Paws, Peace, and Purpose

There was something magical about summer as a kid. The days felt endless, the sunshine invited us outside, and the only real responsibility was making it home before dark. Looking back, some of my favorite memories aren’t from extravagant vacations or expensive activities—they’re from the simple moments that made childhood so special. Here are five of my favorite childhood summer memories. 1. Swinging on the Swing Set in New Sharon, Iowa One of my happiest memories is spending countless hours on the swing set in New Sharon. I would pump my legs higher and higher, imagining I could touch the clouds. There was something incredibly peaceful about feeling the warm breeze on my face and listening to the familiar creak of the swings as I soared through the air. 2. Rollerblading in Our Driveway in Pella, Iowa When we lived in Pella, our driveway became my own little skating rink. I’d lace up my rollerblades and spend hours cruising back and forth, practicing stopping, turning, and tryin...

 As summer unfolds, I've been thinking about the things that bring me joy and the ways I want to continue growing during this season. Summer often feels like an invitation to slow down, savor the little things, and reconnect with what matters most. As I look ahead, I've identified three ways I hope to continue shining this summer. 1. Creating Joy Through Meaningful Traditions One of my favorite things is finding reasons to celebrate. Whether it's a pet birthday, a cozy gathering with friends, a themed party, or simply making my home feel warm and welcoming, I love creating moments that bring joy.  I've learned that life doesn't always need a major milestone to be worth celebrating. Sometimes the smallest traditions become the memories we treasure most. This summer, I want to keep embracing those little moments and find creative ways to make everyday life feel special. 2. Caring for Others with a Generous Heart Caring for others has always been an important part of w...

"All bodies are beautiful." Those were the words of a sixth-grade student after another student made a comment criticizing her own body. That simple statement has stayed with me ever since. For most of my life, I was labeled as "chubby" or "fat." I wasn't the girl people described as beautiful. At best, I felt average. At worst, I felt invisible. Growing up, I struggled to see the good things about myself. No one pointed out that I was intelligent, kind, compassionate, hardworking, or brave in the ways that truly matter. Instead, I often heard that I was lazy or that I needed to try harder. After a while, I stopped trying altogether. Last night, someone commented on one of my social media posts. They mentioned that too much sugar in coffee is unhealthy and shared that they had lost 30 pounds by giving up soda. Then they added, "Instead of drinking coffee, maybe go on a hike." The irony is that I use sugar-free sweeteners in my coffee. I also ...

  Every summer seems to arrive with a quiet invitation: slow down, breathe deeper, and remember what it feels like to simply enjoy life. It’s easy to fill our days with expectations, obligations, and endless to-do lists. We tell ourselves that summer should be productive, memorable, or perfect. But this year, I want something different. This summer, I choose lightness. I choose joy. I choose delight in ordinary days. My intention for the season is simple: Choose Delight Over Pressure Instead of striving for the perfect summer, I want to collect small moments of happiness. The feeling of cool water on a hot afternoon. A dachshund curled up beside me. A sunset painted in shades of pink and gold. A good book read outside. A popsicle enjoyed without guilt. A walk through the neighborhood as the evening breeze rolls in. These moments may seem ordinary, but they are often the ones that become our favorite memories. Summer Is My Season of Wonder I want to approach this seaso...

  Today is Leia’s birthday, and I keep finding myself slipping into reflection instead of celebration in the usual way. Birthdays for the ones we love—especially the ones we can’t hold anymore—don’t always feel like cake and candles. Sometimes they feel like memory and longing and quiet conversations we don’t get to have out loud. And somehow, in the middle of thinking about Leia, I find myself thinking about Grandma… and Lois too. Three very different souls. Three very different kinds of love. And yet, in my heart, they feel connected in a way I can’t quite untangle. So today, instead of just marking a birthday, I want to write what I wish I could tell them now. Leia I wish I could tell Leia that I still think about her in ordinary moments—the ones she would’ve loved to be part of. I see things she would’ve reacted to. I hear songs that feel like they belong to her. I still catch myself expecting her presence in certain corners of life, like she never fully stopped being par...

Life has a funny way of making us think about the future. Sometimes it's seeing other people with children, whether we have children ourselves or not. Sometimes it's milestone birthdays, retirement parties, graduations, or celebrations that cause us to pause and reflect on where we are and what lies ahead. Recently, for me, it was my grandma's funeral. We stood together on a cool spring morning beneath a blue canopy. My grandma's gray casket rested nearby, waiting to be lowered into the ground after the service. My mother sat with her siblings in folding chairs covered in blue velvet. The rest of us stood behind them. Some family members sobbed openly. Others quietly wiped away tears. I found myself somewhere in between, shedding a few tears during a beautiful service that lasted only ten or fifteen minutes. Yet somehow, within those few minutes, the officiant perfectly captured the spirit of my grandma's life. One of the things she spoke about was my grandma's ...