Pecan pie is part of celebration or a happy time for me. I know it’s full of sugar, but a small slice once a month won’t undo my life. Pecan pie means gatherings and joy to me. Sharing my pecan pie recipe at the end of this blog. Giving or receiving recipes. It’s a eustress for me. Like writing a poem. Hans Selye, a scientist of the early 1900s, coined the word “stress” and added that positive stress is “eustress.” Good news stress. The opposite is being confronted with bad n

This one tree is symbolic for many people of the resurrection of the Christ. A cross is in the blossom. It usually blooms in early April, around Easter. Admittedly, I heard the dogwood story as a child. It’s memorable. When I was in my thirties, I noticed how the dogwood trees are in the shape and color of a wedding dress or a swirling maiden. Light and beautiful. Right now, the forest near me is full of white maidens swirling. A delight to the eye. But what I have in my own

Again, here I am, seven years later, asking myself: What was this cancer thing about? I was a mental health counselor for 20 years, so I am wired to ask such questions. When anything disturbing happens (personal or global), there’s the question again: What is this or that really about? I’m forever plumbing my soul. Like a war veteran, I carry scars. Some visible, some not. I walked through cancer, surgery, treatments. Stage 3. God walked through it beside me. I was a soldier

I have done the dishes, folded laundry, baked a casserole, opened and closed the door for the dogs umpteen times. I am Queen Busy. I do this when I’m trying to figure something out. I’ve made the decision to share a poem here from Women, Resilient Women, my new book. But now, it’s a question of choosing a poem. It matters to me. (Reality: I know all blog readers will not purchase the book, so which poem do I offer?) I look through my book again. Okay, decision made. A little

What is this about? I probably go to lunch with one of my friends twice a month. I couldn’t care less about where we go, how fancy it is, or what we eat. But, I want it to be semi-quiet, so we can hear what is being said. #1. It’s fun to go to lunch. It’s a time to laugh. #2. I think the topics covered between two women are a bit different from what a husband and wife talk about. #3. It’s therapeutic, full of feelings and thoughts. #4. It’s unstructured. We women simply let t