Blog: Infusion of 
Courage

Illness can be isolating, whether it is our own or in the family. The world narrows. Mental illness is no different and is sometimes harder to explain. When my kids were 14 and 12, I decided they were old enough to stay home without a parent for short periods of time. What freedom it was […]

Clinical Depression Depression with self-harm Depression with suicidal ideation Depression with psychotic features Major Depressive Disorder Major Depressive Disorder with disordered eating Major Depressive Disorder with Borderline Personality features Bipolar Disorder II These are just some of the “official” diagnoses that have shown up on the paperwork for my son over the years. In psychiatric […]

“Boy, those teenage years can be tough, can’t they?” “Heh, heh, heh, Mark Twain said, ‘When a child turns 12, he should be kept in a barrel and fed through a hole, until he reaches 16…at which time you should plug the hole.’ “ “Kids are so over-medicated these days.” “Just let them know the […]

Every child is unique. Every family is different from every other. Yet in this “weird little club” (see post here) we share common ground. Here are the things I hear the most from mamas whose kids are struggling with mental illness: The Painful Top Ten: 10) People don’t understand 9) I am confused 8) I feel […]

I spent Wednesday afternoon through Sunday morning at the Florida Christian Writers Conference. I spent Monday sleeping fourteen hours and taking ibuprofen for my inflamed knee- a flare-up of rheumatoid arthritis brought on by fatigue. Totally worth it. I attended workshops on world-building and the hero’s journey. I learned about connecting with readers on social […]

A pair of sandhill cranes has taken to wandering my parents’ neighborhood. In fact, I’m pretty sure they believe they have taken over the neighborhood. These four-foot tall birds poke their beaks into open garages. They linger, chatting, in the middle of the street. If a human should be so impertinent as to tap a […]