earlier today, emory and evan returned from a stroll holding two baby sparrows. they had fallen from a high nest—one that would be difficult to get them back into. they’re still too young to leave, where found, for mama bird to come down to them until they grow feathers and can fly, so we took them to a wildlife rehabilitator who focuses her attention on birds. after about a thirty… Keep Reading
i’m rarely drawn to photos because of the composition or the lighting. my favorite images are candid and tell a story. i want to look back at them and remember the moment in an almost-touchable way—and the moments around the moment. because of this, i’m sensitive to whatever mood is afloat whenever i have a camera in hand. i like photos that, even if not the most artful, instantly make… Keep Reading
Dear Daughter, Occasionally, while reflecting on a moment when I was your age, during which I told my dad that I wish he and my mom would be more like friends, I wonder if you’ll ever wish the same. Following this moment, my dad’s words were clear and concise. He said, “I’m not your friend. I’m your dad. And I’m the only dad that you have.” I like to believe,… Keep Reading
“The earth is what we all have in common.”—Wendell Berry I love the warmth and brightness of sunny days, but I’ve always enjoyed the stillness that comes around as the rain starts to fall, as well. Creatures retreat to the warmth and dryness of shelters and home spaces. Outdoor work and routines are rethought, sometimes placed on pause. The world, at least as far as the rain clouds stretch, quiets. … Keep Reading
publication day is here!!!today, this small book project that is so dear to me and that i have worked so hard to create will finally trickle out into the world. a huge thanks to everyone who pre-ordered, and who reached out with supportive words. your kindness is big, and it stays with me. after moving to this community, ten years ago, i quickly found this place. once a lake, i think… Keep Reading
this past year has been full of goodness. i had the opportunity to fulfill a longtime writing dream. i traded in a lot of sleep to work out thoughts through a keyboard. i edited…and then i edited some more. i further fine-tuned (which is an ever-evolving process) healing work with others. i’ve made a lot of progress relating to the art of remaining near, but not too near as my kids continue to navigate their… Keep Reading
this past year felt quiet. or, probably more accurately, i felt quiet. as if too much noise, too many on-goings could create some sort of tipping, and a job to keep all boats afloat was created through simply holding silent, sacred space. :: i’ve spent a lot of time immersed in one of my favorite outdoor spots. praying. planning. processing. here in this place, surrounded so wholly by spirit,… Keep Reading
Our moon-time cycles are sacred. In our current culture, however, many seem to view this special process as an inconvenience instead of one to admire. There are a lot of ways to honor this beautiful monthly release. We can take time to support our bodies through eating warming and nourishing foods, spend time alone or with nurturing friends, and cultivate gratitude for the opportunity to surrender and to channel both… Keep Reading
i love being in tune with my spiritual nature, but this human experience? i’m in it. i want it—the good, the weighty—all of the parts and pieces that push me to love deeper, to know myself, others and the world around us better. i am drawn to balance, and to witnessing the wholeness of all that rides with and along the breath, the between and the beyond. occasionally i’ll pick… Keep Reading
i’m beginning this new year with a simple song share. i have come across a lot of great music this past year, but the below song stands out as my favorite song crush of 2017. there are, of course, a lot of things that can create a good tune—the notes, the lyrics, the feelings that either or both elicit :: but my most favorite songs—the ones that i repeatedly reach… Keep Reading
i’ve been spending the evening cleaning up a telescope and microscope that my dad sent home with us—both from his childhood years. while gently wiping marks and discolorations from both scopes, i’ve been thinking about how they work and all of the mysteries that they let us catch small and measured glimpses of. i’m imagining the stories that each mark could tell and appreciating that i can’t wipe all of… Keep Reading
“if you want to find God, hang out in the space between your thoughts.” —alan cohen It was summertime, and most of my friends traveled home for the break from school. I had a fulltime job that I loved—and so I stayed. Alone, yet rarely lonely, I spent my days working at the edge of the woods, reconstructing wetland areas and laying down thick layers of mulch while learning my… Keep Reading