Michele Gooch

Do you remember the wonder and excitement you felt as a child at Christmas? The feeling that anything was possible and magic existed all around you? The feeling that simply asking for your Christmas wish made […]

In the south, we love mixing it up in the kitchen. Some combinations of ingredients just belong in the same dish. Bacon, lettuce, and tomato or cheese, pimentos, and mayonnaise craft classic sandwiches. Onions, […]

The morning my son left I was filled with dread.  I did not want him to leave. I wanted him to stay at least until the New Year.  As he entered the kitchen with his truck packed, he ask one thing of his parents. “ […]

This month’s theme is unity, and nothing spells unity better than an interactive dinner with family or close friends. In our family, we have at least one fondue a year, usually in December or January. Somehow, l […]

Take a stance. Pick a side! What side of history do you want to be on? We can NOT agree to disagree on this topic. I’m sorry but if you were here or there or believe this or that we can not be friends. I u […]

Have you played in a pile of snow yet this winter or have you been buried under a pile of laundry or dirty dishes that needed attending? One thing this past year has taught me is to address issues as they arise to […]

The sky is not my limit…I am.

T.F. Hodge

What is holding you back?  You have dreams that you want to fulfill, but something prevents you from moving towards that which burns deep inside of you.  You use exc […]

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for some good news! The pandemic has led to all sorts of heartache and loss, to put it mildly. Being restricted from our usual active routines and “zooming” too much has led […]

When the music shifts from one tempo to another, the dance shifts with it. On the dance floor, you find your rhythm and pace, then the music changes. Next step: stumbling. Our lives are filled with ups and downs, […]

Take these five steps for your journey toward sobriety.

When you think about embarking on a substance use recovery journey, it may be scary and feel like hard work. The recovery journey is both scary and hard […]

Many have heard the saying “you can’t pick your family” and it is generally in a context when someone has done something that someone doesn’t agree with.  I have said such sayings more times than I can possibly […]

Over the last decade of teaching thousands, I’ve often had nursing students comment on all I have accomplished in my career. Knowing this path hasn’t really been about me, nor has it all been glitz and glamor eit […]

Picture this:

Family reunion. Everyone talking, catching up, showing photos of their littles. Food being eaten. Drinks enjoyed. And Cousin Marty leans over and says to me, voice booming through the ambient […]

What is the meaning of family? We can “google” the word family and what comes up is: A group of people that are related, especially, parents and their children.  But “family” can mean more than blood relative […]

Family! A perfect topic of the month as I have spent the summer in Jordan. We’ve celebrated two Eids (Muslim holidays) during this time. I’ve ruminated a great deal about the importance and blessing of a large ext […]

When I think of family, I think of family meals together. It’s the perfect time to enjoy each other’s company but also so much more! It’s a time when kids learn social skills and good manners but also about the j […]

Have you had “the talk” with your kids yet?  No, I don’t mean THAT talk.  I’m talking about money.  Reports show that it is the second hardest conversation to have with your kids behind the big sex talk.  Tha […]

In a short 18 months, I have lost both my momma and my daddy. Our daddy passed first, tragically and unexpectedly, followed by our momma in March of this year. Gretchen, my sister, and I are now the only two in […]

It was almost time for my birthday, I was going to turn 7 years old. Like most young children, I was so excited for my special day to arrive. Planning in my head what kind of cake I wanted for my party, it was […]