My Christmas Card List

I love this time of year. Magic permeates the very air we breathe. It’s in the Christmas trees all lit up with sparkly lights and decorated with personal mementos of Christmases past. Have you noticed the Christmas energy emanating from your tree during the season?...

Friendship unfiltered

Who is your safe place to vent or talk about what’s bothering you? Choose those friends wisely so you feel safe when sharing. This keeps the doors open for honest communication vs. just the niceties you think everyone wants to hear. And then hold on to THAT friend. I...

The hidden message

My mom lost her mom to pneumonia when she was only 13 and was auctioned off as a prisoner of war to a German farmer during WWII when she was only 18. She never saw her family again after the war. My parents met in a displaced persons camp and immigrated to the U.S. on...

Our Ancestors: “We Are Them; They Are Us.”

Our Ancestors: “We Are Them; They Are Us.” And they can help us—or not. Within our DNA are our ancestors’ memories, which can nourish the dreams of our souls.” ~ Cyndi Dale In 2008, my husband and I visited Poland—the homeland of our ancestors—for the first time. I...

My Grandmother’s smile 

Agnes, or “Agnieszka” as known in Polish, is my paternal grandmother. I will try to piece together what I know about Agnieszka and attempt to put myself in her shoes as I did for my maternal grandmother, Zofia. Amazingly in a collection of old black and white photos...