Describe the most ambitious DIY project you’ve ever taken on. The most ambitious DIY project I ever took on began with confidence. And a hose. When I brought Romo home from the shelter, I had the naive optimism of someone who thinks love is enough preparation. He was my Belgian Malinois — all sharp linesContinueContinue reading “Bath time Chaos”
Category Archives: pets
About Paws and People
Who are your favorite people to be around? My favorite people to be around have never fully been people. They have been Romo and Sauli. Romo, my Belgian Malinois, entered my life like a disciplined storm. He did not tolerate half-presence. If I was distracted, he knew. If I was anxious, he mirrored it. IfContinueContinue reading “About Paws and People”
The Winter I Learned How to Let Go
Describe a phase in life that was difficult to say goodbye to. There are seasons in life that do not end. They dissolve. And the hardest ones to release are not the longest — but the most concentrated. I came back from my travels in December with a quiet vow stitched into my chest: IContinueContinue reading “The Winter I Learned How to Let Go”
A Human and A Dog
I used to think destiny was dramatic—lightning strikes, once-in-a-lifetime love, doors that suddenly change everything. But I realize fate often shows up as a dog. When I adopted Romo, I thought I was gaining a protector and companion, not that he was also adopting me—into responsibility and devotion. Romo was chaos in muscle and intelligence, demanding structure, patience, discipline, and emotional steadiness. He was a formative love, not ornamentation. He arrived before Sauli and trained me not for obedience but for endurance. I doubted fate then, skeptical of scripts controlling us, believing in free will and choice. But some beings come at precise moments—Romo before my deep transformation, anchoring me in my body and love as logistics—showing up daily despite fatigue or heartbreak. I now see destiny not as prophecy but as preparation—becoming the capable self for what’s to come. Romo prepared me for loyalty, intensity, and love in action. When Sauli entered, I was already practiced in devotion, understanding love can be grounding and wild, gentle and fierce. I don’t believe in cinematic destiny but in convergences, in timing that feels almost architectural—when souls meet just as you’re building your inner scaffolding. Romo and Sauli were no accidents, nor were the detours and heartbreaks. Destiny isn’t controlling but collaborating—placing teachers, sometimes with four legs, and watching if I’m willing to learn. I’ve learned: fate isn’t about being chosen, but about being shaped.
The Pothole Moments
Straight roads rarely make for interesting storiesAbout Life Choices & Potholes Not the wins. Not the promotions. Not the relationships that looked good on paper. Not the carefully executed plans. It was the interruptions. The job loss I didn’t see coming. The visa uncertainty that made “stability” feel temporary. The relationship that had potential —ContinueContinue reading “The Pothole Moments”
Adventures Of Sauli The Rescue Pup
Think back on your most memorable road trip. Mine didn’t start with playlists or snacks. It started with a crate. Sauli was sitting inside it—wide-eyed, unsure, her whole body coiled with questions she couldn’t ask. Just days earlier, she’d been tearing through a hotel room in Wisconsin like a tiny tornado, testing every boundary, everyContinueContinue reading “Adventures Of Sauli The Rescue Pup”
Reverence as Responsibility
What is your mission?A Song and Dance for Mother Earth I used to think gratitude was something you felt quietly. Something you said thank you for. Something that stayed inside. Then I watched how children love the world. They sing to it. They talk to it. They pick up stones and leaves as if theyContinueContinue reading “Reverence as Responsibility”
Healing Without Language
Not all healing comes from talking.
Some of it comes from repetition.
From knowing what comes next.
From being met gently, again and again.
What Makes a Good Neighbor?
The author reflects on their chaotic adjustment to suburban life with their energetic rescue dog, Sauli. Rather than complaints, neighbors responded with laughter and support, emphasizing that good neighbors are those who actively engage amidst chaos. This experience inspired a book series celebrating community connections through the antics of Sauli.
The Day I Finally Grew Up (Hint: It Involved a Dog and a Destroyed Couch)
Adventures of Sauli the Rescue Pup Honestly?It wasn’t when I got my first job, paid rent on time, or opened a retirement account. It was the day I stood in a living room that looked like a crime scene—pillow stuffing everywhere, leash in one hand, treats in the other—whispering, “It’s okay, Sauli… we’ll figure itContinueContinue reading “The Day I Finally Grew Up (Hint: It Involved a Dog and a Destroyed Couch)”
Let Your Pawrenting Journey Begin 