Loving the Tuscan Sun

Tuscany, you have captivated me, and I don’t wish to be free. The tears started flowing standing beneath Frances Mayes’ house, Bramasole. I hoped she’d spy me from her window, invite me in and ask me to be her bosom friend. Frances Mayes She was the sole reason my family was sitting in a van, […]

Once Upon a Time, She had New Eyes

Once upon a time, a French man took a quill in hand and became the father of the fairy tale. Charles Perrault, inspired by the magical towers and pinnacles of Chateau de Usse wrote, La Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty) in 1697. While visiting the Loire valley, home to endless chateau, I was stunned […]

Paris is Always a Good Idea

Bon Jour from France! After years of being a long-distance, hard-core Francophile, I’m discovering if my love affair was valid. My family and I are on a journey that I’ve been dreaming of for years. Five weeks, ten stops, and four countries will awaken new desires, form new loves and broaden our thoughts and minds. […]

Join me on a Journey!

“I met a lot of people in Europe. I even encountered myself.” For the past 20 years I have occupied a small but important spot in the middle of the corn fields of the Midwest. I have stayed close to home and created a place where I nurtured and taught my five children. Our home […]

Something is Coming

Hello June! Hello Summer! A new season has arrived and with it a new season of life for me. My blog posts have been few and far between lately so today I wanted to invite you into my world and update you on the crazy life of a children’s book author. I’m sharing images from […]

Do you Need to Reboot?

As a homeschooling mom of five children I had many more stay-cations than vacations. Every summer when it was time once again to consider a trip to some fascinating place, we always chose to put the money toward some home repair or home recreation need. An above ground pool seemed a wiser choice that would […]

Has Something Died?

Is there something that has died or grown dormant in your life? Are there convictions you once held that are now just a loosely held belief? Is there a daily discipline that once helped you stay fit physically, mentally or spiritually that you no longer practice? Our lives can be too loud. Many of our […]

Look Back

And so, 2018 comes to a close. As you look back and review this past year are you shocked? Did it turn out like you had planned? Was it full of surprises? So much can occur in just 12 months. It is important to take the time to review your past year. What did you […]

“Happy” Holidays

Happy Thanksgiving! Merry Christmas! With these phrases we wish one another to be happy and merry. Sometimes it’s easier said than done. Happiness doesn’t just occur because the calendar announced the arrival of a holiday. We all just want to be happy and the experience of being merry would be icing on the cake. Here […]