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

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...

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 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...

“There is a powerful moment in life when you either decide to tolerate life the way it is or decide to be brave and change it.” Rachel...

The following excerpts are from Brave Enough To Be Bliss , Section VI, Chapter 6, shared today in honor of Veterans Day. I’ve only lived...

Monday, October 21, I will officially share my Brave Enough To Be Bliss story with the world through my website ...

This is the graphic from my book's first section title page and if I could wrap up the entire book into one sentence, this would be...

I sent a rather large file containing the book, Brave Enough To Be Bliss , to the printing company on Thursday night, but I had to send...

Those eyes. That face. OK, this Gigi is biased, but I think Cooper is just the sweetest and in May we celebrated his fifth birthday. And...

Last weekend, my daughter, son-in-law and I had the pleasure of staying with dear friends in Texas. We had been planning the trip for...

I do not for a moment take for granted the opportunity to be in this beautiful place writing my little heart out. My heart. That's one...

Last Saturday, while my daughter was driving, I was reminded of her tendency to yell at other drivers when they do things that from her...

When I was thinking about what visual to use, this photo immediately came to mind. While my daughter loved the pool, this was her first...

On October 11, 2021, a family I know and love lost their 21-year-old daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece and cousin. Others lost their...

The first three words of the introduction of the book I’m writing are… Life…is…hard. Not profound. Not anything anyone doesn’t know. But...