In 1990 my husband and I brought Jayda Paige Novak into our lives. She was a day old when we brought her home from the hospital: a full head of thick, dark hair (she still does), seven pounds, and perfectly healthy. Her father openly wept when she was born. Fast forward thirty-five years, and I am so grateful. I can’t imagine loving anyone more than this creature. She is so wise, and so kind, and such a force in my life. Did we always bond? The short answer is yes and no. Her

Lavender Blue Just Released -- Curl Up

Each December, I’m both melancholy and strangely optimistic. And every year, I make ambitious New Year’s resolutions. But by mid-January, and then February, guilt creeps in as I fall short again. This morning, I sat with my coffee in hand and quietly reflected. And then I chuckled quietly in the dark as I reminded myself that, although I try, I am human, and there is truly only so much time in a day. I decided I needed to do something radically realistic. Something scandalous

It was a still, white-draped afternoon. The grounds lay deep under soft snow, the sky glowed a satin blue, and the sun hung low and full in the west. As the old oaks glittered with dripping icicles, smoke curled from the manor’s chimneys in a lazy dance. It was Christmas Eve. Classes were on hold until the new year, and the manor was unusually quiet, except for the classical holiday music playing from above. Joy tried to outwait the silence as she stood in the foyer. She usua

The grounds carried moist dirt and wet bark from the evening’s rain shower. The old oaks were swinging slightly in the breeze, and except for the soft rustling of the leaves, everything was still. This calmed Joy as she walked slowly toward the stables. She lightly knocked on the tall wooden door. Ben answered barefoot and shirtless, his belt unfastened for the night. If he noticed her glance, he gave no sign. She quickly looked up to meet his eyes. He opened the door wider.