Christmas Memories
Christmas time is full of memories and opportunities to make new memories. In my childhood family we had a lot of Christmas traditions, some we picked up in various countries, some from my parents childhood and others that my brother and I made up. Many of my favorite memories of childhood revolve around the Christmas holidays. I don’t … [Read more...]
Reach for Unseeable, Seemingly Unreachable Goals
When I was 8 years old we moved to Munich, Germany from Dallas, Texas, where if there was even a light dusting of snow on the ground, school was cancelled. That year I remember that I stood 4 feet, 4 inches tall and overnight it snowed 4 foot 6 inches. I woke up delighted at the thought of a mega snow day. Much to my surprise this was only the … [Read more...]
Win the Battle Against Yourself to Victory
Have you ever come upon a roadblock in life and declared victory for the other team before you even tried? Ever had a task that needed to be done in order to reach your goal that defeated you with no opposing effort? Sure you have, we all have, every time we say "I can't", "I don't do that", or "that isn't my job" we are surrendering before the … [Read more...]
Purposeful Choices
I love traditions, especially holiday traditions. I love everything from the discovery of a new tradition all the way through to the ritual that has been passed down through the generations being faithfully acted out. I love the way my children count on traditions and remind me of them every year to insure that none will be left out or forgotten. … [Read more...]
Allow For Being Human
Recently a friend of mine wrote on Facebook, “Wishing sharpies were washable....” after her young daughter had used a sharpie for “artwork” all over a family members bedding. I knew that my friend had already dealt with disciplining her daughter and wrote back, “Might as well give the kids a pack of colorful sharpies and let them go to town to … [Read more...]