Welcome
{ to my blog }.
Welcome to my blog.
Thanks for visiting my blog. My hope is to post every 1-2 weeks with a combination of adventure stories, craft/writing posts, book reviews, and other non-boring, exciting content to keep you coming back for more!
Our Utah Vacation – Visiting the Big 5 National Parks
I'm always planning the next trip... We're off to Antigua for Spring Break, lake time at the Ozarks this summer, and Canada fishing in the fall. Work hard to play hard! Our Utah vacation to the Big 5 National Parks ranks among our best trips. Prior to booking...
If I’d Only Known…
Do you ever wish you could go back and have a few words with your teenage self? Seriously, what was I thinking? We start sweet and innocent in our favorite Sesame Street shirt... and then life gets real! I gathered some thoughts and advice from fellow...
The Life of a Writer
I wrote a blog post for The Storytellers Inkpot! I thought that I'd share it here to give an update on my life in the world of writing. I'm keeping busy and enjoying the change from family medicine to urgent care and teaching. Life is good, and thank you for all of...
Travel Tips When Vacation Planning | Reduce the Stress and Maximize the Fun
Take Time to Travel! Life is too short, and the world awaits with an endless supply of unique and jaw-dropping sites to see. So - get out there! I'm here to share travel tips to make vacation planning easier. I get through each workday if I have a future vacation on...
Spooky Tales for Halloween
Spooky Tales - A Review of Scary Books in Children's Literature (Books that are fun for adults, too!) Because I write children's literature, I only read middle-grade or young adult books. They allow me to be a perpetual child! I can honestly say - I don't miss adult...
Have I Learned Anything? Confessions of a 50 year old
It’s official! I’m old. Middle-aged. I’m freaking 50 people! Ahhhhhhh. My feelings are mixed on the subject… I love my life and the person I’ve become, but I find myself thinking in a “glass half empty” way. Overwhelming feelings break through that I’m nearing death...
Picture Book Review: Because We All Need to Smile
Picture Book Review: Because We All Need to Smile Slow Down - and Breathe Today, I forced my 15 and 17 year-old daughters to listen to me read them a book out loud. (They were trapped in the back seat of the car with nowhere to run). As I paged through The Mindful Mr....
Diverse Books in the Classroom
I was recently informed that some parents want diverse books removed from our North Scott classrooms – I’m shocked and appalled. I want to speak for the many kids out there who need these books: We Need Diverse Books We need diverse books. Period. Being a child or...
Don’t Give Up
Lately I've been replaying this song over and over again on my phone, radio, Alexa, or anywhere I listen. It's called Don't Give Up on Me by Andy Grammar. It's the theme song from the movie Five Feet Apart. Every time I hear it, I crank the volume LOUD. The refrain...
Hanging out with Author Maria Andreu! Talking about: LOVE IN ENGLISH
It’s a Pat’s Chat first! I am thrilled to be joined via the virtual world by author, Maria Andreu. Her recent Young Adult novel, LOVE IN ENGLISH, is a beautiful story that explores language and love. This might be a long post...but how can you hurry through such...