Posts

The Quiet Spaces: Holidays with a Close Family All While Holding Your Breath

-
Image
The Holidays are a series of fun and festive conversations; they are loud, warm, and smell like my mother’s roast turkey. Next to me at the table, Liam is laughing at something his Uncle has said—that genuine, deep-bellied teenage laugh that I catch myself recording in my mind like a treasure. My sister drove two hours to be here, and the house is filled with the kind of comfortable chaos that most people dream of. I am surrounded by people who would drop everything for me, who loved my husband deeply, and who have been my bedrock since he passed away just over two years ago. By all accounts, I am safe. I am loved. And yet, beneath the table, I find myself twisting my wedding ring and realizing that I am holding my breath. There is a specific kind of loneliness that exists within a crowd of people who love you. It’s not the loneliness of being forgotten; it’s the loneliness of being known as a version of yourself you no longer fully inhabit. When you are a widow and a single mother to ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Christmas in Grove City, Ohio: A Journey Through Holiday Traditions

-
Grove City, Ohio, a vibrant suburb of Columbus, has a rich history of celebrating Christmas, evolving from simple community gatherings to elaborate annual events. Over the years, the spirit of the season in Grove City has remained constant, characterized by a strong sense of community, family, and festive cheer. This article explores the transformation of Christmas traditions in Grove City, highlighting key events, historical developments, and the enduring spirit of the holidays in this central Ohio community. Early Christmas Celebrations: Simplicity and Community Spirit In its nascent years, Grove City's Christmas celebrations were primarily characterized by simplicity and a focus on intimate community gatherings. Early residents, many of whom were farmers and small business owners, often celebrated at home and in local churches. These celebrations would have included traditional carol singing, festive meals, and the exchange of handmade gifts. Churches played a pivotal role, host...
Post a Comment
Read more

One Step

-
Image
 Life got busy as it often does. Today is such a good day. I am a mother and a widow, and I feel like I have been traveling a road of significant difficulties since my loving husband passed away. There's no other way to put it, but his death truly devastated me in ways I could not imagine. I met Keith during my senior year of college; he was twenty-eight, and I was twenty-two. He seemed to have it all together: he had a full-time job, was retired from the Air Force due to a medical discharge, and had a fancy car. Not an old, beat-up Toyota that most of my college friends drove. I didn't even have my own car yet. And together we made a beautiful life.  In 2019, when Keith's leukemia came back, I went through a lot of anxiety and fear of losing him. Then, over the next four years, as he fought different flare-ups, it sort of became "normal" to me. By the time the leukemia recurred the last time, it seemed like just another battle to fight. At that point, I convinced...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Ethical Compass: Why Integrity is Essential for Counselors 🧭

-
Being a professional counselor is more than just a job; it's a professional identity—a convergence of one's personal worldview with the core attitudes, values, and activities of the field (Simmons et al., 2023, p. 49). At the heart of this identity is an unwavering commitment to ethics, particularly in how counselors integrate their personal beliefs with clinical practice. For clinical mental health counselors, maintaining this ethical imperative is crucial for providing competent, client-centered care. The Integration Model: Blending Worldview and Theory Many counselors find themselves practicing an integration model, which holistically blends psychological theories with theological principles to enhance client care (Johnson, 2018). This approach ensures that counselors view their clients not only through a psychological lens but also with an appreciation for their spiritual and religious dimensions (Simmons et al., 2023, p. 159). For those with a specific worldview, such as a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Leading the Charge: Women Candidates in the South-Western City School District Board Election

-
Image
The South-Western City School District (SWCSD) Board of Education election on November 4, 2025, is shaping up to be a critical race, with three at-large seats open for a four-year term. What stands out in this election is the strong presence of female candidates, two of whom are incumbents and one a first-time challenger, all bringing a wealth of experience and community commitment to the table. Six candidates are running for the three available spots, and three of them are women: incumbent Camille Peterson, challenger Chelsea Alkire, and challenger Kelly Dillon. This election is noteworthy not just for the number of candidates but for the clarity of the platforms being presented, with the candidates running on two distinct slates that have received endorsements from local party organizations, despite the nonpartisan nature of the school board office. Camille Peterson, who was appointed to the board in 2023 following a resignation, is running for re-election. She is a Licensed Social W...
Post a Comment
Read more

Navigating the Silent Days After a Loved One is Gone

-
Image
My family has been tremendously affected by cancer. My husband was first diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) in 2004. He had just joined the United States Air Force and was on his way to his first duty station in Italy when the acute symptoms first appeared. He fought the disease and got into remission, where he stayed for 15 years. During that time, Keith left a bad marriage, started a new life in Columbus, and, encouraged by his best friend, he and I met on eHarmony. At the time, I was a Senior at Wright State University, and to me, Keith had it all together. He had a nice car, a place of his own, and a job. Keith told me about his cancer journey on our first date, and my response was, "We'll have to adopt." Mainly, because beyond finding a husband, I wanted more than anything to be a Mom. I was smitten with Keith right away, and it wasn't long before we became serious.  In 2009, we were married. In 2010, we bought our first house. In 2012, we brought ho...
Post a Comment
Read more

Diving into Memory: The Unforgettable Summers at Grove City's "Twin Towers" Pool

-
Image
For generations of Grove City residents, the phrase "Twin Towers" brings to mind the sights, sounds, and smells of summer at the beloved old swim club in Grove City, Ohio. Long before "The Big Splash" became the place to be, the Twin Towers Swim Club, located right next to Windsor Park, was the undisputed king of summer fun. Oh, what a golden age that was. Stepping onto the grounds of Twin Towers felt like entering a world built specifically for endless childhood joy. It wasn't a modern aquatics center; it was a classic, concrete paradise, brimming with the simple, yet profound, pleasures of a neighborhood pool. To a child, the pool seemed enormous, with the bright blue water reflecting the blazing Ohio sun. The defining features, of course, were the Twin Towers themselves—the high and low diving boards situated side-by-side. They weren't just boards; they were proving grounds. How many hours did we spend standing in that dripping-wet line, the smell of chlo...
Post a Comment
Read more