Recently I was able to attend the Natural Products Expo West held in Anaheim, CA.  As with most major expos there are always more products represented on the floor than there is time to visit them all.  So, before I even entered the show I made a plan. Being gluten, dairy, soy, caffeine and (mostly) sugar free there were a few specific booths … [Read more...]

For those of you whose lives have been touched by a special pet, you know there is nothing greater than the joy of their unconditional love.  My family’s life has been graced by two of these amazing animals.  Murphy, our Golden Retriever we lost almost 2 years ago and Harley, our mix we lost last night. As my husband and I were petting … [Read more...]

Although I always try to be transparent on my blog, today’s post will be a bit different.  I have an email list of people who have been supporting us with prayer over the past few years as we have been caring for our daughter, post-traumatic brain injury.  Today I sent out this update and want to share it with you all as well… I hope you … [Read more...]

As you know I recently spent a few days by myself – away from everyone and everything.  Time alone to be still and quiet.  And although the time was not quite what I had hoped for (see blog post titled Dealing with Disappointment) there were some great things that came out of those few days. The most significant thing that occurred was that … [Read more...]

I thoroughly love the ocean.  I can sit and watch and listen to the waves for hours.  It has an incredibly soothing effect on my soul I think, in part, because it reminds me how small and inconsequential my issues are and how powerful and massive God is.   I also thoroughly love my personal retreats – time away when I can just be … [Read more...]

Imagine sleeping in until your body naturally wakes up and then hearing nothing but the ocean in the background.  As the day unfolds you realize there is no agenda; no where you have to be; no one you have to meet; no schedules to coordinate; no plans to make.  It’s just you, your thoughts and God.  Amazing!   I used to take an … [Read more...]

Yes, this is Part 2 of a 2-post series. No, I've not lost my mind (well, not over this anyway.) Because I know so many households struggle with healthy snacks and meal plans, last Fall I published a 2-post series called The Great Food Challenge  (you can read the first post here.)  And now that we are several months into 2013 and most of our … [Read more...]

  I have three beautiful daughters.  Two have earned a Bachelor’s degree (one of them is working on her Master’s at Purdue) and the third one will start college in the Fall.  (A disclaimer here:  My older two daughters are stepdaughters – although I rarely use that term – so their mom went through all the college planning rituals … [Read more...]

  Our society is one of convenience and instant gratification.  When we want something we want it now.  We don’t like to wait for it.  And no place is this more apparent than in our eating habits. We are barraged  with fast food restaurants who promise meals delivered into our hands in under two minutes.  I’ve got to ask, what … [Read more...]

I love, love, love ducks. They bring me so much joy.  So today I was going to write a blog about them (don’t worry, that blog will show up later) but then I remembered I had written about duck bumbas on another of my blogs about a year ago. So here it is, still as true today as when I wrote it...   The last several months have been … [Read more...]