Updates on Life and Travel

Published on

July 12, 2026

Last week I received the automated renewal for this website. It was my sign to update my “About” page. Most paragraphs stayed the same, but a few thoughts and ideas left the page. Overall, the change in it…and the change in me has been good.

If this website has a mission statement it would be: This blog is the story of rebuilding a life one journey at a time. My hope is that every destination teaches me something new, every experience brings a little more healing, and every story encourages someone else to believe that life can be beautiful again.

We sing a hymn in my church that begins, “Look for the beautiful look for the true; Sunshine and shadow are all around you.” This past year I’ve tried to keep that exact motto…positivity makes progress.

In the year since I have started writing, I have:

Taken three solo trips
Visited Africa and (next week) Asia
Retired from teaching
Traveled with my niece to Canada
Applied to become a flight attendant
Lost 30 pounds
Cried but recovered faster and cried less frequently
Drove to North Carolina with my co-worker and friend for New Year’s
Started a newscast with my high school church class
Volunteered at the hospital
Completed a Divorce Care class
Blogged almost every Wednesday and Saturday
Found longer periods of peace
Continued playing soccer
Maintained a weekly Monday call with my Michigan friend to process our struggles and to pray for one another
I organized our School Day at the K for both my schools

While I have had several emotional setbacks, I know I have taken many more steps forward. I still miss many parts of my previous life, but I have spent this year experiencing more happy times.

Yes, progress has been made, and, yes, my heart still yearns for parts of the past. Still, I know I am healthier emotionally. I will continue to work toward complete healing. I’m just not 100% yet, and that’s okay. Patience with myself and patience with the process continues to grow, and I feel it in my bones that one year from this post I will still see even more gains in my overall health and happiness!

Here’s to one more year!