#crackerberries

We’ve been counting down the days to vacation—not because we have any big plans, but because we’re ready for a little time to rest, relax, and get a break from our normal jobs.It’s more of a stay-cation than a vacation, and if I’m being completely honest, our “to-do” list looks a whole lot more like work than rest and relaxation.But we do what we do.We thought maybe we’d actually get to sleep in…

Changing names and identifying details to protect the innocent—and perhaps the guilty—because the real story here isn’t about one family. It’s about a danger that can reach any of us.There are some phone calls that change the entire mood of a day.This was one of those calls.It was early in the morning, and I was already running on very little sleep. We had just returned from our morning walk, and…

This morning, coffee in hand, I sat down to journal and found a sticky note staring back at me:Blog idea: What we accept vs. what is standard.And just below it, another thought:Personal standards vs. company standards.Now, that’s a sermon waiting to happen.Every evening, Tall Cool ☺ne and I share our day—the things that happened, the conversations we had, and whatever else is going on at our…

The past few days have been a whirlwind around Tall Cool ☺ne and me, and truth be told, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Around here, life has a funny way of making plans for us, and most of the time those unexpected plans turn into the best stories. It all started Saturday with the hopeful adventure of looking at what might have been our next home. Now, it really was a cute little place with…

It was 3:00 a.m.Sleep had once again decided it had better places to be. The older I get, the more my brain seems to believe the middle of the night is the perfect time to hold a staff meeting. Thoughts. Ideas. Questions. Before I can finish writing one down, three more are standing in line, tapping their feet, waiting their turn.Tall Cool ☺ne laughs and tells me I’ve got a circus spinning inside…

That’s my mom right in the center and she’s still doing that picking at her face. Most mornings, I’d rather pour myself a second cup of coffee, settle into my favorite chair, and write another chapter of whatever story has captured my heart. But when you’re married to the Tall Cool ☺ne—who missed his calling as a drill sergeant—we’re lacing up our shoes before the sun even thinks about…

When the Chain of Command Becomes OptionalNames and identifying details have been changed to protect everyone involved—whether innocent, guilty, or somewhere in between.Every workplace has a chain of command for a reason. It’s more than boxes on an organizational chart. It’s about accountability, fairness, and respect. The moment someone decides those rules don’t apply to them, the cracks begin…

Funny how one thought can send you hopping down an entirely different trail.I was writing a letter to my cousin, Wayne-O, and happened to mention a zucchini recipe he and his wife make. Ironically, it’s the very same recipe my Grammie Averill, used years ago. One memory led to another, and before long I found myself thinking about a much more pressing issue around our house…The rabbits.Not just a…