https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes An Atheist Perspective From a Midwest Mom Thu, 29 Jan 2026 01:31:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.29 170663065 https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2026/01/28/is-fear-winning/ https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2026/01/28/is-fear-winning/#comments Thu, 29 Jan 2026 01:31:22 +0000 <![CDATA[ashes]]> <![CDATA[Uncategorized]]> https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/?p=1690 <![CDATA[I used to be a lot more outspoken. I am in disbelief at what is happening in my country, but fear is starting to silence me. I’m scared that what I say could make me a target. The current political climate has brought out the worst in people, and I don’t want to be next, […]]]> https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2026/01/28/is-fear-winning/feed/ 10 1690 https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2026/01/20/hello-im-not-dead/ https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2026/01/20/hello-im-not-dead/#comments Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:33:56 +0000 <![CDATA[ashes]]> <![CDATA[Uncategorized]]> https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/?p=1687 <![CDATA[I know it’s been a long time, and I apologize for my absence. There have been a lot of changes in my life, and I wanted to pop in and give you guys an update. I am still working two jobs; one at a mental health organization, facilitating therapeutic art groups, and the other at […]]]> https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2026/01/20/hello-im-not-dead/feed/ 10 1687 https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2024/10/24/new-drawing/ https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2024/10/24/new-drawing/#comments Thu, 24 Oct 2024 13:25:53 +0000 <![CDATA[ashes]]> <![CDATA[Uncategorized]]> https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/?p=1682 <![CDATA[I love my jobs, but unfortunately, they leave me very little time to write or draw. Sometimes I get a little downtime at one of my jobs, and that’s usually when I get some drawing done. So, one amazing perk to working at a craft store is the employee discount. I’m able to buy art […]]]> https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2024/10/24/new-drawing/feed/ 3 1682 https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2024/09/22/essay-on-paint-chip-poetry/ https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2024/09/22/essay-on-paint-chip-poetry/#comments Mon, 23 Sep 2024 01:33:28 +0000 <![CDATA[ashes]]> <![CDATA[Uncategorized]]> https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/?p=1673 <![CDATA[Happy Sunday! I hope everyone had a peaceful weekend! Last week, an essay I wrote a few months ago was published. It is about my experience with National Poetry Writing Month, which happened to be right around the time of my knee surgery. I explain how the game “Paint Chip Poetry” kept my writing practice […]]]> https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2024/09/22/essay-on-paint-chip-poetry/feed/ 2 1673 https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2024/08/28/anyone-want-to-caption-this-picture/ https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2024/08/28/anyone-want-to-caption-this-picture/#comments Wed, 28 Aug 2024 21:13:26 +0000 <![CDATA[ashes]]> <![CDATA[Uncategorized]]> https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/?p=1668 <![CDATA[Check out the van I was stuck behind at a red light. Yikes! Sorry for the raindrops on the windshield. I’m sorry for the lack of posts, but I’m still alive and kicking! I’ve just been busy at work and with art shows. We have a diversity and inclusion consultant working with us at one […]]]> https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2024/08/28/anyone-want-to-caption-this-picture/feed/ 15 1668 https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2024/08/04/new-art-show/ https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2024/08/04/new-art-show/#comments Sun, 04 Aug 2024 20:10:21 +0000 <![CDATA[ashes]]> <![CDATA[Uncategorized]]> https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/?p=1662 <![CDATA[I am sick. I started not feeling well at work last night but powered through my shift anyway. Standing at a cash register for several hours is no joke. By the time I got home, everything hurt. So I’m taking it easy today and lounging around the house. Luckily, I have the day off, and […]]]> https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2024/08/04/new-art-show/feed/ 1 1662 https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2024/07/29/check-out-my-poem-published-by-one-art/ https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2024/07/29/check-out-my-poem-published-by-one-art/#comments Mon, 29 Jul 2024 12:51:38 +0000 <![CDATA[ashes]]> <![CDATA[Poetry]]> https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/?p=1659 <![CDATA[My poem “Tulip” was published by ONE ART poetry journal today! You can check it out here. Next week, ONE ART is publishing an article I wrote about the game, Paint Chip Poetry. I will post the link once it is up. Thanks again for your support!]]> https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2024/07/29/check-out-my-poem-published-by-one-art/feed/ 2 1659 https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2024/07/24/i-miss-excitement-and-adventure/ https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2024/07/24/i-miss-excitement-and-adventure/#comments Wed, 24 Jul 2024 23:45:08 +0000 <![CDATA[ashes]]> <![CDATA[Uncategorized]]> https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/?p=1656 <![CDATA[When I was younger, I got the opportunity to travel. My family had the means to take vacations and I even studied abroad. I spent a year in Denmark which was life-changing and shaped who I am today. While my husband and I have never had a lot of money, we used to take a […]]]> https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2024/07/24/i-miss-excitement-and-adventure/feed/ 2 1656 https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2024/07/22/update-sorry-for-the-silence/ https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2024/07/22/update-sorry-for-the-silence/#comments Tue, 23 Jul 2024 01:09:44 +0000 <![CDATA[ashes]]> <![CDATA[Uncategorized]]> https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/?p=1653 <![CDATA[I apologize for the lack of posts lately. I have been working my butt off! I love my jobs but I’ve been working every day and have no idea when I’ll get a day off. I like staying busy but I don’t know if I’m spending enough time with my family. Despite the lack of […]]]> https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2024/07/22/update-sorry-for-the-silence/feed/ 3 1653 https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2024/07/14/more-art-shows-2/ https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2024/07/14/more-art-shows-2/#comments Sun, 14 Jul 2024 15:57:21 +0000 <![CDATA[ashes]]> <![CDATA[Uncategorized]]> https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/?p=1650 <![CDATA[Tears and Smiles 2024 opened yesterday. You can check out the show here. I was really impressed with the other artists. It’s probably one of the coolest shows I’ve been in so far. I also found out Friday that I have been selected for an online solo show. More details to come! I would write […]]]> https://freethoughtblogs.com/ashes/2024/07/14/more-art-shows-2/feed/ 3 1650