17 May

Posted at 20:51h in caregiving, Childhood, Columbus, columbus families, Emotions, Family, healing, Heath, Local Family, love, meaningful, motherhood, parenthood, Photography, reflection, Story

  [caption id="attachment_9448" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Photo Credit: Perfect Peace Photogrpahy[/caption] Monday, March 16th, 2015. I was a day shy of 19 weeks pregnant. I had finally started to accept that I was going to be a single mother. I was 28 years old and I had a decent job, after all. But I admit that in my heart of hearts, I still didn't love the idea of walking into that ultrasound alone. This was going to be the big one; the one where the doctor tells you that you're having a perfect little baby boy and sets you on track to revel in the bliss of impending motherhood...

23 Apr

Posted at 17:21h in Columbus, Community, death, Emotions, Family, healing, Local, Organization, Story

My dad started showing signs of Alzheimer’s when I was in high school. Let me tell you, there’s no worse combination in the world than a teenager and dementia patient under the same roof. I suppose all terminal illnesses are vicious in their own way, but Alzheimer’s really enjoys itself. It relishes in its slow and meticulous nature. It doesn’t want you to miss out on anything. Especially losing your loved one twice. Once when you watch everything about them slowly disappear over the course of a decade or so and then a second time when you have to actually bury them. You’d think watching your parent...

19 Apr

Posted at 17:07h in Activities, Adventure, caregiving, Childhood, Columbus, Community, Education, Family, Fun, Giving Back, healing, health, meaningful, Organization, parenthood

Easterseals is an amazing program. I know because my brother Guthrie was born with cerebral palsy and attended the program.  It was life changing for him.  Well, they're hosting their annual spring Romancing the Grape event on April 29th. Romancing the Grape started back in 2002 (so they've been going at it for 15 years) and the event is by far their largest fundraiser. It raises over $100,000 in support of Easterseals’ programs that make profound and positive differences in people’s lives. Programs such as Early Intervention in which children with special needs ages 1-3 receive early childhood education and pediatric therapies vital to helping them reach...

14 Apr

Posted at 20:17h in Childhood, Columbus, columbus families, Community, death, Emotions, Family, friendship, Giving Back, healing, health, Heath, Local, Local Family, love, meaningful, Meet the Family, motherhood, Non Profit, Organization, parenthood, reflection, relationships, spiritual, Story, Things that Matter, Topics that Matter

"It was Friday the 13th of 2002, and the first anniversary of 9/11 was coming up, and I just kept having this dreaded feeling that Friday the 13th was going to be a really bad day. I had no idea why, so I went on with my day.  Lindsay came home from school and decided she was going to go work out with her best friend.   About an hour later after she left, the phone rang, and it was her best friend Morgan. She said, “Kathy, Lindsay fainted. You need to get over here right away.” She fainted at the gym on the treadmill.  So, at...

12 Apr

Posted at 19:43h in Adventure, Business, caregiving, Childhood, Columbus, Community, Education, Emotions, Giving Back, healing, Heath, meaningful, Mental Health, Mental Illness, motherhood, Non Profit, Organization, parenthood, Politics, reflection, Story, travel, Wellness, writing

  [caption id="attachment_9342" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Emma[/caption] Hello! My name is Emma and I have had quite the journey. I spent a year in the Dominican Republic and a month in Spain. I have taught English, tutored children in an orphanged and worked with woman coming out of sex slavery. I have experienced great times of depression and joy as I have searched for direction in my life. As time goes on, my desire to share my faith and the love God has for everyone in different and wonderful cultures around the world grows more and more. My next journey is to the Japanese Alps where I will...

07 Apr

Posted at 11:23h in Columbus, columbus families, Community, death, Education, Family, healing, Local Family, love, Marriage, meaningful, Meet the Family, parenthood, reflection, relationships, Responsibility, spiritual, Story, Things that Matter, Topics that Matter

Meet Don & Claire [caption id="attachment_9326" align="aligncenter" width="537"] In Loving Memory of Claire Glass[/caption] "Claire was an amazing young lady, and I think it’s easy for a father to say that, but she truly was.  She was blessed with giftedness. She was extremely academically gifted. It was a challenge because when we realized she needed more, nobody believed us.  It wasn’t until the 2nd grade when we saw a psychiatrist, and they did an analysis of her and they basically said, she’s brilliant. When she was in 8th grade she scored a 30 on the ACT, and got a perfect score on the PSAT. You look at...

19 Mar

Posted at 20:14h in art, Beauty, Columbus, columbus families, Emotions, friendship, healing, health, Local, Local Family, meaningful, Music, reflection, spiritual, Story, writing

E Elyjah, L Live or die-- he had a choice to make, whether to let his situation will determine his purpose or not. 31 days in children's hospital led him to a mature mental state unheard of for his age. Y You may be thinking he's gone. However, J Jumping to conclusions usually doesn't produce a positive outcome. The A Aftermath of a brain abscess turned him into a beast on the inside and a cub on the outside, and became a part of who he was, and what he felt the need to preach through his own experiences. Most wouldn't understand nor agree with an idea that the H Holy Spirit was now inside him. N (k)nowledge...

19 Mar

Posted at 17:15h in Activities, Beauty, blogging, Business, Columbus, Local, local business, Marriage, Meet the Business, Photography

Part I: Emily Blake Emily is a Licensed Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist. "I have been in the beauty industry nearly 10 years, but have had a passion for it my entire life." Her mother did hair and makeup-- so she was a witness to her mothers passion. "I remember having sleepovers and doing makeover parties with my friends. So, since the start of entering the beauty industry, beautifying #brides was something I loved. And, If I'm not #beautifyingbrides, you can find me at the nearest country concert enjoying an ice cold beer, or road tripping exploring a new town. I'm 27 and have always been an...

16 Mar

Posted at 07:38h in Columbus, columbus families, Community, Crafts, design, Emotions, Family, Fun, Local, local business, Local Family, meaningful, Meet the Business, parenthood, Photography, reflection, relationships, Responsibility, Things that Matter, Things to do

Part I: Memories A memory happens, and -blink- it's gone. It becomes just that, a memory. We all say we will remember and treasure those small moments, but let's be honest, how many small moments do you truly remember? How many times do you tell yourself you wish you would have written something down or documented it somehow? I'm guilty, and wish I could turn back time to record so many of those precious milestones. Courtney knew there were people just like me and she wanted to help them document their lives with photography and writing-not only for them, but for the people who will follow. "Memories and...

12 Mar

Posted at 20:13h in Activities, art, Business, cancer, Columbus, Community, Fun, Giving Back, healing, Local, local business, meaningful, Meet the Business, Non Profit, Organization, Politics, Retail

Alisa Becker and Paula Katz are two social entrepreneurs from Columbus launch Be the Sign; donating 100% of profits to charity. Be the Sign focuses political messages on equality, diversity and love. Alisa and Paula are former retail executives, freelancers, activists, friends and now social entrepreneurs. Alisa was a merchant for Bath & Body Works, Zulily & others, created the blog www.30daysofcancer.com and is a grieving mother channeling her sadness into something positive. Paula has visual experience with L Brands, formerly owned the bakery Layer based here in Columbus, and currently freelances for prominent companies such as, Yankee Candle and Nasdaq. "We realized our conversations were increasingly political. And,...