Oobleck and Other States of Matter When I was younger, I had two states of being. In my personal life, I was fluid, like water. Which is to say that I went with the flow, and rarely set boundaries with others. I told myself, “this is what a good friend / girlfriend / wife is.” … Continue reading I’m In the Slime of My Life!

Thank You for the Education Dearest Beloveds, Congratulations – we did it!  We made it to the unofficial end of this church year!  And, oh my goodness, we have so much to look forward to in the coming year!  However, before we get there, I want to offer you one last reflection – one last “Tools for the … Continue reading Valuable Insights that Lift the Spirit

Vacation, All I Ever Wanted! This past Sunday, my husband and I finally nailed down our family’s summer vacation plans. We will be heading to Pittsburgh towards the end of June to attend the final day of General Assembly, before exploring all that Pittsburgh has to offer (including a stop at Kennywood). I know, vacations … Continue reading UU Summer Camps

Get Off the Dance Floor Hello Beloveds, Though I have never been tested, I am pretty sure I have Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD).  Over the years I’ve thought about getting myself a sun lamp to help alleviate the symptoms, but as winter approaches each year, I tend to convince myself that “It won’t be that … Continue reading SAD and Adaptive Change

You Are Divine and You Are Loved! Hello Beloveds, The passage of Kentucky’s Anti-Trans bill last Wednesday demands a response… To begin, a message to our trans and nonbinary members, friends, and neighbors – we see you.  You are divine, and you are loved. To our members, friends, and neighbors who live and work in Kentucky … Continue reading Trans Rights Now!

How to Talk to Children about Gun Violence Hello Beloveds, In the wake of another school shooting this past Monday in Nashville, you may be wondering how to talk to the children in your lives about gun violence.  Here are some vetted resources that may help you… In love and light, faith and service, –          Meredith

Paper in the Wind I’ve spent the better part of this morning thinking, wondering, wordsmithing what to write for this week’s edition of “Tools for the Journey.” Thoughts swirl around my head like torn slips of paper in the wind. I grab at them in hopes of finding the ‘right words.’ One slip of paper … Continue reading Very Poorly Today

All Aboard! Hello Beloved, Here’s something not many people know about me – I watch passenger train videos on YouTube for fun.  Two of my favorites are Solo Travel Japan and Downie Live.  Trains are interesting forms of transportation, if you think about it.  They are designed to be liminal spaces – places where people … Continue reading Trains and Liminality

Happy Pi Day! Happy Pi Day!  In case you didn’t know, I’m a bit of a math nerd.  In elementary school, I would do mental math at night to fall asleep.  In High School, I competed in math competitions at the national level.  And, in college, I tutored both children and adults in the subject.  … Continue reading Religion and Math