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Save Tonight
With music being such an integral part of my March madness, you’d think I’d want to run from it. Not a chance. I’ve decided to lean into it.
Apr 23


Unsteady
In 2025, I must make a concerted effort to remain steady. Uncertainty abounds here in my four Bismarck walls and around the globe.
Mar 17


MMMBop
Since May 2018, I’ve perpetually lived in that final scene of It’s a Wonderful Life: “Remember no man is a failure who has friends.”
Feb 3


A New York Christmas
God, I needed that. I needed Rachel that day. I needed the reminder that it’s all going to work out. That my life is so full of blessings.
Dec 18, 2024


How Great Thou Art
Bruce Foster was a Vietnam veteran. His funeral was Saturday, just two days before today, Veterans Day, which I found quite significant.
Nov 11, 2024


I'll Be Her
Pride truly cometh before the fall. I would have preferred to keep my pride and avoid the fall. But, alas, on October 10, 2024, I fell...
Oct 30, 2024


Taxi
Fall is a season of favorites. It’s my favorite season. Enjoy your days. And make sure you find time to stop and smell the sunflowers.
Oct 1, 2024


Symptom of Being Human
Because I dearly love Kate Bowler, Humanities has asked me to emcee Kate’s No Cure For Being Human, Brave Conversation, on October 10th!
Sep 9, 2024


Girls
In my new life, I’m a much better mother than I ever would have been.
Sep 3, 2024


Without Me
It will continue to change my life. And by the grace of God, the lives of others.
Aug 19, 2024


Bridge Over Troubled Water
If you know me or follow my social media, then you know I believe that every single thing that comes out of Kate Bowler’s mouth is...
Jun 10, 2024


Unwritten
That’s possibly why I feel so pulled to mark my anniversary of AE symptom and seizure free on May 26th by climbing.
May 28, 2024


Walking on Sunshine
“Summer’s coming.” I’ve been repeating this to myself quite a bit over the past two months. Summer is coming. Realistically speaking....
May 1, 2024


Are You Ready?
It’s hard to represent a story that was a lifetime in the making, in one small 9ish by 6ish inch dimension, that’s made even tinier online.
Apr 25, 2024


The River
Phill was the bravest, humblest, SuRvivor, Recoverer, and Rebuilder I’ll ever know.
Apr 2, 2024


Cover of the Rolling Stone
At my “premier” event where I debuted my “TED Talk” in front of a full crowd at our local state college, during the Q and A, one woman...
Mar 19, 2024


Save Us All
One of the most meaningful things I’ve ever heard came from my friend Becky’s funeral last fall. (I wrote about Becky when I took her to...
Feb 27, 2024


Blessed
On Saturday it hit me. Like it really hit me. When Sean said, “It’s this weekend.” And I said, “My birthday is this weekend?!?”...
Jan 30, 2024


A New Day Has Come
I love the pictures of sixteen-year-olds when they’re happiest. And when they feel like life is just beginning. We’ve all seen it on our...
Jan 9, 2024


Step Into Christmas
I still listen to the radio when I’m driving our kid car. So yip, this is me over here, listening to the radio while cruising (and no,...
Dec 12, 2023


Over the River and Through the Woods
Last Sunday evening, our church hosted turkey bingo. One of my favorite childhood memories is playing church bingo when my Grandpa Allen...
Nov 22, 2023


Heads Carolina Tails California
My first memorable hot-headed experience was in fourth grade basketball. It was my first year of playing organized ball and I snapped at...
Nov 7, 2023


Blank Space
While out of town to give a speech, I met an old friend, Peter. He’s truly one of my all-time favorite lawyers and a dear friend. We...
Oct 9, 2023


It's Alright
Life is too short not to stop and smell (pick up) the roses (feathers). Birds of a feather stick together. It all started on the day of...
Aug 21, 2023


Have Mercy on the Criminal
I feel strongly that my political beliefs come from one very basic idea: We are defined by the ways we treat the least among us. I often...
Jul 25, 2023


You Can Call Me Al
Even though I was only twelve years old, I still remember the day I met her. I was in 7th grade and she was the brand spankin’ new 4th...
Jul 11, 2023


Wicked Dreams
See you in my dreams. If only it was that easy. I wish for a few things in life: Dinner with Elton, a lake cabin, to not dream at all...
Jun 13, 2023


Fight Song
A while back, I had to have an IV treatment. I’ve only had one every one or two years for a while now and it’s not for AE, so I consider...
Jun 7, 2023


Send Me On My Way
/ Author's Note: I wrote this stream of conscious blog on my phone by the river on May 26, 2023. I spent my first anniversary on May 26,...
May 30, 2023


Better Angels
“You’re an original Stebbins Strong, Dad.” I’m so glad I got to share that with him. It came the night we had the call. That’s how I’ll...
May 23, 2023


Can't Stop The Feeling
Just the other day, I read an Instagram post from Mel Robbins, who is widely known, a lawyer, news commentator, keynote speaker, NYT...
Apr 11, 2023


Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word
You can say it. You can tell me, “I’m sorry you’re no longer a lawyer.” Just yesterday, someone messaged me about my book. She was...
Mar 21, 2023


Perfect
While I didn’t sign up for them, a while back, daily inspirational quotes started showing up in my inbox. I absolutely love them. And if...
Mar 14, 2023


I Hope You Dance
My girl’s a dancer. It was all I could think as she moved to the music in her gold and black sparkly outfit. With her little tan jazz...
Feb 28, 2023


Somebody That I Used to Know
Meeting my Mayo Clinic neurologist as the real me, post autoimmune encephalitis.
Feb 1, 2023


Freedom Ghost
Just recently, I listened to Brené Brown’s two-part podcast with Bono. It was amazing. Most of the conversation revolved around Bono’s...
Jan 17, 2023


Let It Be
In August 2021, I went solo to my first ever TEDx event. And it was a game changer for me. I met a new friend group and was introduced to...
Jan 6, 2023


O Little Town of Bethlehem
My childhood encompassed the late eighties through the nineties. I also grew up in a small town in North Dakota. In those days and in...
Dec 20, 2022


Cleanin' Out My Closet
Remember that metaphorical blog I wrote about my alarm clock? It’s one of my favorites. The times, they are always a changin’, aren’t...
Nov 28, 2022


Unstoppable
My favorite part of a flight is takeoff. I love that amazing feel of the combination of max speed and the moment you feel the lift. And...
Nov 6, 2022


Chosen Family (Pt III)
I don’t have a lot of experience with meeting other AE patients and survivors. My cup of in-person exchanges runneth dry. The first...
Oct 18, 2022


Chosen Family (Pt II)
I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought of this night for a long time. Maybe not during that first year where I struggled to survive, but...
Oct 17, 2022


Chosen Family (Pt I)
The event was pure magic. Well maybe not magic, no one had a wand or cauldron or a Harry Potter robe, but it was the best night I...
Oct 12, 2022


Suit and Jacket
It’s just a piece of paper. I can tell myself that. It’s a larger piece of thicker paper. With a beautiful green and gold, embossed...
Sep 27, 2022


Big Time
It was the last book signing of the summer. I was driving home from Fargo in the early morning hours, to get back for the kids’ open...
Sep 19, 2022


Angels Among Us
I’ll never forget the day I first met Jon. I was in a frazzle over our law office moving and I didn’t have an ergonomic desk or chair for...
Sep 15, 2022


I Want More
I was finishing up my walk this morning. Fall is nearing, because I wore a thin, but long-sleeved shirt. I knew it would get hot later,...
Sep 13, 2022


I Got You Babe
Just another day. Just another vial. Out of habit, start with the left arm and out of necessity, move to the right. One more appointment....
Sep 7, 2022


Turn! Turn! Turn!
Four years. Four years and a few months since that fateful Tuesday when I gave away my DUI case to Lloyd, somehow knowing that I couldn’t...
Aug 17, 2022


Livin' on a Prayer
Leave it to me to bring out a twenty-year-old t-shirt to wear on the second day of the trip. I’ve always been one to find the hilarity in...
Aug 7, 2022
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