Recently I was at a board meeting, as I usually am on Monday nights, and a former board member was sitting next to me when it ended. As we normally do, we started putting away the chairs, stacking them along the back wall, and she said it felt like she was on council again. I […]
When people find out I’ve written five books, one of the most common questions I get asked is ‘how long have you been writing?’ The response to this is, usually, since I could write. They’re always surprised, but it’s no secret. Anyone who knows me knows how long I’ve been writing and how much I […]
Recently, one of our friends asked which teacher from our high school had the biggest impact on my husband Kyle and I. We’re a group of six Richmond High School class of 2013 graduates, so while we all had different teachers at times, our school was small enough that we were aware of all of […]
When I got into the office Monday morning and opened our email, I saw a list of emails with messages and photos of the 2025 Stamp Out Hunger food drive. And, like every year, I am amazed at the generosity of the Ortonville community. On the second Saturday in May, the National Association of Letter […]
There are times as a community member that I get to spend hours with the youth in Ortonville, and let me tell you, we have some incredible kids here. Last week was one of my busiest, as I was invited to participate in career day at both Oakwood Elementary School on April 22 and Harvey-Swanson […]
Recently I was asked to participate in the career day programs at the local elementary schools, both of which are coming up this week on April 22 at Oakwood Elementary and April 24 at Harvey-Swanson Elementary. I love career days, both as a participant but also as a community reporter. It always fascinates me when […]
This past week, my husband and I were watching a show where people were discussing the worst thing they’ve ever done. This led to he and I having a completely opposite discussion when he turned to me and asked, “What’s the best thing you’ve ever done?” The question threw me for a loop, because looking […]
Recently my best friend reached out asking how long it takes to adjust to a new prescription, because she’d gotten a new one for the first time in five years and her prescription more than doubled and her depth perception through her new glasses was a big adjustment. After I (gently, nicely) scolded her for […]
Last week, during one of my weekly phone calls with one of my best friends, she listed off to me the issues she’s been having with her five-year-old since she had another baby, all of them normal, new-sibling behavior. And, like the best friend I am, I listened and offered her advice to the best […]
I have always been of the opinion that everyone has a story to tell. That can be done in a number of ways, through music, art, passed down verbally through family history, but my preferred method is, unsurprisingly, writing. I am an open book, literally. So last year, when another local author approached me about […]