Family

Relationships, parenting, memories and more

November 30, 2022

Save Some For Me!

Happy, sad…intrigued? Only the tail knows for sure… Continue reading

Family

deer family, fall apples, let's play, nature, puppy love
November 29, 2022

Loving Lisa – Elvis Style

Little-known facts…courtesy of sweet sister Lisa. Continue reading

Family

disabilities, diversity, Elvis, Family, humor, love, sisters
November 26, 2022

“Hold the Pickle, Hold the Lettuce…”

I don’t like condiments…turns out I’m not alone… Continue reading

Family

Family, kids, parenting, picky eaters, road trips
November 24, 2022

Mountain Magic

Unexpected glimpses and glimmers of love… Continue reading

Family

dads and daughters, gratitude, happy thanksgiving, love, memories, mountain magic
November 22, 2022

New View

My 5am smile this morning…courtesy of the hubs… Continue reading

Family

comfy chairs, gratitude, love, perspective, Thanksgiving
November 16, 2022

Ladybugs and Motherhood

Sharing…love, wonder and ladybugs… Continue reading

Family

fertility, gratitude, love, motherhood, self-care, sisterhood
November 13, 2022

He Wore Pink…

Silly Sunday smiles…from my papa to you… Continue reading

Family

80's, dads and daughters, Family, fashion, gratitude, humor, love, pink
November 12, 2022

Forty Years…Plus

Leaning in…pretty good advice, I think. Continue reading

Family

Gottman Institute, listening, love, marriage, partnership, relationships
November 11, 2022

If Houses Could Speak…

Wait…what? Unexpected discoveries are the best… Continue reading

Family

coincidences, Family, houses, love, magic, remodeling, wonder
November 7, 2022

Good Morning, World!

Greeting the day, my papa’s way – with a reminder: Stay close to the people who feel like sunshine! Continue reading

Family

dads and daughters, good morning, gratitude, love, Mondays, resilience
November 6, 2022

Snore Babies

I need SLEEP…. Continue reading

Family

humor, husbands, puppy love, sleeplessness, snoring, time change
November 4, 2022

When You Crack Yourself Up: Owie, Owie, Owie Edition

Better to laugh than cry…fun family rewind… Continue reading

Family

family drama, gratitude, humor, love, parenting, toddlers, Wellness
October 30, 2022

Mom Was in a Mood…

What could go wrong? A month in a hotel with mom? Continue reading

Family

Family, humor, love, mental illness, moms and daughters, sisters
October 28, 2022

Aunt Bea’s Wit and Wisdom

Aunt Bea knew best…parenting IS hard… Continue reading

Family

Family, gratitude, memories, parenting, wisdom
October 26, 2022

No Words Needed

His expression spoke volumes… Continue reading

Family

body language, dads and daughters, gratitude, humor, love, non-verbals, parenting, teenagers
October 25, 2022

When You Crack Yourself Up: Halloween Edition

Fun Halloween memories – pain and humor often ride together. Continue reading

Family

addiction, Alzheimers, dementia, family madness, gratitude, humor, mental health, moms and daughters, self-care
October 23, 2022

Loving her anyway…

Bittersweet memories – they’re the best. Continue reading

Family

compassion, family memories, gratitude, hoarding, humor, love, moms and daughters, self-care
October 18, 2022

It’s Raggedy Anne’s Fault

Raggedy Anne, you’re taunting me… Continue reading

Family

beloved toys, Family, fast fashion, gratitude, handmade, raggedy anne, textile artists
October 14, 2022

Very Verbal Vicki

He just wanted to listen to the game… Continue reading

Family

baseball, Big Red Machine, chatterbox, dads and daughters, Family, humor, listening
October 6, 2022

Know Better, Do Better

Never stop learning, evolving and loving… Continue reading

Family

cultural appropriation, diversity, Indigenous Peoples Day, love, privilege
October 5, 2022

CSI: Lisa

A smile for you…from sweet sister Lisa. Continue reading

Family

crime shows, disability, diversity, Family, gratitude, humor, kindness, love
September 29, 2022

Better Ideas

Friendship with a side order of honesty…always the best. Continue reading

Family

creativity, friendship, gratitude, honesty, Inspiration, resilience
September 28, 2022

Stay Safe

Thinking of those in Ian’s path… Continue reading

Family

Family, hurricane Ian, love, mother nature, safety
September 27, 2022

Send Out the Search Party

I am the Patron Saint of Lost Stuff… Continue reading

Family

Family, home, humor, husbands, kids, mom life, parenting, self-care, Zen
September 26, 2022

Hello, Yellow…

An old yellow bowl…holding memories AND meatballs. Continue reading

Family

antique bowls, food, gratitude, meatballs, memories, self-care
September 25, 2022

Go, Granny, Go!

She was probably a suffragette, too… Continue reading

Family

Family, family business, feminism, Inspiration, love, photography, vintage fashion
September 16, 2022

Shake, Rattle & Roll

What do you do when a piece of furniture wants to chat? Continue reading

Family

Family, ghost story, memories, remembering loved ones, spooky, unexplained noises
September 15, 2022

Verbal Guard Rail: Thanks, Dad!

Wisdom in wee morsels from my papa… Continue reading

Family

dads and daughters, Family, memories, quotes, self-care, Wellness, wisdom
September 14, 2022

Puppy Dog Eyes

Human connection to our beloved pets…sending love from Sadie. Continue reading

Family

Chihuahuas, dogs, human-pet connections, love, pet lovers, puppy, puppy love
September 11, 2022

Finding My Way to Forgiveness

Despite the madness, forgiveness was always the destination. Continue reading

Family

Family, forgiveness, girlfriends, gratitude, love, mental health, self-care
September 4, 2022

Family Traditions: Trees, Please

Patterns repeat – one family’s love of evergreen trees across the generations. Continue reading

Family

Family, family history, gratitude, love, nature, trees
September 3, 2022

Chip Face

Who needs birthday cake? Bring me a bag of Ruffles! Continue reading

Family

chips, Family, first birthdays, humor, parenting
September 2, 2022

Bumps & Blessings in Parenting

For the parents – encouragement and love from me to you! Continue reading

Family

blessings, Family, happiness, joy, love, parenting, resilience, stress
September 1, 2022

Hot Pipes & Guacamole

Popping in from the hereafter…my dad provided a dose of humor in a spicy guacamole moment. Continue reading

Family

dads and daughters, dogs, Family, guacamole, humor, spicy food
August 29, 2022

Back-to-School

“Back to school” worries for parents – one mom’s reflections. Continue reading

Family

back to school, Katie Gutierrez, parenting, safety, Time
August 26, 2022

Power of Play

Keeping childlike wonder within… Continue reading

Family

board games, Family, inner child, Madeleine L'Engle, memories, play, Wellness
August 20, 2022

White Shirt, Helping Heart

Sweet memories of my dad…his love of white shirts and helping others. Continue reading

Family

dads and daughters, family memories, fashion, gratitude, helping others, love
August 14, 2022

Angry Eaters

Acknowledging generational eating disorders in one family. Continue reading

Family

body image, healthy eating, social media, Wellness
August 13, 2022

Rolling with the Unexpected

Learning to deal with unexpected health crises in the family. Continue reading

Family

courage, Family, health, lifegoals, priorities
August 11, 2022

Little Treasures

Family keepsakes and photos and the importance of displaying them. Continue reading

Family

Family, history, interior design, treasures, vintage photos
August 9, 2022

Maxine’s Gingersnaps

Gingersnap cookie recipe and remembering family. Continue reading

Family

Family, memories, recipes
August 8, 2022

Loving Lisa

Life lessons learned from my disabled sister. Continue reading

Family

disability, Family, kindness
July 22, 2022

Beautiful Betty

Understanding dreams and remembering departed loved ones. Continue reading

Family

dreams, Family
July 19, 2022

Honesty

Billy Joel’s “Honesty” lyrics and healthy relationships Continue reading

Family

billy joel, honesty, relationships
July 13, 2022

Memories Matter

Memories and family mementos matter and help with grief. Continue reading

Family

Family, grief, memories

“Surviving Sue”, a special story about resiliency and love: Eckhartz Press (paperback) and eBook on Amazon.

Peek Inside “Surviving Sue“

Visit Resources on Atkinson Group Solutions for more.

Podcasts

Listen to the “Sharing the Heart of the Matter” podcast.

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Workshops

Chicago Writers Association Speakers Bureau – Writing for Wellness; Navigating Elder Care with Grace & Humor; How to Create a Writing Platform; AI for Caregivers

About Me

Learn about five books that inspired and supported my writing journey by visiting my personalized book review page on Shepherd.

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