A Year of Gratefulness

I started this post back in July and, somehow, never finished it. Life got busy, or busier, I guess. And before I knew it, here we are on the last day of December 2025. I began writing about how I've always appreciated being born in, and also living, in the U.S. - this country, I …

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Mom, Another Word for Home

Motherhood, as in speaking (or writing, that is) about my own mother and that of being a mother myself, is - for me - another word for Querencia, my Word of the Year. In the beginning, I only thought of motherhood in reference to being a daughter. And, of course, I sometimes dreamed of motherhood …

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A Love Letter to My First Home

Querencia, a place where one feels at home; a safe place; a sanctuary; and my word of the year, has me considering all the ways I've either felt safe, loved, secure, or have sought a safe haven from the stresses of this world. This month seems appropriate to write a letter to my first home, …

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A Grateful December

Every year has its ups and downs, and mine was filled with them for sure. But life has a way of bringing goodness out of the most dire circumstances, especially when one is hopeful and optimistic. In January of this year, I chose Grateful as my Word of the Year, and I can say it's …

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Thanksgiving is for Gratitude

Every day I am thankful for something. And often, my heart runs over with gratitude for all the many blessings I have been lauded. Granted, having a grateful heart means becoming aware of our blessings, acknowledging them, and giving thanks for them. And so, I have learned through the years that the more my heart …

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October Graces

Sammie is our oldest pup given to us by our son and daughter-of-the-heart. At almost 12 1/2 years, she's momma to our other three pets. I look all around me and am so grateful for all my blessings. I live in a modest one bedroom home which my husband and son built. I call it …

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September Thankfulness

This week I was thinking how much I'm grateful for, yet how heavy my heart is when I think of September. It's my mother's birthday and my son's and so many friends, so the celebrations and love abound all around. Yet, September marks the loss of so many loved ones for myself, hubs, and so …

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Let Freedom Ring On

In keeping with my Word of the Year: grateful, in the month of July (and every day), I am beyond grateful for the freedom which still exists in America today. When I read the news, digitally or in newsprint, about the lack of freedom in other countries, I am more and more thankful to have …

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Valentine’s Day Is Coming

It's hard to believe that we're in the month of February and that hubs and I are in our little casita for two months already. Gratitude makes time fly by fast and helps us zero in on the important things in life, like appreciating thoughtfulness from others, the little things that make us laugh, and …

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