We Are the Sum of Our Choices

It was late. The party was winding down. The remains of our scary appetizers on their fun Halloween platters were scattered across the kitchen counter and the flat top stove. We were saying goodbyes to some who were leaving and laughing about the events of the night. And then... "What's that smell?" someone asked. A hint of burning plastic... A mad scramble to find the source revealed that somehow, one of the burners had gotten turned on. And it happened to have a plastic bo

It was a gorgeous day along Lake Michigan. We were just about to start our run, and I wanted to snap a quick picture of the Hoan Bridge in the sunshine before we did. I took out my phone, opened up the camera, put it in portrait mode and clicked the button. The picture that came out wasn't exactly what I was expecting. But it was interesting. The camera had put the focus on my finger, which I had accidentally put in front of the lens. The bridge faded into the background. I a

I have this amazing friend who knits super cool things. She made me an awesome pair of fingerless gloves a couple years back. I love them so much! Last winter, I wore them a lot, keeping them in the pockets of my favorite coat. Until one day, when I reached in the pockets and realized I only had one of them. I had lost the other. I looked everywhere for it. It made me so sad to think that it was gone forever. This summer, when cleaning out my car, my boyfriend found my lost

When is the last time you danced for no reason? Just let your happy show? A few weeks ago, Brian and I were out running errands. We came up to a stop light and there was a woman on a motorcycle in front of us. We had to do a double-take. She was wearing a giant, fuzzy, rabbit head over her helmet. Or at least that's what we think it was; it was hard to tell because we couldn't see the front of her very well. And she was dancing in her seat. With full-on arm movements and

Yesterday was a beautiful fall day for a wedding. Cool enough for a light jacket, but not so cool that I couldn't wear my open-toed...

The trail was only a mile to the summit. But more than 650 feet elevation gain in that short distance. It challenged our lungs, our...

I blog a lot about the paths we take in life. And how our choices shape them. Sometimes, though, choices are made for us. We have to...

Fences. Sometimes we need to build them. Sometimes we need to break them down. And once in awhile, we need to mend them. I've seen a lot...

It was a gorgeous day at Mt. Rainier National Park. Mobs of people were there and parking was limited. We had to park a mile away from...

Have any of you ever noticed how tiny the coffee cups are in hotel rooms? They just don't measure up. Literally. I want a big cup of...

Some days I park like a boss. Straight and even and right between the lines. Other days, I'm a little bit sideways. Depending on the day...

I've never been one to sit still for very long. There's just something ingrained in me that pushes me to move. Sometimes out of necessity...

I had a birthday a few weeks ago. And my amazing boyfriend threw me the best surprise party ever, complete with all of my favorite...

It's been a big month for our family. So many milestones. As I watched my son line up to accept his diploma yesterday, I thought my...

Some days it feels like we have mountains to climb. We look ahead of us and life looms large. Every single day filled with decisions,...

There's something about a freshly mowed lawn. The prominent lines from the mower wheels. The smell of the grass clippings. The brilliant...

I love my air fryer. Best kitchen appliance I have ever bought. Everything goes in it - potatoes, leftover pizza, fish, chicken, almost...

You know those weeks when there's just too much? When work is crazy, life is crazy, and everything feels just a bit off-kilter? Yeah -...

The older I get, the more acutely aware I am of the value of the hours in my day. I'm less tolerant of things that take up too much of my...

I love our high school. But every time I'm there, the speed bumps in the parking lot drive me a little crazy. I understand why they are...