There is something irresistible about a homespun holiday, the kind my Mama always made, and I tried to emulate throughout the years. Handmade decorations of crimson red and pine tree green dance upon garlands, if you squint your eyes and imagine. Twinkling lights reflect off cream-colored walls as snowmen perch high upon shelves. If you …
My Blogging Mom
It's so fun having a blogging mom. Yes, that's right! Grandma has her own blog. She approached me last September with a request, "JoDee, I think I want to have a blog. Can you help me?" Now how could I say no. So I drove out to my folks' home, and we busied ourselves, me …
Bustin a move for Christmas
I'm fighting a head cold but happy. Christmas decor is bustin a move in my home once again. Garlands rockin, Christmas cards talkin, I'm heading into the season in style. Yet this morning I struggled with what to write. Somber moments passed and no thoughts moved within my reach. They seemed to float on by …
My Kindred Heart
How odd to see a version of yourself walking (or jumping) around in male form. This is the way I feel about my son who is currently working for a small start-up company in Cape Town named Virtual Mobile Technologies, founded by two South African brothers, Wilter and Arno du Toit. As if some serendipitous encounter consumed us—on different continents during …
Divided Heart
Have you ever felt like your life ambitions extend beyond your expiration date? Full days leave little time for working towards those projects you want to finish. Welcome to my world. I pack far too much into every possible moment and often have a difficult time deciding what I want to do the most. It doesn’t …
In Search of my “Desire Line”
Recently, I read an insightful article titled, "The Key Elements of Writing a Good Memoir" by author Adair Lara http://writersdigest.com/article/elements-of-an-effective-arc/. The author's approach to creating a narrative arc simmers in my mind as I seek to craft my memoir: "The first step in drawing an arc is to answer this question: What did you (as the …
You know you miss your kids when…
You know you miss your kids when...you take screenshots of your daughter while Skyping with her from Seoul, South Korea. You miss your other daughter so much that your weekly highlight is reading her latest blog post: You know you miss your son, and his girlfriend, when you spend far too much time poaching their picture …
Memoir Check
"God, keep me in reality!" My former Twelve-step sponsor used to pray these words every day. She knew her mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being depended upon staying "denial-free." Also married to a recovering sex addict at the time, I embraced her wisdom and chanted the same mantra in hopes I, too, would retain my …
AuthorizeMe Seminar
This past weekend, I attended an AuthorizeMe Seminar designed and presented by author Sharon Norris Elliot. Her unique process helped me to grasp the process of brainstorming and storyboarding a book idea. This storyboard is then used to create a nonfictional book proposal. While working on my storyboard, I looked up and realized I was placing my sticky notes on …
JoDee Luna Art 