2015
I believe in running; through blizzards, over bridges, outside.
I believe in red wine; with straws, in mugs.
I believe in carrots, tea, and clif bars.
I believe in picking wildflowers along the road when you have nothing to give to your grandma.
I believe in Beatrice Gross’s chocolate chip cookies.
I believe in short dresses, wool tights, and lace up boots.
I believe in glitter; over your eyes, in your hair.
I believe in poetry; reading poems before bed and out loud.
I believe in thrift stores, in that bra you couldn’t find anywhere else.
I believe in records; the Stones, double disks, static.
I believe in disposable cameras and Melaleuca vanilla bean flavored chapstick.
I believe in home, in travel, in sleeping in your car.
I believe in the soul.
I believe in peeing in the shower and painting each of your toenails a different color.
I believe in ice cream; making your own sundaes, lots of sprinkles.
I believe in the Bible.
I believe in Bruce Springsteen.
I believe in dancing; under the moonlight, next to the crowd.
I believe in incense, candles, and Christmas lights.
I believe in telephone calls, cowboy coffee, and waitressing when you have to.
I believe in borrowing clothes, beer, an orange scarf.
I believe in Thursday nights.
I believe in always having bubble gum.
I believe in hiking; in the rain, with no snowshoes, a black sports bra.
I believe in tattoos, the small ones.
I believe in old cars and my mother’s 8th grade jacket.
I believe in journals and writing down your dreams.
I believe in spirit animals.
I believe in sisters.
I believe in serendipity.
I believe in this…
2025
I believe in herb gardens, sunflower seeds, hummingbird feeders.
I believe in paddle boards and my Trek bike.
I believe in bike rides to the beach and Raquetball courts.
I believe in chores and doing the laundry on Sunday.
I believe in oil diffusers and Lancôme perfume.
I believe in saunas and sweat.
I believe in swimming; in pools, in lakes, all year round.
I believe in lemon juice in my hair.
I believe in Jeopardy and learning two languages at once.
I believe in red wine; by a fire, at a fancy dinner, on a beach at sunset.
I believe in handwritten letters, Mary Oliver’s poems, and always knowing when the moon is full.
I believe in going home when you need to, at least always for Thanksgiving.
I believe in Cherry Valley, Detroit, and all the small towns I don’t know about.
I believe in getting away for Christmas, even if you plan the trip three weeks before.
I believe in eye masks, mud masks, and icing your face every morning.
I believe in campers, road trips, and going up North.
I believe in jam bands and always having the next show lined up.
I believe in the bible and reading it every day.
I believe in thrift shopping and grabbing that free pair of blue jeans at a festival.
I believe in gel nail polish and pampering yourself to a pedicure.
I believe in the woods, the trails, the nature, the birds.
I believe in the sound of geese.
I believe in stickers on your dashboard.
I believe in framed concert posters and using tie dye scarves for curtains.
I believe in having the good coffee, with the good creamer on the weekends.
I believe in girl’s nights, date nights, going downtown or staying in.
I believe in writing; about the past, for the future, to keep the blog alive.
I believe in song lyrics, Psalms, Proverbs, and good night texts.
I believe in cuddling before bed and holding your hand on walks.
I believe in always having a journal and a to do list.
I believe in salad bowls and fresh meat from our land.
I believe in the heat of summer and your breath in winter.
I believe in going for runs, any time of the day, even if they aren’t for long.
I believe in making your bed every morning.
I believe in the railroad tracks, the rivers and the roads that lead me home.
I believe in love and the heart ache that comes with it.
I believe in the hop house, the barn, the white house on Mill Road.
I believe in my mother’s homemade jam and my father’s antique collection.
I believe in my best friend who lives in a different state.
I believe in my sisters and the families we are making.
I (still) believe in disposable cameras and looking through my photo albums from time to time.
I believe that joy comes every morning.
I believe in always having a fresh start.