Blog Posts
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New York City: Day 4
Life in Pictures: Meeting William and Victor Life in Pictures: New York Day 4 was our last morning in the city, but it held the heart of the entire trip. I finally got to meet my students, William and Victor, in person. Teaching English online has been an incredible experience. From my home office, I’ve…
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New York City: Day 3
Life in Pictures: Slowing Down in the City Welcome to Life in Pictures: New York City Day 3. After a whirlwind second day, we slowed down with a Big Bus Tour, a quiet lunch, a final stroll through Times Square, and capped it off with an evening at The View. Hard Rock Café Breakfast After…
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New York City: Day 2
Life in Pictures: A Day Packed with Adventure Riding the New York Subway On Day 2, we hit the ground running, starting with the subway. At first, we weren’t sure we were even on the right car, but we sorted ourselves out and found a spot—standing, then finally sitting—as people got off. We exchanged one…
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New York City: Day 1
First Impressions & A Full Afternoon In The City Welcome to my new series, Life in Pictures: New York. In this four-part series, I’ll be sharing the city through photos and short reflections. Day 1 took us from Times Square to Central Park—a first taste of New York’s energy, surprises, and unforgettable characters. Arrival in…
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A Christmas Letter Found in August
Some stories don’t wait for the “right season.” They find you when they’re ready. This one came to me in August, though it holds Christmas at its heart. It’s a story about loss, memory, and the small ways love continues to show up—sometimes where you least expect it. A Quiet Visit to the Gravesite When…
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Finding My Voice: How Resilience Became My Foundation
By Rhonda Northrup | Week 4 of My Artist: The Cornerstone of Resilience Looking back on those formative years, I see now that what felt like chaos and hardship was actually the beginning of my resilience through art. Without realizing it, I was building a foundation—one brushstroke, one choice, one act of creation at a…
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How Art Helped me Heal: A Creative Legacy from My Mother
Inspired by My Mother By Rhonda Northrup | Week 3 of My Artist Journey Continues… Over the past few weeks, I’ve been sharing pieces of my sister Rhonda’s artistic journey. Her reflections are honest, moving, and deeply personal. Here’s Week 3… Inspired by my mother’s creativity, I found a love for art early in life.…
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Letters to God: An Easter Reflection
A “Thank You Jesus” Poem for Easter This Easter, I wanted to share something personal—a thank you poem to Jesus, written as a letter to God. It’s my way of saying, simply and truly: Thank you, Jesus. He was with mein a childhood marked by pain. Faithfulthrough the chaos of a rocky,turbulent youth. He stayed…
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How Art Helped Me Heal: Rhonda’s Story Continues…
Art as a Lifeline By Rhonda Northrup | Week 2 of My Artist Journey By age four, I was already exposed to abuse and estrangement. These early experiences shattered my sense of safety and launched a difficult chapter in my emotional development. Life quickly became unpredictable and painful. Yet in the midst of that chaos,…
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How Art Helped Me Heal: Rhonda’s Story Begins
A Wistful Beginning By Rhonda Northrup | Week 1 of My Artist Journey My Wistful Beginning Artist’s Journey began at age four: I held a scrap of fabric in my hands, its frayed edges soft against my fingers, as I pieced together what I envisioned as a ball gown for my Barbie. Though the dress…