The Snow Squall
The whiteout conditions suddenly swirled around the house like a tornado of snow. We could hardly see the house across the street. The wind howled. The blizzard covered us. And then, as soon as it blanketed the neighborhood, it left us. A snow squall puts you inside a cyclone of snow. It feels haunting and […]
A Little Love for You
I often ask students (and myself) this question: How are you taking care of yourself? It’s a great question to unearth mental health practices, joyful rituals, and habits for well-being. I love hearing what students say whether hydrating, getting out in nature with friends, listening to great music, or cooking a fantastic meal. This morning, […]
Pacing
I’m teaching students how to “pace” their writing. Pace is the speed at which a reader will experience our writing. I teach students to manage pace in several ways: They can speed up the pace with shorter sentences, strong verbs, and action. Give me a three-word sentence. Make it quick. Keep me engaged. They can […]
A Little Hello
My cat Merlin hardly spent time in plain sight. Once, he lived a scared, anxious, and hidden life. But over the years, we’ve coaxed him out of hiding. He now rolls on his back to show us his love. He snuggles on the couch and meows pitifully if we fail to pet him enough. He […]
As You Know, I Love Pickles
Today I bought our family my favorite pickles of all time! Barrel Pickles! Having a favorite pickle makes me me. As I teach my students how to write about themselves in personal narratives, I remind them to think of small details that make them them.
When You Don’t Pack Your Lunch
I didn’t pack my lunch today. Now, I find myself in my office at Penn State. I’m hungry! With no lunch and students arriving for office hours, I’m drawn to my candy bowl reserved for students. I take note of the old candy left over from Halloween at the very bottom of the bowl. It’s […]
Extraordinary Things
As I begin the book of Luke, I take note of Jesus’ impact on others. With Jesus in the room, as Healer and Teacher, we find people seized with amazement. We find people glorifying God. We find everyone filled with awe. I love how Luke puts it in 5:26 after Jesus forgives the sins of […]
What You Appreciate Most
As a college professor, I’ve probably written over 100 recommendations for students as they seek internships, jobs, or graduate school acceptances. I also take phone calls and answer emails for personal reference checks on students. This week, a company contacted me to answer a few questions about a former student. I loved this question in […]
Noticing What Others Love to Talk About
Today I realized how much my older students love to talk about high school. Before COVID, they enjoyed the regular things high schoolers do: prom, graduation, socializing. When I mentioned my youngest daughter will mostly likely have a prom (while the oldest daughter didn’t due to COVID), all the girls immediately wanted to talk about […]
Always a Curious Cat Nearby
When I sit down at my desk, Louie Von Whiskers awaits. I love having a curious creature in my home, especially a cat devoted to observing the writing life.