Snapdragon

Snapdragon. Something new in the early days of a new season. Spring fast unfolding into summer. But for now I’ll enjoy the moments that feel less stifling and cherish the new blooms as they burst out of their tiny hideaways, popping with peachy pink petals. From dainty dark lairs, to brilliant revealing sun. At other …

Honoring A Life While Holding Grief: Hudson’s Story

Grief and Joy In A Season of Celebration December 2022. The Holiday Season is here. This is a time of festivities and fun, a time for friends and family, gatherings and making memories. It’s also a time for remembering the year that has come and almost gone – recalling both the joyful and the painful, in order to move forward into the …

Community: We All Need It

Unexpected Community This past weekend we had our annual Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk here in the South Houston area. Some dear friends attended with us. There is just something wonderful about having people who will walk with you (literally and figuratively!) and embrace your child for who they are! We certainly feel blessed …

Awareness Leads to Compassion

Photo Credit: Karen Schmidt, 2017 An Invitation to See As October takes a deep breath and exhales with cooler temps and colorful leaves, bringing with it all the things we anticipate when summer morphs into fall, I would love to share some thoughts. I’d like to tell you about a time when a change of …

Beginnings…

Our girl went back to school today. First time since early Spring 2020. First day of 8th grade. Hard to believe we are staring down the last year of Middle School. She was beyond excited... and a little nervous. We are so proud of her! Another beginning. There have been many in this bright teen's …

Everyday Extravagance

Photo by Niklas Ohlrogge on Unsplash Simply Given Years ago, when I was a homesick graduate student, my now mother-in-law would invite me to Sunday dinner. After a delicious home-cooked meal and a cup of coffee with dessert, she would send me home to my dorm room with a colorful arrangement of fresh cut flowers. …

Digging up the Hidden Things

Photo by Ochir-Erdene Oyunmedeg on Unsplash Standing Guard I imagine myself standing watchfully over my one-square-foot, meticulously manicured patch of ground. Grass neatly trimmed. Weeds carefully pulled. Beneath this well-maintained grassy carpet lies a stash of things to be enjoyed, loved and lived. Yet, in my fear of getting it wrong or not being good …

Masterpiece

The Artist The artist sits back and admires the canvas before her, sighing with satisfaction as a smile sweeps across her face. She takes note of the brilliant hues, the depths of texture, and the white space – each adding to the completeness of the work. One element is not nearly as effective on its …

Learning to Embrace the Middle Season

Photo by Steve Richey on Unsplash The leaves have turned all the brilliant colors of autumn, beginning their flight from bough to earth, riding the wind, which at first blows warm, then suddenly cold. The neighbors swap geraniums and ferns for pumpkins and mums, signaling the changing of seasons. Closets are transitioned as well. Scarves …

Over the Threshold

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash She stands at the door, heart aflutter, brunette pigtails draped over her shoulders. She peeks around the edge of the door – hesitant, yet curious. The door has been cracked open for a very long time, but this bony-kneed, bright-eyed, tentative-hearted girl has only ever been willing to venture …