A Poem Written for You
April was National Poetry Month, so I decided to write another collaborative poem. The italicized words are the contributions of my friends and family. Enjoy! Life is found in serendipitous moments where we slow down and Give ourselves space to simply be–No effort in who we wish we were,Just freedom in who we actually areAs…
April Reading Wrap-Up
April was a beautiful month in every aspect, including the books I read! I read three books this month, and I genuinely loved each of them so much that it’s hard for me to pick a favorite. Here they are! Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynn Jones This book immediately brought me back to childhood.…
Spring Blooms
Spring set her sights on summer As an early Missouri heat Embraced us unexpectedly. Those winding lake roads were once again Engulfed in seas of green, The hot pavement shaded by canopies of leaves and Towering trees. My flowers, unlike years past, Did not unfold their petals timidly. No, they burst forth auspiciously, Vibrant colors…
Book of the Month: March
March was a slow reading month for me, so rather than do a (very late) monthly reading wrap-up, I thought instead I would share my favorite book that I read last month. I read three books total in March: The Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan, Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas, and Emily Dickinson’s…
February Reading Wrap-Up
I’ve always dreaded the month of February. The bitter cold, the gray skies, the thought that there is seemingly nothing to look forward to. But this year was so different. Instead of looking forward, I looked around. It helped that there were many sunny days, but I found a warm feeling in more than the…
Nature & Mindfulness by Guest Writer Kennedy Pearl!
I’m so excited to have Kennedy Pearl on the blog this week! She has a beautiful perspective on life that is very inspiring to me, and I think you will love reading what she’s written today. I hope this encourages you to practice mindfulness in your everyday life–to focus on being present. Enjoy reading! Have…
I Wrote a Book!
“And the marigolds, They show me That peace can still bloom Even where grief Was planted.” Dear Readers, My first book, a collection of poems, is being released this year. I am so eager to share what the writing process has been like and what exactly this book is about. Like any good story, I…
Guest Writer Rita Bliven, a Fellow United House Author
I am so excited to introduce a guest writer to the blog today–my friend Rita Bliven! For those who don’t know, I am publishing a book this year through a publishing company called United House Publishing. This has been a year long process, and through it, I have been able to connect with many author…
January Reading Wrap-Up
January was a surprisingly busy month! I usually look forward to this quiet month and all of its downtime for reading, but this was the first time in years that this month had little to no downtime. But I don’t mind, as I was able to enjoy a ski trip with my family, I was…
24 Books in 2024
We are kicking off the year strong with some incredible books so far. 2023 was an amazing year of reading for me; however, when I look back, I noticed some things that I would like to change in 2024. This year, I want to be more intentional about the books I’m reading. I had a…
The Imperfect Garden: A Prologue
Here is the result of my “found poetry” exercise. The italicized words are from my friends and family. Enjoy! I never asked for a perfect garden, So why would I pretend that mine is so? I never expected my flowers to be perfectly aligned– I never expected them all to grow. But I put my…
Wrapped: 2023 Books
There is so much I could say about the books I read this year and just reading in general. Let’s get into it! This was the year I fell in love with reading again. I have always been an avid reader, but for last five years I had been a college student and a teacher;…
Found Poetry
Lately, I’ve been in a rut when it comes to writing and creativity. Whenever I feel this way, I try to come up with creative ways to ignite that part of my brain. Sometimes, I even include my family and friends in this process to help me. I call this exercise “found poetry” because it’s…
Book of the Month: November
This month, I had the amazing opportunity to read an ARC copy of J.O. Ellis’s debut novel, “How the Fox Runs”. This book is one of the most creative I have read in a long time. I have always been a fan of fantasy, but sometimes the genre has a tendency to produce books that…
Weary Travelers
Tell us about a time when you felt out of place. This poem will be featured in my debut collection of poems, out in 2024! And maybe I’m trying too hard to fit Into too many spaces. But I feel my heart pulled in a million Different directions And I can’t quite decipher Which direction …
Love Has Many Forms
Share a lesson you wish you had learned earlier in life. She tried to capture what it felt like. But she couldn’t find the words. How do you capture it when it wears so many different faces, hums so many different melodies, listens & speaks & pulls you in? It’s like the sun—the way it…
In the Moment
I remember yearning For what I have now. For comforting friendships, Silence interrupted by Giggles & laughter that are loud. I pause in these moments. I look around. I marvel at the way The world works. How hope, & goodness, & love Abound. Some may capture this In photographs, But I try to use words.…
The Lady on the Corner
Share a story about the furthest you’ve ever traveled from home. I stare out the window as we drive. I spent months daydreaming about this place, and now I see that it’s more beautiful than I ever imagined it would be. The trees are taller than any I’ve seen in my life; the leaves a…
Remember Her
What brings a tear of joy to your eye? A fourteen year old girl sits in the car with her mom, daydreaming as she gazes out the window. She is thinking of the future–of whom she might be when she is eighteen, when she is twenty-two, when she is twenty-three. That girl is you. That…
The Garden Party Himself
Interview someone — a friend, another blogger, your mother, the mailman — and write a post based on their responses. Charismatic, imaginative, and friendly–three words that perfectly describe my dad. My parents own their own business called “The Garden Party”, where they grow flowers, run a garden center store, and tend to the yards of…
An Unlikely Companion
I submitted this story to a writing contest in response to a prompt that read: “Write a story involving a friendship with an adorable animal.” Hope you enjoy! It was dark. Darker than she would have ever imagined it to be. Remembering her map, she pulled it out of her backpack and unrolled it. To…
Marigolds-October’s Birth Flower
The air starts to cool And my spirits drop with it. I see the sunshine fading Faster and faster– I wish I could hold it longer. Just for a Little bit. I always feel less Like myself When the air is cold. I step outside, And it takes my breath away In the worst way.…
The Road(s) Home
I entered this piece in a writing contest and wanted to share it here. I hope you enjoy 🙂 V Road Old friend, I’m driving down that road you have always loved. You know the one; it’s the long way home. Its bends and twists are jarring, and I know that one who is…
Across the Cove
A Playlist for This Blog To Set the Scene: Across the cove, a party is happening. I park my car as I always do and quickly step out into the early evening breeze. Instantly, a wave of noise crashes into me–one that sends my head turning and my eyes focused on the scene I have…
Book of the Month: June
Welcome to the “book of the month” section of the blog! This is where I tell you all about my top pick from each month. June’s book of the month was the most unlikely winner in my eyes. This is a book that was recommended to me by one of my students, and as eager…
What Writing Teaches Me
I was driving down the winding road at golden hour. The road is nestled in-between towering trees that keep it secluded from the rest of the world and all of its surroundings. There were little trickles of golden light that were flickering through the spaces in-between the leaves. And as I observed all of this…
May Reading Wrap-up
Sadly, I only read two books in the month of May. I always forget how crazy the month tends to be! School was ending, I was moving into a new house, and I started a new job all in the span of a couple weeks. However, the two books I did read, I LOVED! This…
A Book Adventure!
This weekend, one of my best friends and I decided to go on a little adventure and visit all the “street libraries” in our area. I saw this idea on Instagram and thought it would be such a fun way to explore our town while exchanging some of our old books for “new” ones. When…
Around the World
A Creative Writing Activity When I feel like I’m hitting a wall with my writing, I try to create fun ideas to remind myself that sometimes it’s okay to write just for fun or just to simply write; we don’t always have to be writing something that’s productive or something that is worth sharing. It’s…
What Poetry Means to Me
“Poetry is the kind of thing poets write.” Robert Frost I love this quote from Robert Frost. To me, this quote expresses the importance of not giving poetry one single definition–of not putting it in a box. Poetry is an art form that is constantly evolving, and the style in which poets write is always…
The Gift of a Journal
In August of last year, my mom gave me a journal. But don’t worry, there’s much more to the story than that. When the coronavirus was at its peak last March, and when the world was in complete chaos, my mom decided to start utilizing Walmart’s pick-up option for groceries. She, like many others, was…
To My Knees
I don’t think I fully understood the depths of God’s love until certain events in my life brought me to my knees. When hard things happen, my initial reaction is to fix the problem myself. I try to take control of the entire situation and find a way to make my own pain go away,…
The Perfect Gardener
I am a friend of the weeds. I know that weeds, when being used as metaphors for life, are always referred to negatively—whether it be the negative thoughts we let take root in our minds, or the negative people we let remain planted in our lives—weeds are rarely referred to as a good thing. But…
Little Writing Desk
It all started with a little writing desk. My heart was firmly planted and persistently captivated by the beauty that could be created with a pen and paper. For hours, I would sit at that little writing desk and pour over the pages. I was in love with words. I was in love with creating…
Storytellers
I was reminded of a summer evening spent with my mom at the farmer’s market. On this particular night, I had the pleasure of sitting next to a 79 year old man who was selling handmade wooden bowls. His work was beautiful, and his attention to detail was clearly displayed. You could tell he took…
The Girl in the Willow
The girl in the willow was a dreamer. Climbing as high as she could go, she memorized every nook and cranny of that beautiful and old tree. The girl in the willow was excited for all that life could and would be. When she reached the peak and broke through the treetops, her heart was…
Beauty, Purpose, Gardens
I asked God to give purpose and beauty to my life. But gardens aren’t beautiful until they’ve felt the rain. Until they’ve lived under the storm clouds for a while. And gardens grow weeds. A term tossed around so negatively but one containing much more than we might originally think. Weeds are viewed as annoying…
The Greatest Story Ever Told
I have always had a plan for my life. And while I’ve heard both good and bad things about having a plan, I know to continuously remind myself that it is a rough draft. I have had countless plans change. Some of this was done with relative ease whereas others were mixed with tears, confusion,…
Light of the World
He holds the universe – all the stars, the suns, the moons, the galaxies – in the palms of His hands. Our world is His canvas and each night He shows us exactly who He is through the colors in the sky. He shows us His promises. He reminds us of hope. He asks us…
Vulnerability
Humans are beautiful. We’re kind. We’re compassionate. We show empathy. We try to understand each other. We communicate. We listen. We lend a helping hand. We do the most ridiculous things. We celebrate the day someone came into the world, we celebrate days of the week and months of the year, we celebrate two people…
The Hike
I believe there’s great beauty in feeling lost. But there’s even greater beauty in the comfort of knowing that there are others who feel lost too. Feeling lost brings people together. It connects us, it brings us back to earth, it reminds us that we’re human. We don’t have all the answers, we make mistakes,…
Consider the Wildflowers 
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