First jobs are not easy. But oh, the lessons we learn. As I have been observing my son’s journey with new jobs, it reminded me of my first job as well. In my Tribute to Dad on Veterans Day  blog, I mentioned that my first job was working for my dad, driving a wheat truck at harvest time. And…although I learned many lessons, a couple clearly stand out. I have to start with learning to drive. I didn’t learn to drive on a wheat truck; I actually learned in a pickup truck. I was

It’s hard to believe it’s almost here. It’s time to count down to the end of the year. Be thankful.   I ended one journey and started anew. I leaned into the uncomfortable, and I grew. Be thankful.   Intentional was the word that I chose for the year. I listed out people both far and near. Be thankful.   I connected with co-workers, friends, and family galore. I laughed, and I cried, and was ready for more. Be thankful.   Both baseball and son wound up High School years. In b

William "Bill" Louis Dale - US Marine Corps February 3, 2024 was the day my father, William “Bill” Louis Dale, left this earth. Although he physically left us, the numerous memories and life lessons learned along the way did not. Dad served in the United States Marine Corps from August 1951 to August 1953. He was eventually stationed at the Marine Air Facility in Santa Ana, California, and one of my favorite stories is of him telling me how he became a Marine. It was somewhat

About six years ago, my husband decided we needed to be more intentional about being grateful. He brought home a large jar. Cut up slips of paper, and encouraged us all to write something expressing our gratitude, and put it in the jar. Now, we started slow at first, and then through encouragement, each of us would think of something small, or an event would happen, and we would add our “gratefulness” or “gratitude” notes into the jar. Everyone participated - me, my husband,