2020

You may have noticed that I was a little grumpy during our last 2 legs. I certainly did. And Rand seemed a little grumpy too. When I approached him about it he said, "I'm thinking about what we are going to do when we land... where we'll live, what I'll do for work..." We hadn't been having nearly as much fun as we'd had in the beginning, and the biggest reason for that was because we were so much in our heads. Randy was thinking about how he was going to take care of us once we got to Ohio. And I was thinking about the kids we'd left behind in Mexico. We received an email in May letting us know that Mari, one of the dorm moms in Mexico and the daughter of the administrators who we worked closely with, had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. She'd lost her vision and was preparing to start chemotherapy. Our hearts broke, and mine was still broken a month later. I felt so helpless, unable to do anything for my friends, unable to ...

Because we were having so much fun hiking the Redwoods, we left California late on Saturday afternoon and rolled in to Portland, Oregon, around midnight. While there was much to see in between, we rushed to get to Portland so we could go to church with Randy's brother and sister-in-law the next morning. Roy and Suzanne were enjoying a neighborhood progressive dinner while waiting up for us, so we all mutually agreed to go to the late (11:30 a.m.) service the next morning. I was so glad we were able to make it to church. Many of you know that I’ve been claiming a “ word of the year ” for the past 5 years. This year’s word is “fierce.” While I no longer dislike the word like I did in the beginning, I haven’t exactly owned it either. So I was thrilled when the band started playing a song I’d never heard of – one called “ Fierce ” – that was all about the fierce nature of God’s love for us. (Apparently I've been living under a rock – or in Mexico – because this song came ou...

Observations so far from our road trip: Baja is slow. California is fast. Arizona is hot. New Mexico is cold. Texas is windy.  And big. By big, I mean that we never manage to spend less than a week in Texas. This time it was nearly 12 days. Our first stop was right over the border in El Paso, where we went to my cousin (first cousin once removed, to be exact) Cyndi's house. She treated us to lunch at Kiki's , where we had some delicious Mexican food, followed by a drive to a scenic overlook where we stood at the end of the Rocky Mountains. (Epic!) While we were out running around, Jovi was enjoying Cyndi's beautiful backyard -- a nice change from the backseat of the car! Three-and-a-half years ago Randy, Jovi and I made a similar journey, in reverse order, moving Jovi and me from Ohio to California. Randy and I had met 6 months before in Spain and knew we wanted to be together forever. Texas was a long and memorable part of that move, too. One of ou...

Recently Kenzi learned how to draw hearts. She's very excited about this new accomplishment and regularly tucks her drawings into my coat pockets. Which means I randomly come across these "love notes" when I'm looking for my grocery list, my car keys, and my gloves. And they always make me smile. I couldn't tell you the last time I put my heart on paper. But it was a huge part of my adolescence. Writing and receiving words of affection in pencil or in pen. Paper folder fancy ways. Secretly passing my love to a girlfriend to pass to her boyfriend to pass on to mine. And while I do adore a "Good morning beautiful" text, a comment on my Facebook page, or even an email filled with kindness, I absolutely treasure these hearts on paper, tucked quietly in my pockets, waiting to surprise me with a reminder that I am loved.   EMBRACE LOVE NOTES . When was the last time you wrote a love note? Or received one? Why not today! Even a few words on a ...

Be it flying solo for frozen pizza and DVDs after a long week, dinner out and movies in with friends, or date night at your favorite restaurant and theater... EMBRACE DINNER AND A MOVIE. It may be cliché, but that doesn't mean it isn't the perfect way to spend a Friday night.

Grandparents are one of life's greatest blessings. I'm pretty sure I would be a different person today if I hadn't gotten to know my grandparents so well. One set of grandparents took me on a road trip to Wisconsin with them when I was about 6. Another set took me to Washington, D.C., as a teenager. They all encouraged me to be the best version of myself I could be, and to have fun while doing it. Whether that meant painting ceramics, hunting fossils, or reading books wasn't important to them. As long as I stayed true to me. I was so blessed to be able to spend a week with one of my grandmas recently. We did lots of ordinary things together, from changing the batteries in the carbon monoxide detector to shopping at Barnes and Noble, going to the movies and eating take out pizza. She reminisced a lot, about dancing with my grandpa, going to craft shows, and all the wonderful people she has met along the way. We talked about a few things still on her bucket list--goin...

Yesterday as I was enjoying a perfect walk with my dog and the sun was nice and warm on my bare arms I thought, "I'm really glad today is summer." That may seem like a weird thought to have, but everyone started embracing fall as soon as they saw the word "September" (which my nieces just learned has 3 syllables... do 4 year-olds really need to know syllables???). But September isn't fall. At least not the first 21 days. September is heat and humidity. September is lakes that are still warm enough to swim in without a wet suit. September is green fields and trees and lawns that still need to be mowed. September is tomatoes and peaches and apples (NOT pumpkins and costumes and candy corn!). Today, September 18, is SUMMER! I saw a movie on Sunday, The Spectacular Now , which sums up my feelings in a very simple way: "Live in the now. Embrace that shit." There you have it. So long as it is summer, EMBRACE SUMMER . Because that is now. Not ...

Yesterday was my half birthday. Six months have passed since I turned the big 33 . I'm a big believer in celebrating this milestone. It's not everyday you are halfway between your former age and your next one. So I asked God to bless me big time yesterday. To make me feel loved. Fully. Richly. Extravagantly. After all, love is what birthdays are all about, right? The day started by watching Cinderella III with three of my nieces on my lap, a fourth between my feet, and my nephew within arms reach. Spoiler alert: she ends up with the Prince at the end! Fairy tale love is definitely half birthday worthy. I went to McDonalds for lunch and the guy who took my order told me he liked my short hair. That I had the perfect face for it. And then I got a bag full of the freshest, hottest, best tasting french fries EVER. I love it when God shows me love through the drive thru guy. When I got home there was a little treasure waiting in my mailbox. A message in a bottle. And it sa...

Yesterday I took my nephew Kasen to see  Turbo , a movie about a snail who dreams of being fast. Kasen said his favorite parts of the movie were when the lawnmower and the kid on the tricycle were trying to run over the snails and the snails had to "tuck and roll." He is very much a boy. :) My favorite parts were the moments when they talked about not giving up on your dreams. Turbo kept telling his brother (a fat, cautious snail who was unable to tuck, let alone roll) that giving up on his dream was impossible because "it's in me." The snail brothers meet up with two human brothers who had a dream of owning a successful taco stand together. One is a dreamer, like Turbo, and the other a "realist", like Turbo's brother. There are other dreamers in the movie. A female mechanic. A man who owns a hobby store. Indy 500 drivers. Some with forgotten or failed dreams. Others who've never let themselves dream. I don't think I've ever bee...

Last week while we were at the beach my sister-in-law Jennifer offered her daughter, my 13-month old niece Riley, a handful of variously colored Fruit Loops. I watched as Jenn held out her open palm. Riley selected three purple loops, one at a time, and placed them in her mouth. I laughed. "I guess we know what her favorite color is," I said. Jenn reached into the box for a new handful. Again Riley selected only the purple loops. Jenn reached for a third handful, this time hiding the one purple loop under the other colors in her hand. Riley sorted through the loops until she found the purple one. When Jenn continued to hold out her hand full of loops, devoid of any purple options, Riley grabbed indiscriminately for a handful of assorted colors and put them all in her mouth at one time. While Riley has been exposed to every color of the rainbow, from books to clothes to cartoons to the landscape around her, her bedroom in Oklahoma and now in Texas has always been pur...

I've talked to so many people who don't feel passionate about their personal and professional lives. Who are overworked and overwhelmed. Who judge and criticize and control due to frustration. Who are indifferent to the wonder around them. Who are resigned to this being their lot in life. I too go through times when I lack motivation, excitement, compassion, or zest for anything, let alone life. But I tend to see these moments as opportunities. Open doors to remembering what does trigger zeal in me. Occasion to explore new things. Time for adventure, seeking the excitement that is missing. It's what led me to quit my job and move to California when I was 22. And how I ended up living in my car at 23. It has taken me to India and Ecuador, brought me to yoga and triathlons. It's how I know having a clean house isn't nearly as important as spending time with your parents. And hiking the Grand Canyon before you go in to work is far better than staying on the r...

As a kid I loved Stephen King movies. I thought they were creepy and disgusting and insanely creative. As an adult I discovered Stephen King novels. They were still insanely creative, sometimes creepy, but not nearly as disgusting. They also showed King's immense talent, his affinity for the complexity of human emotion, his ability to draw the reader into another world that is both entirely normal and completely unimaginable except through his eyes. The magnitude of his proficiency in crafting characters of depth is grossly understated in the movies. Or perhaps overshadowed by the creepy and disgusting. Once I opened myself to Stephen King, I also discovered his wife Tabitha, another wildly gifted writer. Pearl is a genius of a book. And I plan on reading their sons, Owen King and Joe Hill, in the future. The lesson: don't judge a book by its cover, or an author by his movies (or her husband or their dad). Be willing to look for the depth we all possess. EMBRACE STEP...

Tessa wishing for new things on her birthday. February 25, 2013. Tessa: "Aunt Katie, do you want to come over tomorrow to watch a new Lalaloopsy ?" Me: "No." Tessa: "But don't you like to try new things?" I've done all kinds of new things lately. Halo (salt) therapy. Gardening. Triathlon training. Drinking hemp milk. Not second guessing my decisions. Watching a new season of The Bachelorette. Going with the flow. Hanging pictures on my walls. Some of these new things are more challenging than others. Some stretch me more. Some require more courage initially. And others are a no brainer. But I've also encountered the possibility of new things that I have not yet embraced. Actually competing in a triathlon. Cleaning out my closets. Writing a novel. Not getting my feelings hurt so easily. Watching a new episode of Lalaloopsy. Hot yoga. While I was not enticed by Tessa's request to watch a new cartoon with her, I do applaud ...

I've never been one to use an umbrella. Occasionally over the years my parents--like good parents do--have tossed one in my car as I've pulled away on my next adventure. But I've always responded by tossing it into someone else's car or passing it on to someone who doesn't enjoy getting wet. Yesterday, however, I noticed an umbrella hanging on the wall with a collection of my grandfather's hats. I decided to take it with me on my lunchtime walk, not expecting for a moment that a blog would come of it. No sooner had I set foot on the gravel path when I declared, "Umbrellas are an understated accessory!" I had always seen umbrellas as a functional device, but all of a sudden I was Gene Kelly in Singin' in the Rain , twirling my umbrella with complete disregard for whether or not I was getting wet. I was "hap-py!" Like the perfect hat, scarf, earrings, or man on your arm, the right umbrella can be just the thing to complete an ...

Why Quakers love baseball Simplicity - Ball, bat, glove. Throw, hit, run, catch. It doesn't get much simpler than that. Peace - Like an umpire who decides if a pitch is in the strike zone or not, we are to let the sense of peace in our hearts (or lack of peace) tell us whether or not we are on track: "Let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule ( act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]." Colossians 3:15 AMP   Integrity - Safe or out? Strike or ball? Baseball may be the only sport that still trusts the umpires to make rulings on each play without further review and instant video replays. That could change next year, but for now we trust the integrity of a handful of men and their eye witness. Community - The...

A parable Based on Luke 10:25-37 A religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. “Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?” Jesus answered, “What’s written in God’s Law? How do you interpret it?” The scholar said, “That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself.” “Good answer!” said Jesus. “Do it and you’ll live.” Looking for a loophole, the scholar asked, “And just how would you define ‘neighbor’?” Jesus answered by telling a story: There was once a woman traveling from New Vienna to The Great American Ballpark . On the way she was attacked by the flu, but not so badly that she couldn't go on. An hour later she was attacked again, this time more viciously. In the middle of the second inning, the flu became relentless, beating her up for many innings to follow, and left her half-dead. Luckily, many women with fresh pedicures were at the same ...

I admittedly don't think there is anything funny about April Fools Day, or any other day that we intentionally try to make people look foolish. I also don't think most people are as funny as they think they are. I think humor is more often used to deflect, afflict, offend, and separate than it is to build community or bring joy into our lives. But that doesn't mean I don't think we should laugh. Or use humor appropriately. After all, a cheerful heart is good medicine. EMBRACE HUMOR . May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing, uplifting, comforting, and nurturing. May they build community and add joy to all around me. Watching Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist because, even though they don't laugh at each others' jokes, they still end up together in the end. 

It's how a mother knows something is wrong with her child (watch the latest episode of Grey's Anatomy ).  It's how a batter knows when to swing at a pitch.  It's why my dog digs and chases and how she knows it is 8 p.m. and time for supper.  It's why my first response in a scary situation is to pray.  It's why I don't feel the need to lock my doors in Ohio. It's how I form a sentence and how I edit (and why I never bothered learning the parts of speech).  It's how you know someone is watching you, and whether or not you want them to.  EMBRACE INSTINCTS .   There's a reason we all know the phrase "trust your instincts". Watching Trouble With The Curve , because Clint Eastwood knows that "A computer can't tell if a kid's got instincts." 

Ten years ago today I was celebrating my friend Ryan's birthday in California. His friends had driven in from Wisconsin so we were in full party mode. After many hours of dancing and drinking, we were parked in the driveway of some new friends we had picked up at the bar, waiting for them to change clothes, or leave a note for their moms, or something of the sort, when The Righteous Brothers came on the radio, accusing us of losing our lovin' feeling. Before I knew it I was Charlotte ("Charlie") Blackwood and my entourage had transformed into a bunch of naval pilots. Ryan played the role of Maverick and his best friend Derrick naturally assumed the role of Goose. The other guys surrounded the car with song, as out of tune as Tom Cruise and Anthony Edwards . It was my Top Gun moment of a lifetime (though I doubt the neighbors were impressed with our 3 a.m. serenade). I thought about this yesterday during my reading of the psalms. While many of the psalms celebrate...

I met my parents at 8 this morning to take them to the airport and by 8:15 we were stuck in a ditch. The roads, ditches, and fields were a level plane of snow, so it was impossible to decipher how sharp the curve was, where the road ended and the ditch began. My mom had just offered to give me her AAA card in case I got stranded after dropping them off, and here we were barely a mile from home getting sucked into the ditch by ice and snow. "I wonder what Sam is up to," my dad says casually, referring to the neighbor whose house we had passed a half a mile ago. He pulls out his cell phone and punches in the numbers (Do you know your neighbor's cell number? I'm impressed with my dad on so many levels). "Where are you?" Dad asks when Sam picks up. "Having coffee at Charlie's," I hear Sam respond. "We're in the ditch." "I'll head that way." Dad pushes a button to end the call and then punches in seven new...