Full Circle
The life lived and the things loved as children are often what form the character and tastes we carry with us into adulthood. It would be impossible to exaggerate the importance of our family cabin at the Lake of the Ozarks. It was a place where many childhood memories were made. Ours was a red cabin trimmed […]
An Offer I Couldn’t Refuse
One of the best things about going to college in Northwest Arkansas was the many opportunities for outdoor fun (which often took me outside of my comfort zone). Because we were college kids without a lot of money to spend, we had to be creative. We explored caves with flashlights trying not to walk into any […]
The Power of Laughter
Don’t you love to be around people who are fun? Not people who use fun in the wrong way – to belittle another person, but the kind of fun that makes you laugh till your stomach hurts! I loved being around my Grandpa – because he was so much fun. He loved telling jokes and […]
Parenting 101: 3 Steps To Building A Successful Family
A lot of hard work goes into building a successful family. Looking back over 35+ years of parenting, along with the fact that we definitely made our share of mistakes, here are 3 key steps that will contribute to a a great family. Step #1 CHOOSE YOUR FOUNDATION CAREFULLY Every construction project begins with the foundation. […]
Not Your Typical Snow Day
As a kid growing up in the country, I loved snow days! Time seemed to stand still as we chased each other with snowballs and sledded up and down the hills on my parents’ farm. When we simply couldn’t feel our hands and feet anymore, we would head up the hill to my house […]
Dreaming BIG
I have always had a list big dreams…some of them have been a little crazy. Like the time I told my husband that for my 50th birthday I would like to parachute out of an airplane. (It was an awesome experience, by the way!) Other dreams have come as a result of seeds planted, watered […]
Happy Birthday
This is the letter I wrote to Lincoln 2 years ago today – the day he was born! Dear Lincoln, We just arrived at the hospital room. Your Mom has been awake all night with contractions. They just began the drops of potosin to induce labor. You are two weeks overdue today! Grandma Jonalin, Aunt […]
The Scoop On Zumba
I am not a fan of exercise! Give me a raft and I will float on the lake for hours; or attach a parachute to my back and I will jump out of a plane, but regular exercise at a gym? No thanks! That was until I discovered Zumba! For the past few weeks, I […]
