Photo by Scott Tallman The life of a leaf The leaves have begun to turn color in the nearby canyon. I have always loved how nature has a sense of flare. Autumn seems to provide the perfect canvas for one last burst of richness before winter’s whites, greys, and browns take over the palette of the natural world. It is a … Read More
Ways to Savor Autumn
I love the idea of living in the moment. I do. Still, a little planning can go a long way. Especially when it comes to savoring the few short months of the autumn season. I want to go deep with autumn. Really experience it. Have you felt the morning crisp in the air these past few days? Have you noticed … Read More
Connecting with Teens
We are fortunate to have two teens living in our home. Winston is fourteen–and in ninth grade. Clara is seventeen–and a senior in high school. Their lives are always in motion, constantly swirling in a mix of different identities and moods that vary from moment to moment. I find the teen years naturally place me in a rather heightened state as … Read More
The Shift from External to Internal
One of the first shifts that often occurs in life transitions but that is especially relevant to a religious one — is the turn from looking outside of ourselves to find answers — toward trying to discern how we feel, what we value, or what we need from the inside out. This is an especially tough task as many of us have … Read More
My Workout Routine for Fall
Clara and I all ready for the High Fitness class we took together this summer. It was fun and challenging! With the start of school the past couple of weeks, “routine” has officially shown up! She is like a long lost friend. I just want to hug “routine”. I want to write her a love poem. Or maybe … Read More
A Poem for My Father
I must say that sharing my poetry makes me feel a bit vulnerable. I am not really a poet. Amidst the loss of my father though, I found that I just had to write some of my feelings down. So, I have decided to share a snapshot of what grief looked like for me six months after my dad passed. How I felt … Read More
Five Winning Strategies for Relationships
The photo above was taken by the talented Maya Dehlin. And nope. We do not have a dog. But the dog insisted on photo bombing our session–sitting so perfectly–and well, we just don’t turn living things away like that. Look at those eyes! The dog needed a picture with us. Clearly. As a follow up to my last post, I … Read More
What Is Your Losing Strategy in Your Relationships?
Photo by Maya Dehlin I read a book recently called The New Rules of Marriage by Terrence Real. Terrence Real is a family therapist and the author of various books on relationships. The New Rules of Marriage book is (in my humble opinion) a solid attempt at looking at marriage through a modern lens. Our world and our relationships differ dramatically … Read More
Weekly Share of Shares – May 18, 2018
Greetings to you on this fine Friday! Why the stop sign you might ask? It isn’t particularly beautiful, I know. But it is fitting! Have you had times in your life when experiences rise up and make you literally stop in your tracks in order to pay closer attention? Well…that is where I am currently. Hence, the stop sign. Many … Read More
Strategies to Simplify an Overactive Life
Photo by Maya Dehlin The “busy” happens to all of us. As deliberate as I try to be–life can snowball into “overwhelm” without a great deal of effort. It happens. But as my fatigue builds or my anxiety mounts with the increasing demands of my life, I have found a few strategies that help to bring me back down again. I am sure … Read More