How much cruelty, neglect, hatred, and abuse is in the news shocks me. The fact that rape, assault, and shootings are what we read about and hear about every single day hurts me to my core. We're so used to the nightmare news that we've been desensitized. We think that gun violence is unavoidable, that women's accusations being ignored is just another daily activity, that politicians are supposed to be liars and crooks, that pain and tears are unavoidable... we've grown up dr

Growing up in rural Oregon means my love for all things nature will never die. Rivers, trees, outdoor games, wild animals, and mountain drives... it's in my blood. So, understandably, living the city life is sometimes hard for me. The concrete gray gets to me. I bring this up now with a bit of a heavy heart as I'm noticing that summer is slowing into fall. The sky is a shade less warm and the beautiful lake is shimmering a little less brightly. Mother earth- our amazing ho