After the fireworks subsided last week, I sought out a new sound to fill the silence. Not live entertainment or even a date with a booming baritone, but a four-stringed, rosewood escape to paradise. And it was only right that I introduce my tropical instrument to my happy place, Fort Monroe, and play through the sunset last night. Just me and my ukulele.
Personal Growth
Dating at 40: When You’re Still Holding Out for Fireworks
On Independence Day, I had a great first date but found myself wondering: am I holding out for chemistry that might never come again? Here's what I learned about being enough without the fireworks.
What My Yard Sale Taught Me About Letting Go of Everything
As I sorted through boxes and broken dreams, I discovered that decluttering your house is really about decluttering your heart. Some things are worth keeping; some aren't.
What I Learned Dating After Loss: Setting Boundaries Worth Keeping
After losing the love of my life, I returned to dating with new eyes. Here's what I discovered about self-worth, boundaries, and refusing to settle—lessons every woman deserves to know.
Growing Pains: How We Embrace Change and Growth
Growth and change are two of the most defining aspects of life. Whether it's a crab shedding its exoskeleton to make room for new growth or a human transitioning from one relationship to another, we all experience these shifts in our lives. Female crab shells litter Fort Monroe Beach’s shores. Alongside them are skeletons no one sees but me, phantom beach companions and even a charming proposal.
What My Trigger Thumb Surgery Taught Me About Emotional Pain
I waited a year to fix my thumb because I was afraid of surgery. Here's what I learned about the difference between numbing pain and actually healing—and why we need to visit the sad places.
When Faith Moves Mountains: A Family’s Prayer Journey Through Medical Crisis (Repost)
Six years ago, my brother P.J. battled an ulcer that sought to make a widow of his wife and leave my nieces and nephew fatherless. My family battled right back in prayer, and God worked a miracle. Today, a similar circumstance reminds me of this story, where I raised an Ebenezer worth revisiting now.
When Your Body Forces You to Slow Down: Lessons from Hand Surgery
Four hand surgeries in fifteen months taught me that sometimes our bodies know what our minds refuse to accept. Here's what I learned about rest, limits, and listening to what hurts.
Leaving Teaching to Write Full-Time: Is This My Midlife Crisis or My Calling?
After 16 years in the classroom, I'm not signing my teaching contract. A friend's sudden death at 44 made me realize: when do you give up safe and comfortable to do what you were created to do?
Dreams That Chase You: How Puerto Rico Called Me Home to Myself
Some dreams don't wait for permission—they chase you across oceans and through heartbreak. This is how Puerto Rico became the backdrop for rediscovering who I was meant to be.
Writer's Growth 