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I was with a friend last weekend who understandably didn’t eat a "bad spot" in a piece of pineapple, but as I pushed it off the plate and down the garbage disposal, it occurred to me that is how we sometimes treat people when we identify something that doesn’t appear quite right or that concerns us. We can often see or feel bad spots in fruit when we are making selections in the grocery store, but sometimes like with the pineapple, discoloring occurs after cutting it up and t

Dedicated to Gabriella Ann "Gabby" Collins , January 24, 2007-March 31, 2025, and Austin Hayes Waters , December 19, 1994-January 28, 2025, and all their family and friends who love them so dearly. Several years back, if I had read this blog, or virtually any other similar message, I would have disregarded it thinking, she doesn’t know my pain, she must not have challenges like I have, life must be easy for her, she doesn’t live in my brain, etc., etc., etc. I was a master at

After selling my home more than two years ago and getting rid of all but a few physical possessions in order to go away and write my memoir, I returned to Kansas City last year and told my daughter I wasn’t going to buy any Christmas decor for my little studio apartment. My little lover of all things Christmas, who is now 29 years old, wasn’t going to let me get away with making it easy on myself. It sounded blasphemous to her not to have at least some holiday decor, so she b

What if America's favorite pastime1, baseball, is what could bring Americans together again?

I was out of town visiting my sister and her family and, on the way back, there was a slight detour because an overpass had been torn out...

I don't often write about my spiritual beliefs, not because I'm uncomfortable doing so, but rather because there are so many people who...

This morning, I flew to Florida and as the captain announced he was beginning our descent, I looked out the window and saw this beautiful...

Grief has taught me  To honor and acknowledge love  With supreme gratitude and urgency, Whether that’s through new moments  Or...

"If we're honest, we're always losing everyone all the time. And that's why to love anything is insane, right? Because to love anything...

I was in a hurry as I pulled into a parking garage this afternoon, but when I came back out and got into my car I looked up and noticed this beautiful view of the Kansas City skyline. It was as if the garage framed it perfectly, pretty as a picture so I took one. I sent the photo to my daughter and a friend…and then I had these thoughts arise.

During a Facetime call with a friend, this photo was taken without my knowledge. I later received it in a text message from my friend and...

If you're looking for a sweet Mother's Day story to warm your heart, this isn't it. If you're looking to own your own behavior, consider...

There's a song I'll share at the end of this message that I heard earlier this week. I may have heard it before, but this time I really...

"If one day you have to choose between the world and love, remember this: If you choose the world you’ll be left without love, but if you...

As a parent, I wanted to believe that I could protect my child. I wanted to believe that I could make her life better, happier and safer...

In my memoir, I write about telling my daughter, Kylee, I would take a self-defense class after I finished writing the book and returned...

As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words...but I have just a few more to add. And for anyone who knows me, or better yet...

In memory of William Harlan Bliss, June 7, 1947-December 2, 2024 I recently read a Facebook post with the following quote. "There comes a...

In memory of Thomas Joseph Karlin May 2, 1994- November 5, 2011, and Joseph Lee Karlin August 19, 1967-December 10, 2024 Through a...

I saw this frame more than 20 years ago and even though I knew I shouldn't spend the money on it at that time, I simply had to have it...