No one ever says that middle school years are the best years of life. Absolutely no one. It is a truth universally acknowledged that the middle school/junior high years are difficult for everyone involved, but especially the kids themselves. I am fortunate that I went to a K-8 school and only struggled during my freshman [...]
I have big and exciting news! We’re getting a girl! I can’t say we’re having a girl because that would imply we’ve made one. Kasey’s presence on this earth is all thanks to her parents, Keith and Susie. But we will take full credit for our son, Will, who somehow attracted this amazing woman, wowed [...]
I’m writing this as rain finally falls on the Bighorns. I speak for everyone who has watched the mountains burn; we have never been more excited to see precipitation and cool weather. My gratitude is overwhelming. Often, gratitude follows acts of generosity, evident as we watch friends and neighbors unite to help each other through [...]
Just because Pumpkin Spiced Everything is inescapable (and mostly gross – Pumpkin Spiced Frosted Flakes? Sick.) and we’d all like a break from the 90+ degree temperatures of the last few weeks doesn’t mean that fall is here. That’s not official until September 22, so you can all put away your chunky sweaters for the [...]
I’m pretty sure I’ve packed more travel into my life in the last two months than in the last several years. BK (before kids), I was a traveling fool, and my passport got a workout. Once the first boy arrived and the second one followed, I was fully tethered to them and our local environs. [...]
My niece and I made another pilgrimage to the homeland, Peoria, IL, to visit my dad this week. Not unexpectedly, but still, very sadly, nothing has really changed since he went into the nursing home last October. Our stay allowed me to look around my dad and stepmom’s house with fresh eyes, thinking about the [...]
This was a big week for the Center for a Vital Community. On Tuesday, we graduated our seventh class of community leaders through the CiViC Leadership Project, the CVC’s flagship program. We also celebrated one of our trainers who has been with this program since its inception eighteen years ago. Incredibly, over 170 women and [...]
The term ‘legacy’ is intimidating. Defined as the long-lasting impact of a person’s life, it’s usually used to describe political figures, sports legends, and millionaires. The average Joe and Josephine probably don’t walk around wondering what their legacy will be. Maybe they should. In the last few months, Sheridan has lost several people who embodied [...]
Welcome back to my column, dear reader! You know that I’ve been covering end of life if you've read my latest submissions. It’s been a tough time. I have good news – this column is happier! This will be a complete send-up of my thought processes and subsequent actions (or lack thereof). If you’ve ever [...]
Brace yourself, readers! For a change, I will utilize this column for its original purpose – to promote the Center for a Vital Community’s work in our community. Crazy, eh? No personal blog post today, folks. Instead, I’m here to explain why the CVC has been called the Chamber of Commerce for Nonprofits. When you [...]
