Four Mistakes Caregivers Make

Caregivers aren’t perfect. As a nurse, I didn’t find giving my husband personal care difficult. But it broke my heart to see my brilliant spouse move further into dementia. His wonderful brain was physically changing. Cells were dying and synapses weren’t firing. As I...

Something to Squawk About

As much as I promote and eat a plant based diet, I do occasionally eat chicken, beef, or seafood. Some wouldn’t touch animal products with a ten foot pole. Others are content eating the standard American diet – the “meat and potatoes” crowd. Each to his own....

Stay Out of the Weeds

One of my favorite Bible verses is Romans 8:28. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” I like the purpose part because I believe we all need a purpose, a reason to get out of bed....

Who is Your Timothy?

Thomas Umstattd Jr., of Author Media fame (https://www.authormedia.com/ ) asks writers, “Who is your Timothy?” Umstattd, also an author, owns Author Media, which he established to help authors sell more books. Although we members are Christian authors, his principles...

For Those Who Served

  Caregiving has changed over the last several decades. In the 60’s my grandmother was the sole caregiver for my grandfather, with as much help from my mom as she could give. It soon became clear that it was not enough, and he ended his days in a nursing home....

Battle of the Bulge

Have your best January intentions about dieting flown the coop? I could say mine have, except I didn’t make any. I’ve learned the hard way that will power lasts only so long. There has got to be a better way, and there is. It’s not how much I eat, but what I eat. All...

Numbering Our Hours

I’m going head to head with time today. After my morning routine, I play catch-up all day until evening when I collapse in front of the TV. Then I shuffle off to bed to read myself to sleep. My days are busy, full of people and “to-dos.” I tell myself I’m being a...

Weasel Words

  I read a nugget of writing advice that warned about using “weasel words.” Apparently, the weasel sucks the contents out of an egg, leaving the shell intact. The eggless shell looks like every other egg, but it’s useless. “Weasel words” resemble the empty shells...

When the Caring Stops

  Suddenly it’s over. The person you loved and cared for, who took center stage in your life for months, maybe years, dies and it left you heartbroken. You stand at the end of a road that once felt way too long. No more doctor’s appointments, hospital vigils,...

Eat the Food You Love

  While I underwent cancer treatment, I followed a diet that eliminated anything that could feed cancer cells. It was the only diet I ever followed to the letter because I wanted to keep cancer in my rear view mirror forever. I lost weight, a good thing, but I...