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9 11, 2026

Veterans Day

By |2026-11-05T08:50:01-06:00November 9th, 2026|Holidays, Make Me Think Monday|0 Comments

Veterans Day is this week. I come from a family that has answered when called, gone where ordered, and defended our nation with honor.

My husband is a retired Army officer.

My father served in the Army Air Corps during World War II as a navigator.

My uncle served as a Marine on Iwo Jima.

My cousin was in the Air Force during Desert Storm.

Three brothers-in-law served in the Navy.

Last month my great-nephew headed to boot camp.

Though I’m not a veteran, I worked as a Department of the Army Civilian at Eighth Army Headquarters in South Korea during the Vietnam War.

That experience inspired my four-book PROMISES series. The characters and stories are entirely fictional. The series blends real places and historical events with treasured memories of my time there.

Promises Series

 Some promises are made in a moment.

Others take a lifetime to keep.

During the Vietnam War, three people meet at Eighth Army Headquarters in Yongsan, South Korea: Lily Reed, the G3 secretary; Captain David Sands, the G3 aide-de-camp; and Green Beret Major Alex Cabot, on a special assignment to G3. Their lives change, their loves evolve, and the promises made long ago continue to shape their futures.

Each book is a standalone novel, telling one part of their stories from the turbulent Vietnam War years through the decades that follow.

PROMISES boxed set will be available for $1.99 November 10-17

or FREE if you have Kindle+

Click here to get your copy.

And sometime this week, pause to thank a veteran. Without them, who knows what this world would look like?

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2 11, 2026

Ideas to Reduce the Coming Holiday Season Stress

By |2026-10-30T15:16:08-05:00November 2nd, 2026|Holidays, Make Me Think Monday, Thanksgiving|2 Comments

Halloween was Saturday. Tomorrow is election day. Thanksgiving is on the horizon.

All of which means whatever calm and order exists in our personal world will soon disappear into holiday preparations.

Don’t get me wrong. Holidays are my favorite time of year, except for Halloween, which is too spooky, and the 4th of July, which is too loud with all its fireworks.

As much as I look forward to the holidays, I dread the rush between Halloween and New Year’s Day.

The preparations.

The scheduling.

It can be so overwhelming.

Many years ago, I read an article by Mary E. Pritchard, a psychology professor at Boise State University.

Pritchard suggests the key to a stress-free holiday season lies in an acronym: ADAPT.

*Note: I’ve edited the wording, not the premise.

  • A — Acknowledge that things are going to be a bit crazier than usual this time of year. It’s okay. This too shall pass.
  • D — Don’t sweat the small stuff. Holidays are not about perfection. It really doesn’t matter if one of Rudolph’s ears is crooked in your son’s holiday pageant costume. Focus on getting it done and getting through to the New Year.
  • A — Accept that things will happen that will waylay your best-laid plans and intentions. You’ll likely find yourself relying on Plan B, C, or D this holiday season. That’s okay. (See D above.)
  • P — Pretend you have it all together. As my colleague says, “Fake it ’til you make it.” There’s something behind that. If you pretend to have it all together, you likely will. It’s a fact that smiling can make you happier.
  • T — Troubleshoot. Because things aren’t going to go as planned (see Accept above), make sure that you have a Plan B or C or D to fall back on. That way, you can gracefully slide into Plan B and pretend that’s how you intended things to work anyway.

Most importantly, make sure you take some time for you this holiday season. Find 10 minutes a day to meditate, go for walks a few times a week, watch a funny movie, whatever it takes.

Carving out you-time will help make the busy holidays a little more bearable. It works for me!

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28 10, 2026

Halloween Poem – James Whitcomb Riley

By |2026-10-13T12:46:36-05:00October 28th, 2026|Wednesday Poetry|0 Comments

In 7th grade, we were required to take Speech, which included memorizing and reciting poems. I recited this one by James Whitcomb Riley.  Even though the dialect was tricky, I loved it and still remember the lines.

It’s a fun poem for Halloween that I read to my children. They’re all grown now, and I read it to their children.

Little Orphant Annie

James Whitcomb Riley, 1849 – 1916

Little Orphant Annie’s come to our house to stay,
An’ wash the cups an’ saucers up, an’ brush the crumbs away,
An’ shoo the chickens off the porch, an’ dust the hearth, an’ sweep,
An’ make the fire, an’ bake the bread, an’ earn her board-an’-keep;
An’ all us other childern, when the supper things is done,
We set around the kitchen fire an’ has the mostest fun
A-list’nin’ to the witch-tales ‘at Annie tells about,
An’ the Gobble-uns ‘at gits you
                           Ef you
                                Don’t
                                    Watch
                                        Out!

Onc’t they was a little boy wouldn’t say his prayers,—
So when he went to bed at night, away up stairs,
His Mammy heerd him holler, an’ his Daddy heerd him bawl,
An’ when they turn’t the kivvers down, he wasn’t there at all!
An’ they seeked him in the rafter-room, an’ cubby-hole, an’ press,
An’ seeked him up the chimbly-flue, an’ ever’wheres, I guess;
But all they ever found was thist his pants an’ roundabout–
An’ the Gobble-uns’ll git you
             Ef you
                Don’t
                   Watch
                      Out!

An’ one time a little girl ‘ud allus laugh an’ grin,
An’ make fun of ever’one, an’ all her blood an’ kin;
An’ onc’t, when they was “company,” an’ ole folks was there,
She mocked ‘em an’ shocked ‘em, an’ said she didn’t care!
An’ thist as she kicked her heels, an’ turn’t to run an’ hide,
They was two great big Black Things a-standin’ by her side,
An’ they snatched her through the ceilin’ ‘fore she knowed what she’s about!
An’ the Gobble-uns’ll git you
             Ef you
                Don’t
                   Watch
                      Out!

An’ little Orphant Annie says when the blaze is blue,
An’ the lamp-wick sputters, an’ the wind goes woo-oo!
An’ you hear the crickets quit, an’ the moon is gray,
An’ the lightnin’-bugs in dew is all squenched away,–
You better mind yer parents, an’ yer teachers fond an’ dear,
An’ churish them ‘at loves you, an’ dry the orphant’s tear,
An’ he’p the pore an’ needy ones ‘at clusters all about,
Er the Gobble-uns’ll git you
             Ef you
                Don’t
                   Watch
                      Out!

*This poem is in the public domain.

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26 10, 2026

Why do we carve pumpkins at Halloween?

By |2026-10-13T11:18:03-05:00October 26th, 2026|Holidays, Make Me Think Monday|0 Comments

Vintage Halloween postcard from my collection.

Halloween’s origins date back to the Celts, who lived in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and France 2,000 years ago.

The Celts believed the boundary between the living and the dead blurred the night before their New Year, November 1st.

On October 31st, or Celtic New Year’s Eve, they celebrated Samhain. People lit bonfires and wore costumes to ward off roaming ghosts.

In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as the time to honor all saints and martyrs, incorporating some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before became known as All Hallows’ Eve and later Halloween.

The custom of creating jack-o’-lanterns originated from a fascinating Irish myth about an old drunk called “Stingy Jack,” who always tricked his drinking partner into paying.

That little habit got him into big trouble when Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink.

As the story goes, when it came time to pay, true to his name, Stingy Jack talked the Devil into turning himself into a coin which he could use to pay for their drinks. And then the story gets interesting … Jack dies.

Because he made deals with the devil, God won’t let him into heaven.

Because of the deal he made with the devil not to take his soul, he can’t go to hell.

So, Jack roams the dark Halloween night with a burning coal in a carved-out turnip. The Irish refer to his ghostly figure as “Jack of the Lantern,” or “Jack O’Lantern.”

On All Hallow’s Eve, the Irish hollowed out turnips, rutabagas, gourds, potatoes, and beets, then placed a light inside to keep Stingy Jack away and ward off evil spirits.

Turnip Jack-o’-lanterns changed to pumpkin jack-o’-lanterns when Irish immigrants came to America in the 1800’s to escape the Potato Famine. They quickly discovered that pumpkins were bigger and easier to carve out.

And thus began our tradition of carving and lighting pumpkins for Halloween.

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19 10, 2026

Using Idioms

By |2026-10-15T09:25:42-05:00October 19th, 2026|Make Me Think Monday|0 Comments

Idioms are defined by Merriam-Webster as:

An expression in the usage of a language that has a meaning that cannot be understood from the combined meanings of its elements (such as up in the air for “undecided”) or in its grammatically atypical use of words (such as give way for “retreat”)

Languages are loaded with idioms, and idioms should not be taken literally. Though global, meaning varies by country and/or culture.

In Finnish, “with long teeth” means you are doing something that you really don’t want to do. The same phrase in French, “to have long teeth,” means you are ambitious.

Groups of people with shared/common interests have their own idioms. Think about these examples from music and theatre:

“It’s not over ‘til the fat lady sings.”

“Break a leg”

“It takes two to tango.”

When I taught English as a Second Language, idioms really challenged my students. Common idioms, like the examples in the chart on the left, were easy to explain.

Others not so much.

When signing idioms for the deaf, I had to understand what the speaker meant.

Usually, it’s easy to pick up the meaning from the context of the conversation or non-verbal gestures.

Sometimes it’s not.

Need help understanding an idiom? This site can help: https://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/

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16 10, 2026

How Creative Pros Build Sustainable Businesses with Their Talents

By |2026-10-12T09:29:04-05:00October 16th, 2026|Guest blogger|0 Comments

A Guest Blog by Jenna Sherman

Image via Pexels

Freelance designers, illustrators, writers, photographers, and other creative professionals often want more than sporadic gigs. They want reliable income from work they’re proud of. The core tension is real: artistic ability monetization can feel like trading freedom for pressure, especially when sustainable business building demands consistency, pricing clarity, and boundaries. With the right foundation, turning creative talents into business becomes a repeatable way to earn and keep creating.

Understanding the Building Blocks of a Creative Business

At the heart of a sustainable creative business are three building blocks: a specific audience, clear offers, and steady business basics. This matters because talent alone does not create consistency. A clear focus helps you price with confidence, market without guessing, and choose projects that fit your energy and values. It also protects your creative time while still supporting growth, since companies that prioritize creativity often see stronger results.

Think of it like a menu, not a buffet. A photographer who serves founders with a “brand shoot plus monthly content” package can write simpler emails, track average email open rates, and improve one offer instead of juggling ten. With these pieces in place, learning business management becomes a smooth, organized next step.

Build Business Skills That Support Your Creative Vision

Once you’ve clarified your audience and offers, the next step is strengthening the skills that keep the business side steady. A business management degree can help creative professionals build practical foundations in marketing, finance, operations, and strategic planning, so your talent isn’t doing all the heavy lifting alone. If going back to school feels unrealistic alongside client work or personal responsibilities, earning an online degree can offer you the flexibility to keep moving forward without putting your life on hold; you can find all the details here. With stronger business fundamentals in place, you’ll be better prepared to take practical steps to attract clients and stabilize cash flow.

Build a Simple, Sustainable Creative Business System

This is where your talent turns into steady income. Use the steps below to shape clear offers, set pricing you can stand behind, market in a way that feels natural, and create a simple pipeline that keeps clients coming in.

  1. Set a price floor, then choose one pricing format
    List your monthly essentials and your realistic working hours to find the minimum you must earn per project to stay afloat. Then pick one format to keep it simple: a flat project fee, a monthly retainer, or a package with add-ons. Review results every 60 to 90 days and adjust as needed since 73% of software vendors increased their prices, and regular updates can be part of staying sustainable.
  2. Market with proof, not pressure
    Choose one channel you can maintain, such as a weekly post, a short email, or a monthly behind-the-scenes video, and focus on teaching what you know. Show examples, share before-and-after results, or explain your process so people understand what they are buying. The case for consistency is strong because content marketing generates 3x more leads when compared with many traditional approaches.
  3. Systemize the work so delivery stays smooth
    Write down what you do each time from the first message to final files, then turn it into a checklist you can reuse. Start by identifying what activities you engage in daily, weekly, or even monthly so you can spot what to automate, template, or stop doing. Lightweight systems make your business easier to run, even when life gets busy.

Sustaining Your Creative Business With Planning and Real Strategy

It’s easy to feel pulled between making great work and making enough money to keep going, especially when pricing, marketing, and doubt hit at once. The steadier path is long-term creative entrepreneurship: pair creative talent with business strategy, and treat decisions as simple, repeatable choices rather than pressure-filled leaps. When that mindset guides work, sustainable creative business success starts to look like calmer launches, clearer offers, and consistent income you can plan around. Creativity thrives on a realistic plan.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Jenna Sherman is a mom of three (two girls and a boy). She created Parent-Leaders.com to help other parents build the skills they need to raise future leaders with a collection of valuable, up-to-date, authoritative resources.

Take a minute to visit her blog for helpful tips.

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12 10, 2026

Christopher Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples’ Day?

By |2026-10-08T09:08:16-05:00October 12th, 2026|Holidays|0 Comments

Christopher Columbus believed he had reached East Asia when he sighted Cuba in 1492, thinking it was China. When his expedition reached Hispaniola, he believed he had found Japan.

His voyages opened the way for centuries of European exploration, trade, and colonization in the Americas. They also brought devastating consequences for Indigenous peoples, including disease, displacement, warfare, and enslavement.

Columbus’s accomplishment has been celebrated as Columbus Day since the 18th century and became a U.S. federal holiday in 1937.

But Columbus Day—and the man who inspired it—has long been controversial.

Critics argue that European expansion came at the expense of Indigenous peoples, who lost their lands and, in many cases, their freedom and lives. During the 1990s, protests surrounding Columbus Day helped fuel the movement for Indigenous Peoples’ Day, a counter-celebration recognizing Native peoples and the impact of colonization.

In 2021, President Joe Biden issued a proclamation recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the same date as Columbus Day. Today, states and communities differ in how they observe the second Monday in October. Some recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day, some continue to celebrate Columbus Day, and others observe both or have their own commemorations.

The controversy continues.

Dissenters argue that holidays, statues, and other memorials to Columbus overlook the suffering associated with European colonization and give him credit for “discovering” lands inhabited by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years. Italian Americans, meanwhile, may view Columbus Day primarily as a celebration of their heritage rather than the explorer himself.

Whatever you choose to call the day or if you choose to observe it or not, I will think about the three ships Columbus sailed—the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María—and remember the little jingle I learned in school:

Christopher Columbus sailed in the ocean blue in 1492.

Turns out, that familiar rhyme came from Winifred Sackville Stoner Jr., who wrote poems, rhymes, and mnemonic jingles to help people remember facts. Her poem, “The History of the U.S.,” was published in Yankee Doodles: A Book of American Verse in 1943.

The poem is quite long and covers American history all the way through World War I. I’m extremely grateful my teachers never made me memorize the whole thing!

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