Photo by Tatiana Syrikova on Pexels.com "Lava!!!" he shouts and jumps from stone to stone. "Aah!! Don't fall in!" I exclaim, stepping from the pillow to the mat and joining him. I look up to see the five-year-old's smiling face full of wonder and delight. I return the smile and look at the floor. "Lava!!!"… Continue reading Re-learning the Art of Play: Reflections of an ABA Therapist
Poem: “Paper Heart”
Photo by Luan Rezende on Pexels.com It was hers. Hers to stay alive. Hers to guard. Hers to break. Words were written there. They became hers when she believed them. Letters in permanent ink. Words like “victim.” “Unlovable.” “Untouchable.” “Unforgivable.” “Unchanging.” And words like “pride.” “Pretty.” “Powerful.” “Obsessed.” Her lips and actions spoke the words… Continue reading Poem: “Paper Heart”
Quote of the Week: “The anxious heart is filled…”
Because what if it doesn't work out? What if I made a mistake? What if I'm not where I'm supposed to be? What if I am where I'm supposed to be, but I'm not grateful enough for it? What if... It's going to be okay. "'The anxious heart is filled with thousands of what-ifs that… Continue reading Quote of the Week: “The anxious heart is filled…”
Five Activities for Rest & Rejuvination
Photo by Mikhail Nilov on Pexels.com In Jane Austen's Emma, one of the characters, Jane Fairfax, states, "'We all know at times what it is to be wearied in spirits.'" True, true. We drown in the rush of life and become so committed to the daily grind that we neglect to breathe. Then we suffer… Continue reading Five Activities for Rest & Rejuvination
Quote of the Week: “Love is…”
With Valentine's Day being just over a week ago, I thought it fitting to share a quote that discusses love: one of the most popular topics in songs, books, and movies. But what is it, anyway? What do you think about when someone says the word? Red roses. Butterflies in your stomach. Starry eyes and… Continue reading Quote of the Week: “Love is…”
Poem: “And He Says, ‘Beautiful'”
Photo by Thilina Alagiyawanna on Pexels.com Bottom left corner crumpled Pink scribbles across the page A strawberry smudge from snack time And a thumb-sized hole in the middle From scribbling too hard I hand it to him, saying, “Daddy, look!” And he calls it, “A work of art.” Twirling and dancing and tripping on stage … Continue reading Poem: “And He Says, ‘Beautiful'”
Quote of the Week: “Life’s got to be lived…”
As a kid, I assumed that once you became an adult and started a career, everything would fall into place. That familiar question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" made it seem as if becoming a ballerina, an author, or a teacher meant reaching my life's destination. But it's really not… Continue reading Quote of the Week: “Life’s got to be lived…”
Seven Prompts for Daily Journaling
Photo by Sergey Torbik on Pexels.com After keeping a journal for the past eight years, I have found that journaling not only helps me keep my thoughts organized but also helps me release stress. However, I have also found that sometimes it can be difficult knowing what to write in a journal. Do you write… Continue reading Seven Prompts for Daily Journaling
Quote of the Week: “Life is not an emergency”
"I'm just so exhausted," I confessed to my older sister. We sat in the Culver's parking lot, eating frozen custard despite the thirty-degree weather. Winter coats on. The car's heater blew in our faces. Exhausted. Exhausted from working overtime with kids, who hit, kick, and scratch me. Exhausted from the painful cold that never seems… Continue reading Quote of the Week: “Life is not an emergency”
Five Tips for Reading More
Photo by Polina Zimmerman on Pexels.com What gives you the desire to read? Maybe it's the overall intellectual growth that it brings. It might be that it gives you a chance to escape and enter a different world for a while. Perhaps, it's simply the cozy feeling of sitting by yourself and letting words speak… Continue reading Five Tips for Reading More
Flash Fiction: “Child Conversations”
I wrote this piece about two years ago for one of my English classes. After reading a short story with one-sided dialogue, my professor told the class to write a story with the same structure. As someone who loves kids, I decided to make a young boy the speaker of my story. I hope you… Continue reading Flash Fiction: “Child Conversations”
Quote of the Week: “I know what matters…”
When challenges hit like a tidal wave, it's easy to drown in our circumstances and forget what truly matters. This week's quote reminds us that the pain and loss in our lives don't define us, and there is hope and healing. “I know what matters, and it is not what I have lost. It is… Continue reading Quote of the Week: “I know what matters…”
Free Printable Bookmarks for 2026
With life's crazy schedule, it can be difficult to find the time and motivation to read, so I wanted to share some printable bookmarks with you to motivate you to pick up your book. Next week, I'll write a post filled with tips for reading more, so be sure to subscribe so that you don't… Continue reading Free Printable Bookmarks for 2026
Five Life Lessons I Learned in 2025
Photo by Julian Jagtenberg on Pexels.com Now that we're already a couple of weeks into 2026, I know it's a little late to write a reflection on last year; however, there are some life lessons that I learned that I want to bring into and apply to 2026. I thought I'd share some of these… Continue reading Five Life Lessons I Learned in 2025
Quote of the Week: “The snow may fall…”
A lot has happened since I last posted: Christmas has come and gone, a new year has already given us two more weeks of life, and we're all just trying to catch our breath. I had planned to start posting as soon as 2026 began, but I tripped over sickness and work and fell behind.… Continue reading Quote of the Week: “The snow may fall…”
Quote of the Week: “Joy to the world…”
I usually begin each of these posts with the phrase "Happy Monday," yet the majority of the time, life makes us question, "Where is joy? Where is hope, and where is peace?" Challenges and fears can fall on us one by one until we feel like we're drowning. So, how can we say "Happy Monday"… Continue reading Quote of the Week: “Joy to the world…”
Printable Christmas Bookmarks
Christmas Printable Bookmarks Download In honor of the holidays, here are some festive bookmarks that you can print and cut out. These are perfect to add to a gift for any readers in your life. You can also keep them for yourself as you cozy up this season with some hot cocoa and a book.
Quote of the Week: “Rejoice! Rejoice!”
Happy Monday! I hope you had a restful weekend. Today, I decided to share a quote from the Christmas carol "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." This is one of my favorite Christmas carols because it reminds us that Jesus' birth fulfilled God's promise to send His Son, as found in the Old Testament of the… Continue reading Quote of the Week: “Rejoice! Rejoice!”
Three Activities for Artists to Help Overcome Perfectionism
Photo by Nedelcu Catalin on Pexels.com "Here is my very, very rough draft," I have said many times before, as if my first draft is the only one on Earth that is less than perfect. I always felt the need to warn my teachers and peers that something wasn't finished because I wasn't satisfied with… Continue reading Three Activities for Artists to Help Overcome Perfectionism
Flash Fiction: “Pink”
Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels.com "For sale: baby shoes, never worn."Ernest Hemingway On the day I found out, it snowed. Tiny flakes falling from a white abyss that we call “sky.” They landed on my bare head and teased the dry skin on my face. I hid my hands in my coat pockets and… Continue reading Flash Fiction: “Pink”
Edify Write 