I lived right down the street from the neighborhood pool as a kid. This was a good thing because no matter how much I begged my parents to put a pool in our backyard, they said no. I cannot remember a time I couldn't swim, I love to swim, and the water is my happy … Continue reading The Pool – a Memory
gratitude
Threshold
At the start of this decade, I had just turned 40 and celebrated my 14th wedding anniversary to my kids’ dad. My older child was about to turn 10, My younger child had just turned 6 and had just been diagnosed with autism. I had no idea my life was going to blow up and … Continue reading Threshold
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Life’s Lessons
I’ve learned a lot over the last 50 years (and still have much to learn). I think my most significant moments of growth have occurred, though, during life’s challenges. In the middle of them, it felt awful. But when I got to the other side, I realized I was smarter and maybe a little more … Continue reading Life’s Lessons
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Are You Excited? I’m Excited!
I get excited about a lot of things, but at the moment, I think I’m most excited about finishing the year (decade!) strong. I’ve never been much of a New Year’s resolution person, and as someone who is a lifelong learner and educator, I tend to equate September with fresh starts. This year, I was … Continue reading Are You Excited? I’m Excited!
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Letter to Myself Five Years Ago
Dear 2014 Kristi, I’m writing to you from five years in the future, and there are some important things you need to know. The pain you’re in won’t last forever. The dark thoughts you’re having are understandable considering what he’s been doing, but I am here to tell you that you’re going to … Continue reading Letter to Myself Five Years Ago
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50/50
Turning 50 was a quiet big deal for me. Quiet in that I didn’t celebrate in any elaborate way, and big in that it’s brought with it a half century of growth, realization, and humility. I recently read a list about 50 things a woman over 50 should have, and I thought I’d write my … Continue reading 50/50
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Funk-Be-Gone
Every now and then, I get in a funk. It’s not quite a depression, but it’s a place where my motivation is lacking, my thoughts spiral down into old could’ves and should’ves, and I have some trouble focusing on what’s going right in my life. Generally, I’m an optimist, but we all have our moments … Continue reading Funk-Be-Gone
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Counting Blessings
The end of a half-century is a good time to take stock of the things in your life for which you’re grateful, don’t you think? I chose 50 things for obvious reasons. They’re in no particular order because blessings are blessings. Period. My parents have stayed together providing a loving, stable home for me to … Continue reading Counting Blessings
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50’s Doorstep
I started my 40’s a decade ago with a kick-ass, blow-out party that my then-husband threw for me. It was the best party I had ever been to, and that’s still the case. My kids were 5 and 9. My marriage, I thought, was solid. I was looking forward to continuing our life as a … Continue reading 50’s Doorstep
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New Adventures in Cooking
I used to hate cooking. I hated every aspect of it – the planning, the shopping, the prepping, and the actual cooking. I don’t know why. I guess it just felt like a chore – a lot of work without much payoff. Turns out, I was wrong. Cooking is actually pretty amazing. I’m in a … Continue reading New Adventures in Cooking
Meatballs & Butterflies 