A Rambling Mama

If you walked into my dining room right now, you’d see a snapshot of a life that is—by traditional standards—a bit of a disaster. There are board games, half-finished LEGOs, napkins scattered like confetti, and a precarious tower of takeout sauces from various meals, serving as a makeshift centerpiece. My house isn’t the cleanest. There is dust on the baseboards and a permanent pile of laundry in my laundry room.  When my husband passed away, I looked at this life and felt certain it would all collapse. I was convinced that grief would be the weight that finally pulled me under. I thought for sure I would fail. I feared I’d lose the home he worked so hard to provide us with, that I’d be unable to keep a job, and that my emotions would become a permanent, unpredictable storm I couldn’t navigate. Most of all, I feared I wouldn’t be enough to raise our son. But here is the thing about the "mess" on my table: I am not drowning. For two solid years following his death, I didn'...

I will be the first to admit it: my "rambling" usually involves parenting chaos, political insights, or travel, and sometimes a bit of historical whisps. But lately, my mind has been stuck on a much more stressful loop—the modern-day job hunt. If you’ve been following along, you know I’m a "roots" kind of person. I like to plant things, nurture them, and watch them grow. That’s why being laid off just two days before the New Year—after over two years of pouring myself into a company—felt less like a fresh start and more like being uprooted in the middle of a winter storm. No warning, no fanfare, just a sudden "thanks for your service" and a very quiet house. The Numbers Game (And the AI of it All) Since then, I have put in hundreds of applications. I’ve done the old-school manual entries on company websites, and I’ve embraced the new-age tech by using AI job-hunting sites like Massive and JobHire. The result? Two interviews. They both went well—great, even...

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 ...

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...

 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...

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...