After counting down the years, the months, the weeks, and the days, my husband now has ONE DAY of work left before being finally, officially RETIRED!

It’s strange to imagine—having him not set off to work each morning, watching my “honey-do” list shrink, spending more time together (walking, biking, kayaking, fishing, etc.), and having the freedom to travel and visit the kids and grandkids at our leisure.

I’m also retiring (again), after working part-time as a virtual speech-language pathologist for the past three years, adding to the aforementioned freedom.

Since we both love traveling, we hope to see and do as much as we can while we are still young(er) and healthy, starting with our upcoming “Retirement Celebration Road Trip”

I recently wrote about our plans, along with some road-trip reflections, for The Banner (an online publication of the Christian Reformed Church, which I formerly belonged to). I share it with you here in hopes of inspiring you on your journey!

The following was first published in TheBanner.org on July 17, 2026. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

“Road Trip!”

Hearing those two words fills us with anticipation, excitement, and curiosity for the adventures ahead. But despite the expected blessings and delight, sometimes the road can be rough. Planning, costs, and unexpected roadblocks are inevitable elements of any vacation. This merging of joy and suffering is likely why the Christian’s life of faith has often been compared to a journey.

By this fall, both my husband and I will be retired, and our calendar will be freed up for more traveling. With endless possibilities and a bucket list of places we’d like to go, we’ve decided on a celebration road trip to the great Southwest. We’re aiming for New Mexico and Oklahoma—two of the fifty states we have yet to check off our “been to” lists.

As we prepare for our road trip, the excitement is building. Perhaps you’re planning a late summer excursion as well. Before we pack our bags, let’s unpack some road trip reflections and reminders that align with our most precious journey—our Christian walk.

Get Advice

When sharing our intentions for a Southwest trip with family and friends, seasoned travelers have offered several tips and pieces of advice.

“Santa Fe and Taos are outstanding!”

“The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum is interesting.”

“We enjoyed touring the pistachio farms.”

“Don’t miss the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway!”

I’ve added these potential highlights to my itinerary spreadsheet, and wonder if I should also add another week to our plan. (After all, we will be retired!)

Tapping into the wisdom and experience of travelers who’ve gone before can be invaluable, not only for road trippers but also for Christians. From the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 to our modern-day writers and theologians, words of wisdom from our spiritual forerunners provide arrows and signs that point us toward our destination. When we read the stories of our faith fathers and mothers—their unexpected trials, struggles with doubt, and ultimate joy—we can envision our desired landmarks: grace and salvation through Christ.

Map the Journey​​

With some waypoints in mind, I map out our plan. Starting and ending in the Midwest, our somewhat circular route will cover thousands of miles. Back in the day, I would have hauled out the atlas and, using the grid in the back, noted the miles between major cities and estimated the travel time. Now, I simply enter the city, national park, or landmark into a maps app, and the route, mileage, and travel time are calculated in seconds.

Once, in the early days of GPS technology, my husband and I were traveling north through rural Montana, in an area we had never been to before. The farther we drove into the country, the fewer bars our cell phones had. Eventually, we lost our signal, and so we also lost our directions. Using the sun as our guide, we had a sense of which way was north, so we headed that way until we found a gas station where we could pick up a map. Thankfully, they still sold them!

Whether using an atlas or a computer, a map is essential for a well-planned road trip. And so it is with our faith journey. The Christian’s map—the GPS that guides us along our way—is the Gospel. Through the scriptures, we are given directions on when, where, and to whom we should turn.

However, if the Bible is the “GPS” for my Christian walk, I admit sometimes the signal is weak. The words, culture, and practices of the Old and New Testament are so unfamiliar to my modern-day life that I often question which direction I’m supposed to go.

When Christians are confused by the interpretation of scripture, pointing our words and actions toward the teachings, example, and work of Jesus—our light and true North—will keep us on the right path.

This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. (1 John 2: 5b-6)

Still, staying on the right road doesn’t guarantee easy travels.

Expect the Unexpected (and Ask for Help When Needed)

Despite our best-laid travel plans, we’ve encountered car trouble, weather delays, medical emergencies, and other unforeseen roadblocks on our travels. Over twenty years ago, in Colorado, with our minivan carrying our family of six and towing a pop-up camper, we pulled into a hilly campground at dark during a torrential rainstorm. The muddy, rutted road ahead should have been a clue to turn around, but we were tired travelers and, throwing caution to the wind, we went for it. We regretted our decision moments later, as our van tires spun and sank into the deep mud.

Thankfully, a kind soul who owned a Hummer noticed our plight and offered to tow us out of the muck. By the time we were moving again, I had booked a hotel—our first of the entire trip—a little further down the road.

As we trek along on our Christian journey, we, too, are bound to hit roadblocks that interfere with our spiritual growth. Desire for success, control, or earthly wealth bogs us down on our heavenly journey. Addictions, distractions, and doubts pull us off course.

When we hit those barriers or find ourselves stuck in worldly muck, finding Christian friends and mentors to walk alongside will keep us moving forward. Attending worship, church school classes, and Bible studies will build the strength needed to avoid pitfalls on our journey.

Recalling the unexpected hazards of our past road trips makes me pause as I plan our upcoming journey. Even though the trials we faced temporarily interfered with our progress, each roadblock taught us a valuable lesson and helped us become better travelers. The struggles we faced encouraged us to seek the direction and help we needed to arrive at our destination.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4)

Thankfully, our trips weren’t only filled with troubles and misfortune. They held many blessings as well.

In the End, Count it Pure Joy

On our travels, we’ve discovered facets of nature, history, and culture that were new to us and awe-inspiring. But some of my most enduring memories are of the people who, though strangers, welcomed us into their lives.

When I was a child, my family came upon a Czechoslovakian artist working on an oil painting of the Canadian Rockies. My dad, who could strike up a conversation with anyone (even through foreign accents), discovered that the man also played the zither. The artist and his wife ended up at our campsite that evening to entertain us with music and conversation, thus becoming part of our family lore.

I also remember the taxi driver in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, who became our “go-to” guy. He gave us his number so we could call him whenever we needed a ride or advice about the area. Though our backgrounds, language, and culture were worlds apart, a friendship was born.

These experiences are a tiny sample of the evidence of God’s kingdom at work as we journey through our days. Rather than fearing those who look, dress, or speak differently, when strangers share and receive Christlike love, we get a glimpse of hope for the future. Whether traveling abroad, taking a road trip, or talking to our next-door neighbors, appreciating diversity and opening our hearts to all of God’s children can bring unspeakable joy to our journey.

As my husband and I head to the Southwest this fall, we can expect a few bumps in the road and the occasional wrong turn. We’ll discover marvels in the landscape that remind us how small we are and how great our Creator is. We may find adventures we hadn’t even planned, and meet people whose names we’ll soon forget but whose kindness we’ll long remember.

And so it is as our faith journeys unfold. We can’t know what trials or joys we’ll face around the next bend. We can only point our hearts toward the One who does.

Her colleague, reporting from the field, wrapped up her story and then waited for a response. But the split-screen shows the anchorwoman at her desk, elbows and fists supporting her chin, eyes closed. Oops!

It turns out this exhausted, stretched-to-her-limits mom of a two-year-old and eight-month old had had less than two hours of sleep the night before. Her husband was pulling a double shift and her baby girl, who is teething, couldn’t fall asleep. In addition, working the morning show requires a 1:30 a.m. wakeup in order to get to her job by 2:30.

I was encouraged to hear she’s received widespread positive support (along with a little ribbing) from her employer and social media. It’s great to see empathy for a situation we can all relate to!

If you have ever been a parent of young kids, I’m sure you understand. And, if you’ve occasionally dozed off on the job, raise your hand! ✋ We’ve all been there. And as long as your job isn’t air traffic controller or brain surgeon, there was probably no harm done. Seriously, how many clips have we seen of DJT in the Land of Nod during high stakes meetings? If the U.S. President can nap at work, the rest of us should be allowed to as well!

Still, it’s difficult to work and be productive when running on fumes.

It’s one reason I’m loving the empty-nest years, along with retirement. (Yep, I’m giving retirement a second chance…more on that in a later post.) We can nap when we want to!

We may not be young moms anymore, but midlife and menopause bring their own sleep challenges, am I right? With night sweats, potty breaks, and general sleep disturbance, is a good night’s rest just a pipe dream?

Though we no longer have teething infants, our kids still manage to keep us awake at night. Their struggles, heartbreaks, and concerns weigh on our minds and sometimes send us spiraling as we try, unsuccessfully, to solve all of their problems before falling asleep.

Plus, the empty-nest freedom we enjoy can drive us to burn the midnight oil. I blame my late nights on a knitting project or good book I can’t put down, or the latest show I’m hooked on. Whatever the reason, I often break my own bedtime rules. (More on those below.)

But one of the benefits of our current midlife situation is the ability to take a nap whenever our bodies tell us we need one! Sometimes a brief 20-minute power nap gives me just enough juice to get through the day. Other days, I require an all-out hour-long snooze to recharge after a string of early mornings, busy days, and late nights.

Need tips on getting better sleep? Here are a couple of podcasts that have inspired me to establish a better bedtime routine.

I’m a work in progress, but setting a few simple rules for myself has really helped.

My Rules for Happy Slumber 😴

1. No caffeine after 3:00 p.m. (But I definitely need my coffee every morning! ☕️)

2. No evening glass of red wine. Actually, no more red wine, period, for me. I recently discovered it’s full of histamines that I’m allergic to. I first noticed a sensitivity that brought on headaches and insomnia. Then, I had an all-out allergic reaction of nausea, vomiting, and a terribly itchy rash. So yeah. I’ll stick with my Pinot Grigio (or none at all).

3. Follow regular routines for evening bedtimes and morning wakeups that allow for 7-8 hours of sleep.

4. Put phone on “Do Not Disturb” during sleep hours. Also, if I wake up during the night to use the restroom, I resist checking my phone. Urgent messages from my family will still get through.

5. Get thoughts out of head and onto a list to free up the mind for sweet dreams. When life gets busy or complicated and my to-do’s and don’t-forgets keep me from sleeping, I open my notes app or grab a pen and paper and jot them down.

6. I take Magnesium Glycinate every evening which has worked wonders for helping me fall and stay asleep! (Disclaimer: I’m not a sleep expert and am not qualified to give medical advice. This is just what has worked for me.)

   If all else fails and I have a short or restless night of sleep, I remind myself that I have survived sleepy days before and I will again.

   But, I might need a nap! 😴

   What are your sleep struggles?

   Please share any additional sleep tips and advice!

   Leave a comment

Speaking of the benefits of an empty nest, can I take you on a joyride?

Available online now, wherever books are sold!

Reignite Your Marriage, Rediscover Yourself, and Embrace the Empty Nest with Joy!

You’ve been parenting for years, and now face the sudden realization that this ride, and your role, are about to change. Like exiting a busy highway, you might look forward to a slower, gentler, and more relaxing pace. Or, perhaps the quiet path ahead fills you with uncertainty and the dread of emptiness.

You’re about to embark on an unfamiliar journey. What lies around the bend is a mystery.

I’ve been around that bend. In Empty-Nest Joyride, I share a heartfelt collection of personal stories inspired by bike rides through the Midwest countryside. Using cycling adventures as metaphors, I reflect on the challenges and blessings of this midlife stage with humor, warmth, and wisdom.

Whether you’re approaching the empty nest or already in the midst of it, this book will encourage you to:

🚴‍♂️ Reach for new opportunities in personal and spiritual growth

🚴‍♀️ Ignite and rekindle the spark in your marriage

🚴‍♂️ Dream of ambitions you put on hold during the parenting years

🚴‍♀️ Engage in healthy, fulfilling relationships with your adult children

Hit the trail with me and discover how you can fill life’s next chapter with hope, love, and purpose—together with unexpected joy—on the road to contentment.

FAQs:

What if I don’t know anyone? Will I feel out of place?

I sincerely hope not! As the group facilitator, I’ll help break the ice so we can get to know one other. If you love books, you already have something in common with everyone else!

I started the book, but haven’t finished. Should I still come?

You’re still welcome, but you should be prepared for some spoilers, as no part of the book will be off limits for discussion.

How long will the meeting last?

It depends how many attend, but I’m guessing around an hour. There will be a hard stop at an hour and a half.

Does it cost anything to join?

Our first meeting is FREE to all! (Future meetings TBD. )

I hope you’ll join us!

Next Chapter Book Club!

So much excitement!

With America’s 250th birthday, Travis and Taylor’s wedding, and the World Cup games, life sure has been full lately! I hope you’ve been able to take in some of the celebration wherever you are.

We’ve had family visiting us at the cabin for the past two weeks, so there’s been the additional excitement of fishing, kayaking, shopping, visiting, etc. It’s been hard to find time to read, and even harder to write up reviews. But, as I’ve been doing every two months for the past couple of years, I got ‘er done.

During May and June, I finished seven books—four were for my summer book club which meets every two weeks, two are recent best sellers that it seems everyone is talking about, and one had been on my TBR list for years.

And now, on to the reviews.

*BookStack, vol. 15, May-June, 2026.

Educated (Tara Westover) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Highly Recommend. Such a heartbreaking, yet inspiring, story. This memoir gripped me from the first page until the last as Tara Westover recalls her very unusual and violent upbringing. Without ever denying the love of her family and parents, she comes to terms with how their beliefs and actions shaped her in her youth, and haunted her into adulthood. A devout Mormon, her father was also suspicious of the federal government, public schools, and medical doctors. After leaving home and becoming “Educated,” Tara also suspected her father had bipolar disorder.

Tara’s story is one of resilience, perseverance, pain, and courage. Like a fish out of water, she enrolled at BYU when she was 17, after receiving no previous formal education. Despite being initially ostracized by her peers because of the habits, beliefs, and sheltered life she grew up with, she eventually broke through and thrived in her collegiate life and studies, earning a PhD from Cambridge. (eBook)

The Jilted Countess (Loretta Ellsworth) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Highly Recommend. This story, based on the real-life events of Hungarian countess Roza Meszaros, takes place in Minnesota, which made it a perfect choice for the book club I attended in Park Rapids (MN). The story of a hopeful GI bride who travels to America only to be jilted by her fiancé is captivating from beginning to end.

Roza's resourcefulness and courage in finding a husband so that she could stay in America reminded me of a 1940s version of today's "Tinder" and "Hinge" dating apps. The fact that she had to choose a husband from nearly 2,000 suitors in only two weeks was even more life-changing than today's speed dating.

While the author fictionalized parts of the story to add more romance and intrigue, the characters and plot were believable and engaging. The book's themes of love and protection, early feminism, and the effects of war on those who served and lived through it all added value to this most unusual and intriguing romance. (Audiobook)

The Last American Road Trip (Sarah Kendzior) ⭐️⭐️⭐️

You might like it, but it wasn’t for me. I read (listened to) this book for a book club, and when we discussed it, many in our group had similar likes and dislikes. What I liked: Sarah Kendzior’s road trip destinations and many of the descriptions. From the various national parks to the offbeat gas stations, diners, and touristy spots, she inspired me to get on the road and see more of this great country. Some of the history she recounted was also interesting, but often the descriptions went on too long.

What I didn’t care for: Kendzior’s negativity and doomsday approach to just about every place they visited. Her goal in taking her family (husband and two children) on these road trips was to make sure her kids had a chance to see America before it no longer existed. She focused so much on her anger over politics and our country’s past wrongs (something I don’t deny) that it seemed to steal any joy they could have experienced in their travels together. While she focused on the demise of our nation, she offered no hope for the future.

My takeaway: I feel sorry for Kendzior and her children, who live with such a negative world view despite the beauty, truth, and goodness that surround us in this diverse and bountiful, though admittedly flawed, nation. (Audiobook)

Theo of Golden (Allen Levi) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Highly Recommend. My 5-star review was likely influenced by hearing so many people recommend this book. I'd give it 4.5 stars if I could, only because it was slow-moving, especially in the beginning, and didn't always hold my attention (the audiobook, which I intermittently listened to, helped). Still, Theo was the most humble, kind-hearted, and generous character I’ve come across in a long time. I couldn’t help loving him and his story.

After Theo moved to Golden, he found a coffee shop with walls lined with portraits of local residents. One by one, he purchased the portraits, reached out to their subjects, met them on a park bench, and, after hearing their stories, gave them the gift of their portrait. He also freely gave his attention, acceptance, and often friendship to each person he met, regardless of their age, status, or circumstances.

The mystery of Theo's background and reason for being in Golden kept me guessing. The ending, though sad, brought a satisfying conclusion. There were many "golden" lines and moments sprinkled throughout the book that stayed with me after finishing. (Paperback & Audiobook)

The Weekend (Charlotte Wood) ⭐️⭐️

I don’t recommend. Another book club pick, this one disappointed me. The story was about three older women in their 70s, who’ve been friends for most of their lives. They come together for a weekend to clean out the house of a fourth friend, who is recently deceased.

If these women are lifelong friends, then they don’t know the meaning of friendship. They are catty, critical, and cut each other down constantly. I kept hoping they would break through their mean-spirited thoughts and comments and renew the ties that once held them together. But that didn’t happen until the very end of the book and even then, their reconciliation was mostly unspoken and mediocre.

Besides the shaky friendships, the book offered frequent graphic descriptions of aging bodies, and an old incontinent dog with one foot in the grave. Overall, I thought The Weekend was simply a depressing look at aging and friendship. (Paperback)

Yesteryear (Caro Claire Burke) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommend. After hearing several commentaries on this book, I was excited to find it was available on audio in my Libby app. I listened to it on one of my long trips between Minnesota and Michigan, and it held my interest from beginning to end. Very captivating!

Natalie Heller Mills, an Idaho “trad wife influencer,” portrays to her millions of onlin followers her supposed simple life—making her own butter and sourdough bread, feeding her chickens, homeschooling and raising her six children, and supporting her cattle-farmer husband. But her portrayal is far from her reality, and her ideal household is shaken when a scandal surfaces. Things get even crazier when Natalie wakes up in the life of an actual traditional wife in 1855. Everything is familiar, but different, unsettling, harsh, and painful.

Yesteryear is a thought-provoking assessment of several current societal trends. I was especially struck by the frequent contradictions inherent in the characters’ views of ideal womanhood, manliness, faith, and family values. Caution: contains explicit and disturbing scenes. (Audiobook)

In the Family Way (Laney Katz Becker) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommend. I read this book for the book club I attend in Minnesota which is comprised of women, approximately ages 60-80. The book’s setting, a Midwest town in 1964-65, along with topics of women’s roles and the rise of feminism, allowed for a lively discussion. The main characters were almost all either happily pregnant (“in the family way” as they’d say in the 60s), not-so-happily pregnant, or trying to get pregnant.

In the mid-60s, as is now the case in many states, abortions were illegal. Unfortunately, this led to dangerous medical procedures for women in desperate situations, which often led to complications, hospitalizations, or even death. Whether pro-choice or pro-life, this book of historical fiction presents multiple sides to the issue of abortion, and stirred me to reexamine my own thoughts and feelings about it.

Although the book’s content was heavy at times, the many references to life in the 60s (i.e. TV shows, food trends, celebrities, etc.) provided a pleasant walk down memory lane, even if I was only a toddler in the mid-60s. 😇 It also brought back fond memories of my hard-working mother and contrasts between her life then and mine today. Trigger warning: contains spousal abuse, rape, and abortion. (eBook)

And…that’s the stack!

Let me know if you’ve read or plan to read any of these books! Or, just let me know you were here by “hitting the 🖤.”

Leave a comment

*This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I get a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. All links are through Bookshop.org, an online bookstore that supports local, independent bookstores. Thanks for your support!

We have a small but mighty group of readers who have shown interest in the Next Chapter Book Club.

Our inaugural meeting is in less than two weeks, on Tuesday, July 14.

I’d like to propose a 6:00 p.m. ET start time (5:00 CT; 4:00 MT, 3:00 PT)

Please let me know if this time will work for you, and if not, what times would work. I will try my best to provide a time that works for everyone, but that may not be possible.

I’m still working out the communication kinks, setting up meeting links, etc. Thank you for your patience as I figure things out. In the meantime, if you haven’t read The Correspondent yet, it’s time to get started!

What to expect during our first meeting:

• A short time of introductions.

• A review of book club etiquette.

• Opening icebreaker question (related to the book).

• Further book discussion.

Before we finish, we’ll open things up for questions and suggestions for future meetings of the Next Chapter Book Club, such as…

• Should we continue?

• Meeting frequency (monthly, bimonthly, quarterly, other).

• Preferred day of the week and time of day.

• Your favorite genres.

• Book suggestions.

I look forward to meeting you soon!

On to the Next Chapter,

Linda

In case you missed the news in my last post, I’m hoping to start a book club for all you readers in life’s next chapter. In other words, if you can read a novel, you’re invited!

Based on my recent reader survey, I expect most of us will be 55-75 year-old women. But if you’re younger or older, you’re still welcome of course!

Are you a book lover? Or maybe you’d like to read more, but need a little encouragement. Do you enjoy discussing books with others, especially when you find someone who has read the same one?

My hope is that The Next Chapter Book Club becomes more than a discussion group. I imagine a place where readers connect over books, share ideas, and build friendships with others who are navigating a similar season of life. If this sounds like something for you, read on!

All the details:

• Join me for a one-time book discussion on Tuesday, July 14th (time TBD based on needs of those who sign up).

• Initial responses and attendees will help me determine if there’s enough interest to make a go of it. We’ll also discuss frequency (bimonthly? quarterly?), and the best day and time to meet.

• We’ll use the online platform, Google Meets. It’s similar to Zoom and easy to use.

• In July, we’ll discuss The Correspondent,* by Virginia Evans. (Read my review HERE.) I really enjoyed this book, but would love to know what you think about it!

• Our first meeting is in less than 3 weeks, so you may need to act quickly if you haven’t read the book yet.

Interested? Leave a comment below to let me know…

…if a different day works better for you.

…which time of day is best—morning, afternoon, or evening?

…if you’d prefer a bimonthly or quarterly schedule.

…if you’ve read The Correspondent.

If you plan to join our first meeting, RSVP (ASAP) by leaving a comment or sending a private message. I’ll add you to the list and send you the meeting link before July 14th!

If you can’t make it on the 14th but want to join future meetings, I’d really like to know so I can gauge if there’s enough interest to continue.

Leave a comment

If the pilot group goes well, I’ll likely make The Next Chapter Book Club an ongoing benefit for paid subscribers. (My paid subscribers pay as little as $3/month, but if money is an obstacle to you joining, I can gift you a paid subscription, no questions asked 🧡.)

I look forward to hearing from you!

*This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase through this link, I get a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. All links are through Bookshop.org, an online bookstore that supports local, independent bookstores. Thanks for your support!

Did you know? For Anti-Prime day, you can get FREE Shipping and support your local indie bookstore at Bookshop.org through tomorrow, June 26th!

Since I haven’t written in over three weeks, here’s a quick review of what I’ve been up to during my summer-not-quite-summer days.

• I spent three of the past four weeks at our cabin, opening the place up after its long winter’s nap. I transplanted some Michigan ferns into Minnesota soil (and paid for it with a poison ivy rash). 😩 And we bought our first boat! 🎉

• As secretary for our up-north homeowner’s association, I volunteered to transfer and scan files from a flash drive and several paper binders to the Cloud. It’s a big project, and although I’m not quite finished, I’m feeling very accomplished!

• I enjoyed several days, off and on, with my 6- and 3-year-old grandchildren. They are at such fun ages, even if they do run us ragged at times!

Life is full, and writing often takes a back seat to life’s other distractions. Which is why you haven’t heard from me in over three weeks.

I also struggle with motivation. I mentioned this in my online writer group, and was asked what I was writing. I responded with a few ideas and at one point said, “I have to write a post on…”

Our coach asked, “Why did you say you ‘have to’ write?” She encouraged me to think about that and find my “why?”

Why do I write?

Nothing is forcing me, and I sometimes wonder whether my words make a difference amid the many voices competing for your attention. Writing has its rewards, but finding fresh ideas and engaging words is often a challenge.

In searching for my “why?” I’ve discovered…

…writing, like reading, forms and shapes my thoughts and actions. Through reading and writing, I’m challenged to be a better version of myself.

…I’m motivated by deadlines and promises I’ve made. If I’m not held accountable, I tend to procrastinate. (Can anyone relate here?)

…I’m rewarded by interaction with my readers. I love the comments I receive and conversations we have about books, faith, family, and the empty-nest life.

My writing is often the starting point, but the relationships are what keep me going.

With those thoughts in mind, I’ve decided to branch out and try something new—a project I’ve been considering for some time. And I’m inviting you to join me!

Are you a book lover? Or maybe you'd like to read more, but need a little encouragement. Do you enjoy discussing books with others, especially when you find someone who has read the same one?

My hope is that The Next Chapter Book Club becomes more than a discussion group. I imagine a place where readers connect over books, share ideas, and build friendships with others who are navigating a similar season of life. If this sounds like something for you, read on!

Here are the details:

• Join me for a one-time book discussion on Tuesday, July 14th (time TBD).

• Initial attendees will help me determine if there’s enough interest to continue. We’ll also discuss frequency (bimonthly? quarterly?), and the best day and time to meet.

• We’ll use the online platform, Google Meets. It’s similar to Zoom and easy to use.

• In July, we’ll discuss The Correspondent,* by Virginia Evans. (Read my review HERE.) I really enjoyed this book, but would love to know what others think about it!

Interested? Leave a comment below to let me know.

Would a different day work better for you?

Which time is best—morning, afternoon, or evening?

Would you prefer a bimonthly or quarterly schedule?

Have you read The Correspondent?

If you plan to join our first meeting, let me know by leaving a comment or sending a private message. I’ll add you to the list and send you the meeting link before July 14th!

If the pilot group goes well and there's enough interest to continue, I'll likely make The Next Chapter Book Club an ongoing benefit for paid subscribers.

Leave a comment

One more thing, totally unrelated. But actually, sort of related. 😁

This past week, Suzy Rosenstein released our conversation on her podcast, Women in the Middle: Loving Life After 50!

Suzy is a life coach who helps midlife women move forward with clarity and purpose. Our conversation touched on many of the same themes I’ve been wrestling with lately—finding motivation, embracing new seasons of life, and discovering what matters most.

If those topics resonate with you, I think you’ll enjoy listening.

Listen now!

If you know someone who’s in or entering the empty-nest season and could use some encouragement, would you share this newsletter with them? Thanks!!

Share Empty-Nest Joyride!

*This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase through this links, I get a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. All links are through Bookshop.org, an online bookstore that supports local, independent bookstores. Thanks for your support!

“TWO hours and 15 minutes,” the hostess said. I knew it was an immediate “no” for us. It was already nearly 7:00 p.m. and we were hungry, going on hangry.

I opened my phone to text my husband that we needed a Plan B, and was shocked to see my phone was dead! Although the battery has been waning, this was the first time it had died so early in the evening.

My brain raced to plan my next action. Should I go out looking for my husband who was looking for parking? No. What if he drove by or parked and came looking for me and I was gone? Should I…um…I could think of nothing else. My only “action” was no action—to stand along the street and wait for him.

And so, I waited. Ten minutes went by. Fifteen. Twenty.

Where was he??? Had something happened to him? I knew the man who had been at my side for 38 years would not abandon me. So what was going on? My worry turned to frustration. If we had just taken one of the paid parking lot spots and walked to the restaurant together, I wouldn’t be standing here shivering like a lost puppy.

Finally, across the street, a familiar, tall, bearded man approached, hands in the air in a “What’s going on?” gesture. Relieved, frustrated, cold, and now fully hangry, I didn’t know whether to cry, scream, or laugh. (I can tell you, I didn’t laugh. Not in the moment, at least.)

Several minutes later, we got our stories straight. He had parked the car and tried to text and then call me to find out the status of the wait time. The call didn’t go through so he assumed I was talking to our daughter and ignoring him. (To be fair, she does tend to call frequently—often at inopportune moments—and, like me, has the gift of gab.) But when I told him my phone had died and I had been standing helpless on the street for the past twenty-five minutes, he apologized.

All’s well when it ends well, and our evening ended well with a 10-minute wait for a nice table across the street at The New Holland Brewing Co.

The whole experience made me realize how dependent we have become on those silly, unreliable devices in our pockets. (And that I should carry a portable charger with me!)

Two days earlier, on April 16, 2026 (our actual anniversary), I had kissed Tom good-bye and headed off to Grand Rapids, Michigan for Calvin University’s Festival of Faith and Writing. (Maybe I’m at fault for abandoning him first?)

As a writer, there are many days when—like having a dead cell phone—I feel lost and disconnected. I’m standing on the metaphorical sidewalk, wondering if anyone is out there. I’m feeling utterly alone in this harsh, midlife wasteland.

But then, every two years, the FFW embraces me like my husband’s arms, and fills me up like a satisfying meal—with the words of encouragement I’ve been seeking.

Though it’s impossible to convey the depths of wisdom and inspiration poured out at the festival, I’ve searched my notes (like I did two years ago) to share some highlights with you. Enjoy!

*Note: the following are not exact quotes, but are taken from the notes I quickly scribbled during my sessions. My apologies to any speakers who I may have misquoted.

On Reading

Write a “syllabus of your life” with the books of your life (the books that shaped you in childhood, parenthood, adulthood, etc.). Kate Albus (author of A Place to Hang the Moon)

Historical Fiction is not a genre. It is a setting for a thriller, comedy, romance, mystery, and more. Ariel Lawhon

When we tell or read stories from others of different cultures or religions, we open ourselves up. Aaliyal Bilal

On Writing

Imagination: The faculty or action of forming images of things not seen.

Creativity: Putting two things together that have never been put together before.

What makes your writing healing? The paradox of sadness and light. Scott Erickson

The “rules” of writing:

Read it out loud.

Find your people.

Find what you write for. Kate Albus

Adopt anything in the natural world as your teacher.

Take what you see and let others see/recall their experience through you.

The best part of writing: when you forget what time it is. You’re in the flow.

Barbara Brown Taylor

On Growing, Learning, Becoming

The process of transformation always begins in the “low.”

Grief is based in the death of future memories. Scott Erickson

The land is our teacher. To be better students, we have to pay attention.

Attention is our currency.

School children recognize 100 corporate logos and less than ten plants.

Attention ➡️ Intention ➡️ Action

Robin Wall Kimmerer

We all suffer from a lack of grief literacy and language. When supporting those who are grieving, we can become the “connective tissue” that holds us together.

Grief ➡️ Lament ➡️ Transformation

J. S. Park

At my husband’s and my ages, what I look forward to is going to dinner. I wake up in the morning and the first thing I say is, “Whew! Thanks.” 😅 Barbara Brown Taylor

The festival was an uplifting time of listening, learning, and loving the power of words. Words connect us, whether in person, by text (when our phones aren’t dead), through newsletters, or in books. As a writer, reader, and person of faith, during the festival I experienced that deep sense of connection. I felt seen.

And, my dear reader, that is what I wish for you!

Have you read any of the authors quoted above? Any favorites?

Which quotes inspire, encourage, or connect with you?

Leave a comment

Would you let me know you were here? Just hit the 🖤 !

*This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I get a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. All links are through Bookshop.org, an online bookstore that supports local, independent bookstores. Thanks for your support!

May 15 marked one year since the release of

Empty-Nest Joyride!

And what a ride it has been!

Like birds from a nest, this year has flown! As author Gretchen Rubin says, “the days are long but the years are short.”

Since last May…

With joy, we added another member to our family—our son-in-law Garrett.

In sadness, we lost another—my brother-in-law Mike.

We’ve celebrated holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries. Spent time up north at our cabin. Taken mini-trips to Lexington, Grand Rapids, St. Paul, and Madison; and bigger trips to Seattle and Charleston.

We’ve had heavy snows, strong winds, and hailstorms. Dealt with a flat tires, our aging bodies, and family members struggling with depression and anxiety.

On our empty-nest joyride, we’ve experienced the ups and downs of life, reminiscent of the hills and valleys we encounter on our bike rides throughout the Midwest.

My year as a second-time author has also had ups and downs. While my 1st book—Lent Through the Little Things—continues to reach many readers each Lenten season, my latest “book baby” keeps plugging along (much like me pedaling up a long hill). Marketing is not my cup of tea, but with over four million books published annually, it’s the only way to get noticed. Once in a while, my baby needs to make a little noise to get some attention.

Hence, this week’s newsletter. It’s a celebration! (And a shameless plug.)

It’s also the perfect time to thank each of you who have purchased, read, rated, and reviewed Empty-Nest Joyride. This means more to me than I can express. With a 5.0 rating on Amazon and 4.75 on Goodreads, PLUS several kind reviews, I know my words—the vulnerable stories I dared to put out into the world— have made a difference.

And that’s truly all I can ask for.

Please indulge me while I share a few kind words from my readers.

After 26 years of parenting children, Linda Hanstra and her husband were facing the empty nest—or was it the "mighty nest"?

"The saying goes 'birds of a feather flock together,'" she writes. "But can two birds of different feathers build a mighty nest together?"

In this lovely, wisdom-filled book, she shares her own story of how her nest filled up once upon a time and emptied, one by one, as her four children took different paths to college and beyond. Anyone facing the empty-nest years will find Hanstra to be a gentle, winsome guide as they confront changing roles, parenting young adults, and, hopefully, reinventing a marriage and what it means to have a full house of two. Biking enthusiasts will love her stories based on the Hanstras' shared biking hobby.

_{-Lorilee Craker, Mixed Media Editor - The Banner. Author of 16 books, including her most recent: Eat Like a Heroine.}

The author took me on a joy-filled yet honest ride through her family experiences with emphasis on keeping a marriage strong especailly in the empty-nest years. Vulnerable stories from her past illustrate her knowledge of and trust in God as the one who keeps us upright when things are in the midst of change or we hit a “bump in the road.” The reflection questions at the end of each chapter are insightful and helpful to a reader in various seasons of life and would enhance a book group study.
_{-Sue Donaldson, Author: Never Alone: Stories of Invitation and Connection}

Once again, it’s graduation season! Will your nest be a little emptier in the fall? Are you nervous? A little misty-eyed? Excited at the thought of a little more freedom?

I’ve been there. In Empty-Nest Joyride I share my stories to ease you through your story—of faith, marriage, family relationships, caregiving, aging, whatever you’re facing—as you discover hope, love, and purpose on the road to contentment!

Do you have a friend or family member who will be emptying their nest? Perhaps there’s a small group of friends or couples from your neighborhood or church that would benefit from reading and discussing life’s next chapter together.

Consider giving the gift of encouragement!

Thanks in advance for your support of an indie author just trying to crest the next hump in the road!

Oh, and one more “pretty please” for ratings and reviews. If you’ve read either of my books (or even just started them), could you let others know what you thought? Ratings and reviews are one of the most influential means for helping others find their next good read! Leaving a rating takes less than 30 seconds. Here are some links to make it easy:

Rate "Joyride" on Amazon

Rate "Joyride" on Goodreads

Rate "Lent" on Amazon

Rate "Lent" on Goodreads

Many thanks for all the ways you’ve come through for me in the past year; for joining me on this Joyride!

Saturday, April 25, was Independent Bookstore Day, so my daughter, Chloe—librarian, turned founder of the Read & Roam Collective (Madison, WI)—suggested we check out several indie bookstores. We headed first to King Street, the well-known Charleston shopping hub, where we perused the shelves of Ladybird Books, Sweeter Than Fiction, and Buxton Books.

Although we had intended to only hit up the bookstores, we were enticed by several other boutiques and specialty shops, our eyes feasting on the springtime colors that surrounded us in the stores and also on the fashionable Southern shoppers . Tip: If you’re going to Charleston, don’t neglect to pack your shopping dress! A delicate floral print will suffice. Who knew?

We eventually left King Street, and headed to Mount Pleasant, where we found The Village Bookseller. Each of the four stores we visited had special activities, treats and prizes to celebrate their day. I actually won a copy of The Correspondent (Deluxe Edition), from Buxton’s! 📔 🎉 We loved each shop for its own unique flavor, making it hard to pick a favorite!

Before I get into my March-April Bookstack (the bi-monthly list of books I’ve read, rated, and reviewed), I have to mention one more indie bookstore. If you love books and are local to the Michiana area—i.e. the Michigan-Indiana border near South Bend, Mishawaka, Niles, Edwardsburg, Elkhart, Goshen, etc.—you have to check out Fables Books in Goshen (IN). They’ve got something for everyone, offering a feast for book lovers!

And this Friday, May 1st, from 6:00-8:00 p.m., would be the perfect time to visit! I am honored to be participating in Fables’ “Author Meet and Greet,” as part of the Goshen First Fridays Event. If you’re around, I’d love to sign a book for you, or simply chat face-to-face!

Please come, and bring a friend!

And now, on to the reviews.

*BookStack, vol. 14, March-April, 2026.

Note: Books marked with *FFW were chosen, in part, because the author was speaking at the Festival of Faith and Writing I attended in April at Calvin University.

The Frozen River (Ariel Lawhon) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Highly Recommend. Based on the real life of 18th-century midwife Martha Ballard, The Frozen River is a story of courage and determination. Although has added fictional embellishments, many of the facts were drawn from Martha Ballard's life as recorded in her journals.

When two men in the community are accused of raping a pastor's wife, Martha finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation, as one of the accused is found dead in the frozen river, and she is called to examine the body. The other accused man is the town's only judge. During the trials that ensue, we see the discrimination of women in a male-dominated society, where unfair legal systems punish only women—not men—for sexual sins and crimes. Echoes of the past remain today.

I was not only drawn to the suspense and mystery woven throughout the story, but was gripped by descriptions of the everyday hardships of 18th-century life. I could relate to Martha's midlife mindset—having a loving husband and teen/young adult children with their own life and relationship issues—as well as her passion for writing. Her diligence in recording the details of every birth, death, and house call she attended eventually brought some measure of justice and gave us the story of Martha Ballard over 200 years later. I'm sure this will be one of my top reads for the year. (Audiobook, *FFW) P.S. Loved ’s talk at the Festival of Faith and Writing!

The Book of (More) Delights (Ross Gay) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommend. It took me several essays to get into Ross Gay's meandering style of poetic prose. His sentences are often long, with tangential thoughts that wander and branch out, eventually working back to his original thread. It takes a moment (or a second or third read) for my brain to catch up.

So, although some of his essays left me confused and thinking "huh?", others had me smiling, laughing out loud, or feeling a sense of peace. Ross Gay's superpower is his attention to the world around him—the natural world, people, relationships, technology, literally, any detail—and his ability to turn these daily observations and experiences into delights. (Paperback, *FFW)

Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others (Barbara Brown Taylor) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommend. Holy Envy was an enlightening journey, exploring the major world religions of Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity. Barbara Brown Taylor's own beliefs and practices were forever changed when she began teaching Religion 101 (an introduction to world religions) at Piedmont College in rural Georgia. She shares what she learned from her experiences—like class field trips to temples, mosques, and churches—as well as from her students' reactions and feedback.

While Taylor doesn't delve deeply into each religion's beliefs (it would take much more than a 7-hour audiobook to do that), it does describe similarities and differences each religion has with Christianity, and points out admirable qualities and practices of each.

In a world where countries still go to war over religion, and even Christians are deeply divided, this book is invaluable. Taylor stresses learning from and being open to others' beliefs before judging, valuing all people as created in God's image, and being more thoughtful about our own religious beliefs and practices. Like several introductory college courses I've taken, this book opened my eyes, made me think, and left me wanting to know more. (Audiobook, *FFW)

The Correspondent (Virginia Evans) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Highly Recommend. Through her daily habit of letter-writing (and ’ epistolary narrative form), Sybil Van Antwerp tells the story of her life during her seventh decade. She describes the present moments of her daily activities—sharing books she's read (which made my TBR list grow!), auditing college courses, mentoring a young man through his difficult teenage years, assisting a Syrian immigrant she meets through a customer service call, and—most surprisingly to Sybil, discovering romance, love, and new family revelations.

Her letters also unveil the deep pain of her past and the reasons for severed ties with her daughter. She pens regrets over decisions made during her law career. And she finally reveals long-held secrets and a confession of guilt and shame that has plagued her for years. Whether her confession led to any self-forgiveness and ultimate healing, the reader is left to wonder. I appreciated the author's perspective that aging doesn't have to be stagnant, but rather can offer new experiences and adventures, and time to reflect on and make amends for one's life decisions. (Audiobook)

A Place to Hang the Moon (Kate Albus) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Highly Recommend. Sometimes, it’s nice to dive into a middle-grade book. And when the story is told by , you’ll often forget it was written for kids. I was immersed into the story of Anna, Edmund and William—9-, 11-, and 12-year-old orphan siblings—who are evacuated during World War II in the hopes they’ll find their forever family.

Albus’s characters are realistic and complex. The more I came to know the children, the more I cared about them. I was alarmed at the pain they had to suffer, and relieved when they found adults who truly cared about them. But would they find their forever home? You’ll have to read the book to find out!

This book stayed on my mind for days after I read it, one of my criteria for a really good read! (Audiobook, *FFW)

Ordinary Time: Lessons Learned While Staying Put (Annie B. Jones) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommend. I was not familiar with Annie B. Jones and her popular "From the Front Porch" podcast before picking up this book. But it didn't take long for me to get pulled into her story—one of staying put in a small town as friends move on, of owning a bookshop (what reader/writer doesn't imagine some form of that dream?), and of feeling somewhat out of place in a new town.

Although I didn't find every chapter/essay deeply meaningful, there were several that I could relate to and draw life lessons from. She describes relationships with the church, her husband, and others. I found her chapter on the older-sister/younger-brother bond to be sweet and one that is rarely described in literature. I enjoyed Jones' honest vulnerability and down-to-earth style, and believe if we lived in the same small town, she'd be my friend and favorite bookseller. (Audiobook)

Joyride: A Memoir (Susan Orlean) ⭐️⭐️⭐️

You might like it, but it wasn’t my favorite. Susan Orlean’s award-wining memoir, Joyride, was released just five months after my book, Empty-Nest Joyride, so I was curious to see if there were any other similarities besides our titles. The answer was “no.”

Orlean has been a longtime writer for The New Yorker, and has penned several books. Her process of forming and pitching ideas, researching every possible angle of her topic, and completing her projects was eye-opening. However, I often found myself disengaged by the detail with which she expounded on the countless stories she had written, and I was mildly annoyed by her frequent name-dropping (many of which were names I didn’t recognize). The early part of the book was a slog, with more interesting, personal stories in the later chapters. (Hardcover)

Daughters of Palestine: A Memoir in Five Generations (Leyla K. King) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommend. Leyla K. King, grew up looking white. But in time, she realized her family was different. Her curiosity and desire to know more of her family history drove her to interview her grandmother, Bahi, who immigrated to the United States in the 1970s from the war-torn Middle East.

Bahi’s stories of her large family of Palestinian Christians are beautifully captured by King in this multigenerational memoir. Although the timelines are a bit confusing as the stories jump up and down the generations, I was moved by the family’s resilience, strength, and faith during trials and hardships I’ll likely never have to endure. The history and lessons conveyed are good reminders to recognize the humanity of all persons, and to avoid dehumanizing others based on perceived differences, religion, or nationality. (eBook, *FFW)

And…that’s the stack!

Let me know if you’ve read or plan to read any of these books! Or, just let me know you were here by “hitting the 🖤.”

Leave a comment

Support your indie bookstores! Shop small. 📚

*This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I get a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. All links are through Bookshop.org, an online bookstore that supports local, independent bookstores. Thanks for your support!

With graduation season just around the corner, many parents are looking ahead to a new season. As kids move away for jobs, college, or another place to call “home,” there will be one less plate at the dinner table. Or maybe, there’ll be only one or two place settings left.

Wherever you are on the spectrum, I encourage you to rename this season. Seriously, isn’t a term that starts with “empty” going to get a bad rap? In the following article I wrote for The Banner (a publication of the Christian Reformed Church), I’ll show you how to redefine this season.

This story was first published on TheBanner.org on February 9, 2026 and in the March/April, 2026 print issue of The Banner. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

From Empty Nest to Openness: Finding Joy in Life’s Next Chapter

I remember the days before each of our little ones arrived. Fresh sheets clung to the crib mattress, with soft blankets nearby. The musical mobile hung with anticipation over the place that would soon hold our little bundle. I stocked the changing table with newborn-sized diapers and laundered and folded tiny onesies and sleepers. Toward the end of each pregnancy, I poured every bit of energy I could muster into the “nesting” process.

As our family grew, so did our need for space. We painted, wallpapered, and furnished our new home—“feathering the nest” to make it our own. We filled our nest with four children and all the noise, activity, and belongings that came with them.

Then, one by one, the kids moved away for college, jobs, and homes across town or in other cities. After 26 years of hustle and bustle, clutter and chaos, love and laughter, the sudden lack of children and all that came with them made our home feel empty. In the silence, the term “empty nest” made perfect sense to me.

I soon realized, however, that “empty nest” described only a few quiet rooms in our house. It was far from the reality of our lives after the kids moved out.

An Empty Nest Alternative: The Open Door

A mama bird will push her fledglings out of the nest, encouraging them to fly away; hence, the “empty nest” metaphor. Most young birds stay nearby for a while as the avian parent teaches them survival skills. But eventually the whole family—parents included—leaves. In fact, most bird species separate, never to return, after abandoning the nest.

When our kids leave home, many parents—like the birds—teach survival skills, sharing the wisdom our parents once imparted to us. How to find health insurance, keep a budget, save for retirement, or secure a mortgage. How to maintain a vehicle, grow a garden, or make a favorite recipe. When to call the plumber, the exterminator, or the doctor.

But teaching survival skills is where our bird metaphor ends. Unlike the birds, we don’t send our young ones off, never to see them again. So if this new life phase is unlike an “empty nest,” how should we describe it? What characteristics define it? And can parents learn to embrace it with joy?

Gretchen Rubin (podcaster and author of The Happiness Project) has coined the term “Open Door” to replace “Empty Nest.” The Open Door implies kids are welcome to come home for a time, and they often do. It also describes the parents’ invitation to step across the threshold into newfound time and freedom. It’s their chance to explore the adventures and activities they put on hold while raising their young.

The Open Door analogy is on point for its welcoming posture and enticing possibilities. In considering how we could put the open-door mindset into practice, I thought of my mother. After she died in 2021, I wrote a eulogy to describe all she had meant to her family. There were countless memories of the ways she showed her love over the years, but I summed them up in three words: home, hands, and heart. As our children leave the nest, it seems that leaving the “doors” wide open to these three aspects of our lives could dispel the emptiness, replacing it with openness.

Open Home

I hope my home is like I described my mother’s: “No matter where we ended up, the home Mom created was a magnet that kept pulling us back.”

Finish Reading at theBanner.org

We stayed inside a lot. We read some books, watched some shows (got hooked on “The Pitt”), and (in Southwest Michigan) watched the snow fall. One “Sister Weekend” brought a little fun to an otherwise slow month. As I looked ahead to Spring, I added a few events to my calendar.

February remained cold. And dark. It wasn’t quite as dull as January with Valentine’s Day, the Super Bowl, my niece’s baby shower, and my grandson’s awards ceremony adding a little spice to our lives. I put more events on my spring calendar. In fact, I noticed events piling up in April and May.

March, as usual, was cold, then warm, then cold, then warm, then windy, rainy, cold, then warm. Mother Nature couldn’t decide what she should wear. Am I feeling like Winter or Spring today? (Remember the Color Me Beautiful trend of the 1980s? I was a Spring, btw.) We moved our clocks forward and enjoyed evening light and longer days.

Thankfully, there wasn’t much on my March calendar, because I was beginning to feel a bit of Aprilhension.

From Linda’s Made-Up Words Dictionary:

Similar to what is often referred to as “Maycember,” my April calendar was jam-packed with holidays, events, and getaways. I looked forward to the fun times that were coming—Easter with my family, the Empty Nest Next Chapter Giveaway1, the Festival of Faith and Writing, and a girls’ trip to Charleston, SC—but all the delight April promised was starting to stress me out.

Would I have time for my “normal” life and responsibilities? Or would I fall behind on everything before May—or in my case, more Mayhem—arrived?

Well, here we are—the middle of April just around the corner. Mother Nature has settled on her green, yellow, pink, and purple wardrobe, thankfully, putting her white, black, and gray into the back closet. Warmer weather and even longer days are the norm now.

And how’s it going? Thanks to my Aprilhension, I prepared for April in March. I escaped my usual habit of procrastination, and instead made lists of anything I could work ahead on. I finished our taxes, “Preened” the garden, made menu plans, helped plan a June bridal shower, read several books, and wrote reviews for my bi-monthly Bookstack. I pre-planned and even wrote some blog posts (including parts of the one you’re reading now—written on 3/27).

Concern about what’s to come (even when what’s coming is all good), can often light a fire for today. H. Jackson Brown, Jr., in Life’s Little Instruction Book said,

Looking ahead on your calendar, what has you feeling excited, nervous, or stressed?

Can you take steps ahead of time to prepare for what’s to come?

Leave a comment

And yet.

Even though we do our best to prepare, over-preparing can also cause stress, as we expect—even predict—everything will go perfectly. But we all know, life is never perfect. Or predictable.

Despite our best-laid plans, life happens. As I made my to-do list for March, the last thing I expected was my brother-in-law’s death on March 17th. I couldn’t have known that “write obituary” and “help plan funeral” would be added to my to-dos.

Life happens. And illness, accidents, death, and heartache are all part of life.

Although “the best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today,” we should also be ready to loosen our grip on control. These words have helped me do that:

I wonder what things God is working together for good in your life. I hope it’s something special and that—as you prepare for your days ahead—you can kiss apprehension and mayhem good-bye. Remember, God’s got this.

🙏✨💙

1

Don’t forget! The Empty Nest Next Chapter Giveaway is going on NOW. You have until Tuesday, April 14th to enter!

I’ve joined 11 wonderful writers whose missions are to encourage empty nesters and parents of older teens and young adults. Whether you’re preparing for an empty nest or already in it, you’ll appreciate the suppor they offer (and you might win a fabulous prize!). Enter to win one of four giveaway prizes designed for your needs.

It’s a small celebration for a big life chapter!

Enter the Empty Nest Next Chapter Giveaway for your chance to win one of four amazing prizes:

🎁 GRAND PRIZE: $300 Amazon Gift Card

📚 📚 📚 THREE Runners-up PRIZES: Next Chapter Book Bundles: Each bundle includes three influential books and a $30 Amazon Gift Card

---

How to enter:

1️⃣ Tap this link: Empty Nest Next Chapter Giveaway

2️⃣ Enter your email address

3️⃣ Be sure to respond to the confirmation email you’ll receive. If you don’t see it, check your junk folder—this step is required to be eligible to win!

P.S. After you enter, you’ll have the opportunity to gain extra entries by liking, following, and subscribing to the participating authors—I highly recommend doing so to increase your chances of winning!

IMPORTANT! (Disclaimer) The Empty Nest Next Chapter giveaway runs from April 7-14, 2026. All entrants must use a verifiable, active email address and complete KingSumo’s confirmation process after entering. Random winners will be selected by KingSumo on April 15 and notified within 48 hours. This giveaway is not sponsored or endorsed by anyone other than the authors/writers listed. By entering the giveaway, you acknowledge that your email address will be shared with the contributing authors and will be added to their subscriber lists. You may unsubscribe at any time. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. US Residents only. Must be 18+ years of age to participate. Thank you for entering!

I’m so excited to share something I’ve been preparing behind the scenes for the past couple of months with my friend Cindy Ojczyk and ten other wonderful writers!

Without further ado, I’d like to introduce you to the…

Big kids. Big transitions. Big emotions. Whether you’re preparing for an empty nest or already in it, you deserve support (and maybe a prize!). Enter to win one of four prizes designed for empty-nesters and parents of older teens and young adults.

A small celebration for a big life chapter!

Enter the Empty Nest Next Chapter Giveaway for your chance to win:

🎁 GRAND PRIZE: $300 Amazon Gift Card

📚 📚 📚 THREE Runners-up PRIZES: Next Chapter Book Bundles: Each bundle includes three influential books and a $30 Amazon Gift Card

How to Enter:

1️⃣ Tap this link: Empty Nest Next Chapter Giveaway

2️⃣ Enter your email address

3️⃣ Be sure to respond to the confirmation email you’ll receive. If you don’t see it, check your junk folder—this step is required to be eligible to win!

P.S. After you enter, you’ll have the opportunity to gain extra entries by liking, following, and subscribing to the participating authors—I highly recommend doing so to increase your chances of winning!

IMPORTANT! The Empty Nest Next Chapter giveaway runs from April 7-14, 2026. All entrants must use a verifiable, active email address and complete KingSumo’s confirmation process after entering. Random winners will be selected by KingSumo on April 15 and notified within 48 hours. This giveaway is not sponsored or endorsed by anyone other than the authors/writers listed. By entering the giveaway, you acknowledge that your email address will be shared with the contributing authors and will be added to their subscriber lists. You may unsubscribe at any time. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. US Residents only. Must be 18+ years of age to participate. Thank you for entering!

Participating writers: Row 1 (L to R): Yours Truly (LH), , , Row 2: , , Row 3: , , , Row 4: Mandy Horne, Ruthie Gray,

Thanks for participating!

• our cabin has undergone more improvements, bringing both hassles and happiness.

• My then-newborn granddaughter is now a spunky, mischievous, and delightful almost-three-year-old.

• Next week, we will again celebrate the death and resurrection of our Savior. The darkness of Good Friday will be replaced with Easter morning “Alleluias!”

• And for the third time in five years (and second in the past two), our family will mourn the death and celebrate the life of a loved one within days of Easter. On March 31, 2021, we lost my dear mother. On April 10, 2025, my mother-in-law went to be with Jesus. And last week, my brother-in-law traded a troubled earthly life for one of heavenly glory.

Once again, I’m reminded to forget the pain and anguish and let JOY have the final word.

From the archives (May 27, 2023)

“How did we get so lucky?” I asked my husband, as we took in the view. From the porch of our Minnesota cabin, “our lake” looked stunningly blue through the white birch and pine trees.

Our cabin on the lake was an unexpected dream come true at the end of last summer. And although it’s already given us many happy moments, and promises years of delight in the future, it hasn’t come without some pain and struggle.

The cabin was built about 18 years ago and rumor has it, the owners—who sold it due to age-related mental and physical decline—had run out of money along the way. We bought the cabin “as is,” knowing there were several unfinished projects and items in need of repair.

And so, we’ve spent the first four weeks at our cabin (three last summer, and one so far this year), working on those projects, either through our own sweat equity or by paying professionals. (I’ve gotten to know a tile guy, a couple of plumbers, a window guy, and a handyman so far.)

We’ve made countless trips to the Hubbard County Solid Waste Transfer Station (a.k.a. “the dump”), Goodwill, and the Habitat Restore to discard the vast collection of “stuff” that we inherited with the cabin. I’ve learned how to use power tools and become adept at installing hardware and cleaning or changing filters of all types. Tom has progressed from Michigan leaf raker to Minnesota pine needle raker, and for the first time has helped move a boat lift into a lake.

Through all of this, we’ve been reminded that no joy in life is free. Every good thing tends to come with some blood, sweat, tears, and mosquito bites (yes, Minnesquitos were out in full force already in mid-May!).

I thought about the connection between joy and pain more than once during our week at the cabin. On Thursday, our son sent the text we had been anxiously awaiting. Our daughter-in-law, after nine months of pregnancy (including a prolonged period of morning sickness) and six hours of labor, had delivered our newest family member, Eloise Joy! Our Fam Bam group text blew up with happy emojis, squeals of delight, and reports of happy tears.

The next morning, while basking in the glow of being a grandma again and taking in the lake view out my window, I turned on my “Pray as You Go” app for my morning devotions. The meditation started with a song called “Joy” by CalledOut Music that lifted my spirits even more. A reading from John 16, that included this verse, followed:

A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. (John 16: 21)

How timely and true those words were. It’s true we women forget the pain of childbirth as soon as that newborn is placed in our hands. I must have been very forgetful to go through the ordeal four times.

Of course, the pain of having children doesn’t end with childbirth. There’s the middle-of-the-night feedings, potty training, toddlers pushing limits, time-outs, and temper tantrums. And later we endure the agony of science projects, teen angst, driving tests, big kids pushing limits, loss of privileges, and more temper tantrums (by both parents and kids).

But the joy our children bring us over our lifetimes is indescribable. All the struggles are forgotten when your toddler snuggles with you or your grown-up kid calls you “just to chat” and ends the call with “I love you, Mom.” Don’t even get me started on the immeasurable joy of grandkids! Blessings upon blessings.

Again, I ask, “How did I get so lucky? Why do I deserve all of this goodness?”

Yet, I remember times of grief and sadness. Of pain and struggle too. How can I reconcile the mix of emotions?

Jesus’ words in John 16 were given to comfort his disciples. He wanted them to know that the grief they would suffer upon his death was not the end of the story. He assured them they would experience joy—lasting joy—again.

We can count on this promise as well, knowing with confidence that the pain, grief, and brokenness we experience in this world are temporary. Not only does our earthly pain sometimes turn to joy (as with childbirth, or working hard to produce something beautiful); but we can also be sure of eternal joy when our lives on this earth are over.

Saturday was our last day at the lake, and my husband and I decided we’d done enough work for one week. We pushed extra hard on Friday—assembling bunk beds, hanging towel bars, raking pine needles—so we could enjoy some recreation on our last day. We took the boat out for our first fishing attempt on this new lake. Then, after a late lunch, we walked back down to the water to take our kayaks out for a spin.

As I drifted on the water, surrounded by thick green forests, the melody of chattering birds, and the smell of the lake breeze tickling my senses, again I thought, “How did I get so lucky?” Thoughts of aching muscles and mosquito bites faded as I focused on goodness and gratitude. Memories of struggle and work were soon drowned out by the lapping of the waves against the boat.

Two days later, we held our little Eloise. Happy tears brimmed our eyes, and squeals of joy filled the air. Her parents, though tired, were filled with wonder and love—my daughter-in-law’s morning sickness already a distant memory; labor pains all but forgotten.

Our pain and sadness never get the final say. Whether here on earth or when we leave this world, we will find joy in the end.

How did we get so lucky? I don’t think that’s the right question. Luck has nothing to do with it. The real question, is “How did we get so loved?”

And the only answer is “through grace.” We don’t deserve any of this. There’s just all this goodness poured out on us. And sometimes it’s too much to take in.

Jesus has promised us joy gets the last word.

…and no one will take away your joy. (John 16: 22b)

It seems the only fitting response to all of this goodness is gratitude. Whether smiling, dancing, singing, or writing—the joy we’ve been given needs to be expressed.

So I’ll join my voice with Samuel Nwachukwu (CalledOut Music) and sing for Joy.

I've got grace everywhere I be

Blessings falling on me

There's nothing too hard for the God that I serve

Tell me, why should I be afraid?

No matter what comes my way

I'll overcome with a smile on my face

I've got that joy like a river flowing down to my soul…

I feel like dancing, yeah, I feel it in my bones…

So give me joy in my heart, keep me praising

Give me joy in my heart, I pray

Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising

Keep me praising 'til the break of day.

Wishing you and yours a blessed Holy Week and JOY-filled Easter!

---

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Last Friday afternoon, March 6th, a storm blew through. Tom and I were both at home, working on our laptops. We heard some thunder, followed by a generous downpour. And then the sun came out. A typical early spring rain.

Or so we thought.

The evening news clued us in to the fact that a tornado had hit the village of Edwardsburg, as well as Three Rivers and Union City, Michigan. Until then, we had been oblivious to what had happened in these nearby communities.

“Tom, come watch this. Apparently, a tornado hit Edwardsburg again!” (Last year, also in early March, a twister blew through a mile or so east of our home, downing trees and power lines.) We watched in disbelief, and wondered how extensive the damage was.

Then, on Saturday morning, we awoke to the full weight of the devastation.

• An F3 tornado, the first this early in Michigan’s history, had pounded Union City, damaging or reducing to rubble some seventy homes, killing three people, and injuring twelve others.

• Three Rivers, Michigan endured an F2 that demolished much of a Menards store, as well as many other structures.

• And then, the most heartbreaking news we heard, was that a 12-year-old boy named Silas—a sixth grader at Edwardsburg Middle School—was killed by the F1 tornado that struck seemingly out of nowhere and destroyed much of his home. When I saw photos of the house online, I knew immediately where it was—just three miles from us. We’ve biked past the place many times.

Ever since last Saturday morning, I’ve been preoccupied—as have many in Southwest Michigan and its surrounding areas—with the photos, drone footage, scenes, and descriptions I can’t shake. With thoughts of Silas’s parents—both physicians—finding him in in the rubble in their garage and administering first aid before saying their final goodbyes at a nearby hospital.

It’s crushing to imagine. And I didn’t even know the family. How are those who did know them getting through this? How are the teachers and staff I used to work with, and Silas’s classmates managing the crisis? How will his parents and two siblings survive this unthinkable tragedy?

And what can I do to help?

On Monday, with sunshine, blue skies, and mild temperatures, I went for a walk around the campus of Notre Dame. Every time I do this, I am pulled toward the grotto. It’s in a peaceful corner of the campus, where, under the stone, cave-like structure there are rows of candles and a nearby kneeling bench. I chose my candle, lit it, and prayed.

I should say, I tried to pray. Not many words came to mind. Just pictures of a grieving family—of several grieving families. Of houses torn from their foundations and strewn like toothpicks across the landscape. Of death and destruction, right here at home. And due to an “act of God.”

But why would a loving God “act” in this way? Why this young boy with so much life ahead of him? Why those three victims in Union City who were in the prime of midlife?

My God, my God, why have you forsaken them?

These are questions without answers. And platitudes like “everything happens for a reason” or “there are four more angels in heaven” will not satisfy our need to understand.

Sometimes, bad things happen for no reason. And perhaps there is nothing more random than where a tornado strikes.

As I left the grotto, I turned on my Lent Through the Little Things Spotify playlist, and the song “From Dust You Are and Shall Return” by the Brilliance began to play. It’s best if you can listen to the music along with the words, but if you can’t do that, here are the lyrics (minus several repeated lines):

From dust we've come
And dust we are
And shall return
Be still my soul
And let it go
Just let it go
Glory to God
In the highest

Naked we came
And shall return
Into the grave
Be still my soul
And let it go
Just let it go
Glory to God
In the highest

Be still my soul
Lord, make me whole
Be still my soul
Lord, make me whole
Lord, make me whole

Glory to God
Glory to God

As I continued my walk, two thoughts emerged. There were no answers to the many hard questions. But just a reminder and a comfort. It isn’t much in the face of such heartbreak, but it’s all I’ve got.

The reminder: Take nothing for granted. It could have been our home and possessions blown to the sky. It could have been my husband’s or my life taken by that random tornado touchdown. Yet we and our children, grandchildren, friends, and family woke up on Saturday morning to the gift of another day.

So, be grateful for it. Never forget to thank God for it. Tell your loved ones you love them. And use the gift of another day to spread truth, beauty, goodness, and love whenever and wherever you can.

The comfort: During this season of Lent, we are reminded that Jesus became human. He was just like us. And yet, he wasn’t. He was God, made flesh.

Jesus has known our pain. He’s experienced deep sadness. Jesus wept. (John 11:35) He was also forsaken, beaten, and crucified. He suffered, died, and was buried.

When we are faced with sadness beyond our understanding, we can bring our hurts to him—our only comfort in life and in death. Laying our unanswered questions, our fears, and our tears at his feet, his loving arms will hold us.

Be still my soul.

If you would like to donate or volunteer your services for disaster relief in Cass, St. Joseph, and Branch County, Michigan, here are two reputable organizations who can help you help others: Southwest Michigan Cares & World Renew.

Additional Note: After I wrote the above story, on Tuesday, March 10, just four days after the tornado hit our region, another “super cell” plowed through parts of Illinois and Northwest Indiana. It hopped over my hometown (where several family members still live), but left two people dead and hundreds of homes damaged or destroyed in the surrounding areas, including Kankakee (IL), Lake Village, Wheatfield, and Knox (IN).

If you’re a praying person, please pray for comfort, hope, and peace for all those impacted by these storms. Thank you. 🖤

March is National Reading Month! So what could be better than bragging on my local libraries? We live on the border of Indiana and Michigan, so we’re members of libraries in both states.

Our Michigan library opened its brand new location last week and it is just beautiful! I can’t wait to spend more time there.

Although we have to pay for our Indiana library membership, it’s worth it! For their winter reading challenge, my husband and I picked up our “bingo” sheets, crossed off tasks as we completed them, and returned them for a new FREE book! Some tasks were easy, like read in your pajamas, while in bed, or for twenty minutes. Others were more challenging, like read a book whose title starts with W, a book with a person’s face on the cover, an award-winning book, or a book that’s been made into a movie.

Most of the books I read over the past two months were picked to help me earn my free book. (FYI, the prize I chose was There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak.) Some books were already on my TBR list, and one helped me prepare for the Festival of Faith and Writing at Calvin University that I’ll be attending in April. With so many books on my TBR shelves, it’s hard to decide which one to pick up next!

How do you decide what to read when? Do you follow a reading plan or choose on a whim?

Leave a comment

And now, on to the reviews.

*BookStack, vol. 13, January-February 2026.

Good Soil: The Education of an Accidental Farmhand (Jeff Chu) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Highly Recommend. In this beautifully written memoir, former journalist turned ordained pastor Jeff Chu opens up about his life’s journey. After leaving the church that rejected him because of his sexuality, he eventually found his faith again, left NYC with his husband, and enrolled in Princeton’s Farminary—a farm-based seminary program. He writes vulnerably about his experiences—the relationships that shaped him, the “soil” from which he came, and the love that grew there. His sensuous prose brings the farm and the food it produces to life.

Shortly after finishing the book, I had the pleasure of hearing Chu teach a class on finding meaning from beauty, and then preach a sermon on repentance, grace, and community that produces fruit. His honest messages and unpretentious speaking style made me love this book even more. (Audiobook)

The Light Between Oceans (M.L. Stedman) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommend. I read this book as part of our library’s winter challenge—for a book that has been made into a movie. The setting was a central character in this book, with a remote island in Australia being home to the young lighthouse keeper, Tom, and his wife, Isabel. The author’s ability to bring me into that setting was wonderful. The story was engaging, but also emotionally draining.

Having chosen to keep a baby they found in a boat that washed ashore (after they had lost three pregnancies), Tom and Isabel struggle with their decision, especially after discovering the baby’s grieving biological mother lives on the mainland. At four years old, the child has bonded with them, and they are the only parents she knows. So there is no simple answer to the question: What’s the right thing to do?

Despite knowing that any ending would be heartbreaking, I felt the author’s choice was satisfying and believable. Stedman’s use of metaphors—light, water, oceans—throughout the novel added to the beauty of this book. As a side note, I also watched the movie. It was disappointing in its cursory attempt to tell such an emotionally complex story. (Kindle)

Wuthering Heights (Emily Brontë , narrated by Anne Flosnik) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommend. I remember watching the old black-and-white movie on TV as a kid. It was probably the 1970s version, so I would have been a tween by the time it hit television. It made quite an impression on me, because, although I'd forgotten the plot, I never forgot the passionate love between Catherine and Heathcliff.

With the story again hitting the big screen this month, I finally read (listened to) the book. And oh my, what a sad, depressing saga! Unrequited love and revenge; mistreatment of wives, children, and servants; premature deaths; and ghosts haunting the desolate moors of Northern England—it was not a happy story, and yet it pulled me in and its ending brought a little light to an otherwise dark story.

In fact, there were many aspects of the book I did enjoy. Being transported back to the early 1800s was an adventure. In a unique style, Emily Brontë chose to narrate her only novel primarily through the tenant, Mr. Lockwood, and Nelly, the servant. The book is also a poignant reminder that adults are often shaped in early life, and how children and teens are treated can produce both positive and negative character traits for life. (Audiobook and Paperback)

The Third Gilmore Girl: A Memoir (Kelly Bishop) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommend. My girls and I started watching Gilmore Girls (a.k.a. GG) when both were home from college during the pandemic. We finally finished the seventh season in 2025, and watched “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life” this past Christmas break. I was sad to see it end, as much for this special time with my daughters, as for the quirky characters and tender stories in and around Star’s Hollow.

One of those characters was Emily Gilmore, matriarch of the “GGs”, and played by Kelly Bishop. When I saw she had published her memoir, I added it to my TBR list, and when our library challenge asked me to read a book with a person’s face on the cover, it fit the bill!

The audiobook, narrated by Bishop, traces her career from dancer to show girl to TV and big screen actress. We often think of only the glamorous lives of these Hollywood actors, and forget the stress they endure—with auditions, rehearsals, travel, and often not knowing where their next paycheck will come from. Bishop’s life was not without difficulty as she worked through family and financial struggles, fell in and out of relationships, and supported her husband during an extended illness. I especially enjoyed the behind-the-scenes GG moments she shares, and admire her tenacity to keep working well into her late 70s.

Word Made Fresh: An Invitation to Poetry for the Church (Abram VanEngen) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Highly Recommend. From the clever, welcoming title to the rich, intelligent content, Van Engen's book on poetry was an inspiring eye-opener. At times, I felt like I was chatting and reminiscing with an old friend over coffee, and at other times, I was sitting in an introductory college course on poetry with a wise professor (which VanEngen is, at Washington University in St. Louis).

When I was younger, I was drawn to both reading and writing poetry. But over the years, for reasons I can't explain, I became intimidated by it. This book has encouraged me to get beyond my apprehension and dive back into poetry. Van Engen provides a roadmap for how to do that and also explains why we, specifically Christians, should read poetry. His examples of psalms, songs, and poetry in the Bible fit seamlessly alongside examples from past and modern-day poets.

A personal note: Abram (as I know him) grew up in the church I attend, and was a student in the second-grade Sunday school class I taught (way back when). It was surprising and gratifying to read his recollections of our church family, former pastor, and even his Sunday school classes! (eBook) (A CCFW recommended read.)

Malibu Rising (Taylor Jenkins Reid) ⭐️⭐️⭐️

You might like it, but it wasn’t for me. I loved Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Daisy Jones and the Six, and although there are many similarities between it and Malibu Rising, this book left much to be desired. Themes of celebrity lives, a deadbeat dad, infidelity, promiscuity, and drug and alcohol abuse (all similar to Daisy Jones) abound in this California beachside saga of four hot surfer siblings.

Reid, again, finds a unique way to tell the story, i.e., by using a dual timeline—alternating between the day of Nina Riva’s big end-of-summer party in the 80s (told hour by hour) and flashbacks to the siblings’ past family drama in the 50s and 60s. The emphasis on sibling strength in the face of adversity and Nina’s selfless care for the younger Rivas were positive takeaways from the otherwise dysfunctional lifestyles the Rivas and their friends portray. I guess I was hoping for a more redemptive conclusion, as I’d come to expect after reading Daisy Jones. But, like the ocean waves on a hot summer day, this one left me only lukewarm. (Hardcover and Audiobook)

And…that’s the stack!

Let me know if you’ve read or plan to read any of these books! Or, just let me know you were here by “hitting the 🖤.”

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Happy Reading! 📚

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We made the nearly two-hour drive north and arrived in time to skirt around the parent drop-off line and find a parking place. We signed in at the office—our names immediately recognizable as part of Oliver’s and Maddie’s family.

I was impressed that his school (also where my DIL teaches) has one “moral focus” each month, as kids learn about Wisdom, Respect, Gratitude, Self-Control, Perseverance, Courage, Encouragement, and Compassion. It’s never too early to start, considering that after 63 years, I’m still working on those same virtues!

Ollie’s COURAGE award was “for always reminding himself that he can do new and hard things.” Again, I often need the same reminder.

Have you been asked to do any “new and hard things” lately?

Things like:

• taking on a new role at work, church, or in your community.

• seeing your doctor for a problem you’ve been trying to ignore.

• confronting your parent about their failing memory or concerns for their safety.

• preparing to send your child off to college, bringing you one step closer (or into) your empty nest season.

Whatever you are facing, remember you, too, can do new and hard things!

It just takes a little courage, and a lot of faith.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9).

Speaking of new and hard things…I stepped out of my comfort zone (i.e. the keyboard and page where I like to express myself), and once again was a podcast guest. I still get nervous every time, and afterward am far too critical of myself. But hey, I’m reminding myself to do new and hard things anyway.

I hope you’ll listen to my conversation with Jay Ramsden on “This Empty Nest Life.” You can find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify (video), YouTube (video), and other podcast apps.

Jay is a midlife coach who shares his wisdom on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn. He’s also a friendly and gracious podcast host. I really enjoyed our chat, and I think you will too. (Here’s a little snippet.).

Listen Now

At Ollie’s age, doing new and hard things can earn you an award certificate, get your name called out at an assembly, or bring your grandparents into town. But the older we get, the greater the rewards!

About ten years ago, my new, hard thing was building a website and sharing my written thoughts more widely, starting with a handful of friends and family. This past week, I hit the big milestone of 500 subscribers! I am so thankful for each and every one of my readers, and am continually blown away by your support.

To show my appreciation, I’ve been running a “Love & Lent” Book Bundle Special during February, but haven’t had a chance to share it with you yet. And here it is—the end of the month already! So, I’m extending the sale through March 15. You can get BOTH Empty-Nest Joyride AND Lent Through the Little Things for 10% off, plus FREE shipping. (Signed copies available upon request.)

SHOP NOW

Thanks again for your support!

Writing for you,

Linda

As I watch Olympians soaring down mountain passes—through rocky chutes, over moguls, and around curvy bends in the trail—I yearn to hit the slopes. Of course, I don’t long to go 85 miles an hour, or to corkscrew upside-down in the air, or to crash!—as we’ve witnessed countless times this past week.

But I do imagine the joy I’ve known in six inches of fresh powder, the satisfaction of a successful run (i.e. making it to the bottom without a spill), and the peaceful whoosh and hiss of my skis as they turn.

I learned to ski in Junior High, at The Pines, in Valparaiso, Indiana. Back in the early 70s, the place only had a couple of runs and a rope tow; it has since closed. During my high school years, our family took annual winter ski trips to Wisconsin and Michigan. Eventually, I hit the “big time” with a couple of trips to Colorado, where I discovered the incomparable delight of mountain skiing.

My ski trips dwindled after I married a non-skier, though I must give Tom kudos for his valiant effort in trying. Skiing was also expensive for our family of six, so we only took some day trips and one long (excellent!) weekend adventure in Michigan.

Thankfully, with our oldest now living in Denver, I’ve been able to rekindle my love for the sport a couple of times in recent years.

I’ve been walking in snow a LOT this winter, and the crunch I hear and feel under my boots brings me back. I recall my heavy ski boots clunking heel-to-toe, toward the lodge for a hot chocolate break. I remember the relief at the end of an exhausting but exhilarating day on the slopes, when my street boots seem as light as feathers on my feet.

Best of all, I remember the rush of adrenaline I feel at the top of a mountain, with a long, winding run ahead of me. I push off, and I’m flying!

Except for when I’m not. On busy days—during school breaks, when everyone else has the same recreation idea—the ski runs seem so short compared to the long waits in between.

Reaching the bottom of the hill, we look for the shortest chairlift line. As we scoot forward from the back of the line to the front, the endless wait gives us more than enough time to catch our breath. I’ll chat with my ski partner—a friend or relative. Or, if I’m on my own, I might strike up a conversation with a stranger. Finally, we reach the front of the line.

We hustle to get in position—boots on the line, eyes and a hand back to catch the chair—and we’re off! We rise above the attendants, the crowds, and the towering pine trees below. Sometimes the ride is long and boring, the only entertainment being the skiers below. But it can also be refreshing to sit back and enjoy the view.

A break in the action gives us time to replenish our energy as we anticipate the next downhill adventure. We sit and wait and watch, as we slowly, finally approach the top of the hill.

It occurrs to me that the whole experience of skiing—both the soaring-down-the-mountain parts, and the waiting-in-line-and-sitting-in-the-slow-chairlift parts—is a lot like life. Doesn’t it seem we spend more time sitting and waiting in the valley than we do on the mountaintop?

(Don’t even get me started on falls, brusies, and torn knees! Unexpected calamities happen in both skiing and life. But that metaphor calls for a whole post of its own, so I’ll save it for another day.)

Exciting, mountaintop experiences—like travel, family celebrations, performances, graduations, weddings, and births of children and grandchildren—add much joy to our lives. Even small hilltop happenings—like a date night with your spouse, a chili cook-off, a sister weekend, or a home or craft project—give us small thrills.

But what about those wait times? The in-between, liminal spaces where we aren’t soaring, but are simply standing, sitting, and anticipating the next big rush?

Can we find joy in those times as well?

I think we not only can, but we should.

Just as I could strike up a conversation in the chairlift line, reaching out to others fills our liminal spaces with connection. My sisters and I share an online “sister chat” filled with ordinary chatter about our mundane lives. Text threads with our kids or my women’s group at church also connect me with those I love. And even chatting with the cashier in the checkout line adds cheerfulness and interest to both of our days.

The emptiness of ordinary days dissipates with connection.

Finding beauty in our work can also bring us joy. Just as I relished my view from the chairlift—a different perspective of the pine trees from above, we can seek to find joy in our daily grind. Perhaps cooking and dishes, laundry, and housecleaning should not be thought of as a “grind,” but instead, as blessings of food, clothing, and shelter. A positive perspective allows us to find contentment in everyday chores and responsibilities.

Even in our waiting for the next big thing, we can find joy in the little things.

Our time between adventures also offers us the gift of rest. When we have time to sit—to read, meditate, knit (insert your quiet pastime), watch a favorite show (or marvel at the Olympians), or listen to music—we replenish our energy.

Renewed and refreshed, we’re ready for our next run!

Giant slalom, anyone? 😅

What mountain- or hill-top experiences are you looking forward to?

How will you get the most out of your waiting time until then?

Leave a comment

Did you enjoy this post? If so, don’t forget to hit the 🖤 !

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It’s Valentine’s Day! Do you want more depth and joy in your marriage relationship? Check out my all-time most popular post: “Keeping the Spark Alive: Five Secrets to Empty Nest Love.”

🎉🎉🎉

Finally, congratulations to Kristi from Wisconsin, who won the drawing for a free copy of Empty-Nest Joyride! Thanks to all who participated by completing my reader survey. It’s never too late to share your thoughts. Doing so will make my day…thanks!

Start Survey

But there are MANY I have yet to hear from. I know you’ve been busy—with the Olympics and the Super Bowl and family and/or work responsibilities—so, I will keep this message short.

I wanted to remind you that I will draw one random name from my list of survey respondents TUESDAY (Tomorrow) MORNING! So, if you’d like a chance to win one of my books (your choice: Lent Through the Little Things or Empty Nest Joyride), please click this link and complete the brief survey BY MIDNIGHT tonight!

Start Survey

Thanks so much!

Linda

P.S. If you missed my last newsletter, here’s WHY I’m sending out a survey and WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU! (Besides a chance to win a free book.) 😁

Are you drowning in an overwhelming inbox? Or flooded by an ever-growing Substack story feed?

If you’re reading this, you probably enjoy email newsletters, Substack posts, and news articles, like I do. Yet, the endless stream of information pouring into our phones, tablets, and laptops every day, is enough to sink the Titanic.

But we don’t have to take it all in. We get to choose.

When I open my email in the morning, I glance at the subject line or sender and know in seconds if it’s worth my precious time or not. If not, I swipe right and delete.

But when something catches my eye—a favorite blogger, an article with a title that speaks to me—I either open it and read it immediately, or I save it for later.

As a writer, I’m also on the other side of this issue. I pour many words into the stream. And once they’re dumped into the cyberspace pool, all I can do is hope and pray my readers can find them. That they connect with them. That somehow my words make a difference.

Will my readers find and connect with my words?

That is the big question every writer faces. So every now and then, we ask YOU, dearest reader, to help us.

Below you’ll find a link to a brief Reader Survey. Its purpose is two-fold.

1. You help me determine what to write about, what extras to offer, etc.

2. I help you get more meaningful and engaging content in your inbox.

If my topics aren’t right for you, feel free to unsubscribe. No questions asked. No hard feelings. Well, maybe a tiny hard feeling, but I’ll get over it. And I get it. We all have a limited capacity for the words that hit us everyday.

Whether you read every post I send, open them once in a while, or haven’t read my words in a long time, I hope you’ll click the link and complete this quick survey! Respondents so far have told me it’s “Easy-Peasy!”

Easy-Peasy Reader Survey

As a thank-you, one respondent will be randomly chosen to receive a free copy of one of my books (your choice).

Sorry. The deadline has passed for the drawing. But you can still complete the survey!!

Note: Survey responses are visible to me only and help me better understand my readers. I’ll never share individual responses.

Thanks in Advance!