Black Plate–Moussaka

Welcome to the Wilder Way Wednesday posts. I haven’t posted one of these in a while, and so we’ll need to review. About five or six years ago, I was at my heaviest weight … at least, I’m pretty sure it was my heaviest. I have no idea how much I actually weighed because I hadn’t been on a scale … Read More

Healing Wounds of the Past

When I make bone-headed decisions, or, in the case of this past cortisol-infested pandemic year, lash out because of stress or fear, I remember the wise words of Maya Angelou. The saying is steeped in grace, isn’t it? It allows us to acknowledge our shortcomings, and yet, it gives us hope that maybe we can grow past them and become … Read More

Understanding Accountability

The dark events of this past week were so horrific that most people I know shy away from even discussing it. But I can’t ignore what happened–it feels disingenuous and wrong. Like most Americans, my heart broke as I watched an animalistic mob invade the seat of our democracy, the very symbol that countless brave men and women have died … Read More

2021- The Year of Resilience

If you’ve been following me, you know I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. Instead, I focus on one aspect of life I’d like to nurture and grow. I choose a catchphrase that embodies the concept. It becomes a mantra of sorts, creating a common theme that runs throughout the twelve months and shapes my experiences. If you’re into jumping down … Read More

The Year in Review

Those that have followed me for a while know that I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions. Instead, I take one word that encompasses personal growth, a word that I concentrate on every day. I deemed 2020 The Year of Prosperity. And the fates laughed out loud before they wove this past year’s dark threads through the tapestry of time. … Read More

Practicing Gratitude

Every morning I wake with my brain already running full tilt. Thoughts race with everything from creating grocery lists to subplots I should add in the latest work in progress. It’s like my subconscious keeps working while I go to sleep. In college, I’d listen to whatever song I had to memorize before going to bed. In the morning, I’d … Read More

The Life We Choose

There are people in this world that light up a room when they enter it. They live so boldly, love so deeply, and have an ocean of compassion, so much so that it’s a joy just being around them. Ann was such a person. Fierce as a lion with a heart the size of Texas, she was a force all … Read More

An Art’s Intent

For those that haven’t read the Kailmeyra series, in book two, The Secret of the Keepers, Nora, the protagonist in the series, develops the ability to feel an artist’s intent simply by touching their work. She sees their memories, hears their thoughts. She understands their heart, their passion, and their inspiration. It’s a trait I’ve always dreamed of having. Historically, … Read More

Enough

Enough I’m so tired of hate. I’m tired of people excusing hate. I’m tired of people giving their loyalty to politicians that never earned their trust. I’m tired of lies. And conspiracy theories. And alternative facts. And willful ignorance. I’m tired of this damn virus stealing bright souls that served as beacons in this dark world. I’m tired of greed. … Read More

We Must Do Better

I once tried to pay for gas with counterfeit money. True story. It was years ago. I’d just taken the kiddos to one of those summer carnivals that had sprung up overnight in an old mall’s parking lot. The kids always loved to go, even though I wouldn’t let them ride the shoddy roller coasters. We went for the smaller … Read More