On Mother’s Day, my maternal grandmother, Elector, passed away at the age of 71, surrounded by her loved ones. She was a unique woman, not just in name, but in so many wonderful ways. The wife of a preacher, she could recite a Bible verse one minute, then turn around and tell a bawdy joke…
When I was younger, my dad would often tell me that I was just like my mother. I’d scoff and disagree, vehemently opposing the idea that I was anything like her. This was, of course, the exact worst thing to say to a surly, irrational teen. I was sure my mother was out to ruin…
Self-confidence has never been something I’ve had in abundance. I’ve always been shy and introverted, preferring to fade into the background. If I could choose a super power, I’d want to be invisible—not to do anything sneaky or forbidden, but just to rid myself of the perceived notion that people are staring at me. Being…
In January, I decided to change my life. After years of being overweight and unhappy with myself, I knew I needed to take action. I’m still fat, but I feel better and am slowly making progress. I’ve tried lots of diets in the past—from calorie counting to Weight Watchers—and had moderate levels of success. The…
Saturday was a beautiful day, so I thought I’d spend some extra time outside. The yard looks like a chicken’s idea of paradise, with weeds popping up all over. Because our chickens live in an enclosure and are not free range, I decided to gather some of their favorites. Dandelion greens and flower heads are…