“Transition.” That’s what they call the most intense part of a woman’s labor to deliver her baby. During transition, the cervix finishes opening to 10cm, contractions come fast and hard, and many women become overwhelmed by the pain. Some vomit, some feel light-headed. Once through the transition, which may last anywhere from a few minutes…

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Thirteen years ago, I said “yes” on a bridge spanning an ice-framed creek. He had created a scavenger hunt of sorts. I was searching for Box #3 when he emerged from the creek bank with the box and a question I’d dreamed of for many years. We couldn’t imagine loving each other more than we…

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It’s cold. Winter grows interminable in February. I seek the beauty of winter to get through these last weeks until spring. *** Like what you see here? Subscribe for free! Click here to add Joy in This Journey to your preferred blog reader or receive new posts by email.

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The halls were jammed with families, coats, and strollers. Tickets in hand, we made our way from each game to the next, kids collecting trinket-prizes at each one. The signs above each door named the activity inside. “Snowball Grab” “Toboggan Run” “Ice Hockey” Then, at the far end of a back hall, the sign read…

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The first Saturday of each month, Elizabeth Esther hosts a blog-hop in which everyone can feature their favorite/most-popular/most controversial post from the previous month. I am joining in this month, in which we are featuring a post from both December and January. For December, I am re-linking the story “Bringing Up the Year as Mom…

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I counted tonight. I’ve been coughing for nearly 7 weeks. Then I think of those with actual chronic diseases and feel guilty for wallowing. The mud is right there, just inches from my feet, so easy to slip into, almost beckoning me off the toilsome hike. “Come, rest here, throw a pity party.” Sometimes, the…

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