Laurie's Journal

There is a quiet rhythm to life right now—standing between where I’ve built my roots and where the horizon is calling me next. For a long time, the familiar streets of northern New Jersey, the everyday conversations behind the counter, and the steady cadence of routine were the entire frame. But stories have a way of outgrowing their margins. What started as voice notes, stray thoughts captured on lunch breaks, and pages written late at night has slowly taken shape into something real: I Dream of Purple Skies . Publishing your own story isn’t just about putting words in print; it’s about claiming space for the moments that made you, the family that grounds you, and the dreams that refuse to stay small. Every time I think of the Southwest—of the open desert air, the mountains outside Albuquerque, and the family waiting there—that title feels less like a metaphor and more like a road map. Transitions are messy and rarely move in a straight line. Packing up a life, balancing the everyday ...

  Stepping Into Fall: Finding Peace, Purpose, and a Little Rock 'n' Roll As the crisp air begins settling in and the leaves begin to shimmy before turning into vibrant Fall colors, approaching the first day of Fall always feels like a deep, cleansing breath. This year, the change of seasons carries a little extra weight for me. Looking back, this past summer was less about vacations and more about a profound internal shift—a season of acquiring new tools, clearing out the old, and finally giving myself permission to truly live. Finding Calm in the Storm For a long time, navigating the ups and downs of my Bipolar symptoms felt like trying to steer a ship through a hurricane. Chaos was, in a strange way, how I coped. But over the summer, I acquired some new anchors. I started intentionally setting aside time for meditation and reading my Bible. It sounds simple, but the impact has been incredibly liberating. Instead of being swept away by the turbulence, these practices have give...