Blog Posts
By Lois Storlie (with assistance from Jean Storlie) The youngest of eleven, my Grandma Mary (Mimmi) was born in Målselv, Norway, a mountainous, apline region about 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle. In 1879, when Mimmi was about a year old, her parents, Ole and Marit Olson made a big decision to relocate to…
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“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” ―Helen Keller
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Minnesota’s long stretches of sub-zero temps this winter gave me a good reason to curl up on the couch and watch British crime dramas, like Shetland, Broadchurch, DCI Banks, and River. I’ve been a fan of mysteries since my childhood—the suspense, problem solving, emotional struggles, and resolution tickle my fancy. The British take on crime…
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“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” —Martin Luther King, Jr. I went skiing today on one of my…
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The Winter Solstice is the time of ending and beginning, a powerful time–a time to contemplate your immortality. A time to forgive, to be forgiven, and to make a fresh start. A time to awaken. —Traditional Yule Prayer
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All of Abby’s pent-up excitement about becoming a big sister evaporated when she first met her baby sister, Eleanor, in our birthing suite. She pouted and didn’t want to touch her sister or talk about the baby. Later, when her dad took her back to the car, Abby declared, “I am a big sister now!”…
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I Was Laying on the Living Room Couch On a gloomy day, November 22, 1963, in La Crosse, WI, I was home from school sick. My mom had to pick me up from school. Even though kids were not allowed to lounge on the living room furniture, she settled me on the couch and returned…
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Yesterday, walking into the local food shelf where I volunteer, I encountered a staff member dressed as a skeleton. She told me they were hosting a trick or treat event for the community, so the staff decided to dress in costumes. As someone who loves Halloween (my birthday is Oct. 30), I embraced their spirit.…
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Last year, I wanted to resign from a volunteer role about six months before the end of my term. There were many, many rational reasons why it made sense to walk away from a toxic situation. But something inside me wouldn’t let me quit. Every time I’ve faced the dilemma about quitting versus finishing something,…
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My work group gathered in a cozy room for a team-building retreat. The conference room was tucked away from the hubbub of the main workspaces and high-traffic corridors, adjacent to a comfortable lounge area. We’d worked together for a while and knew each other well. Also, we enjoyed our work and got along. Our plan…
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