Lucille's Blog
Unexpected Guest, Unexpected Gift
Finding the gift in the holiday might mean looking beyond traditions and serving in a soup kitchen, being a secret Santa, taking gifts to a homeless shelter, or taking an untraditional path. When circumstances prevent us from traveling to our place of choice, being...
Aspiring to be ‘Jobless’ to Embrace Personal Freedom
In our professional culture, the word "jobless" usually carries a heavy stigma. It implies idleness, a lack of direction, or a gap in one’s resume. But what if we redefined the term? What if being "jobless" didn’t mean you weren't productive, but rather that you...
The Gift of Love and Words: Ruby Oliver’s Legacy
Her mother would whisper into her ear, “You’re smart. Exceptionally smart.” She’d whisper these words into the child’s ears so frequently that Ruby started to believe her mom. Her grades improved, and her belief in herself blossomed, too. At age 23, when others told...
From Chaos to Consistency: Weaving Your Business Dream into Your Weekly Life
It's easy to look at the week ahead and feel like you’re staring at a complex puzzle box, where the dream of your business, the demands of your day job, and family obligations won't click into place. You are not alone in that feeling. We all carry these dreams, tucked...
The Sweet Taste of Tradition
As we gather in the kitchen, lounge in the family room, or watch football in an adjoining room, those moments may flash through our minds in which we can’t believe how quickly the year has passed, a memory of a loved one who has transitioned, or how we spent a...
Cecil’s Story
At the Matteson Literary Fest, Cecil Mims bought my book Baby, So Precious. This is his story. I just came up looking at all the other authors that were out here. My wife was also part of the event. I looked through all of the books, and I just picked out a couple at...
A Fun Portal into the Past
A couple of weeks ago, my daughter contacted me about my grandson, Sage. She informed me that the six-year-old had a new name: Sir Sage. He was knighted during a historical reenactment. “You’ll be pleased to know that he greets people and shares history tidbits,”...
Drop Everything And Read: A Habit That Lasts a Lifetime
Even after two decades of teaching, one of the most cherished times at school was DEAR time – Drop Everything And Read. When I started as an educator, I was mindful to schedule this activity right after lunch as part of the classroom routine. After settling down,...
Igniting Your Child’s Genius
Nine-year-old Cassandra sat in the Auditorium Theater in downtown Chicago alone, waiting for the thick maroon curtains to open. On an ordinary Saturday afternoon, she would be busy cleaning her room, watching television, or fighting with one of her four siblings. But...
Tiny Travelers, Big Adventures
Traveling with children can be costly, but it is a great investment in exposing them to different and diverse cultures, traditions, and perspectives. Traveling improves a child’s critical thinking and problem-solving skills and provides opportunities for hands-on...