by jo | Jan 12, 2016 | Everyday Stories
“What do you miss most about home?” he asked me. I paused. How to answer that this time? I often feel like a politician when I play the “get to know you” game of life. “I miss the people,” I started. “And I think it’s...
by jo | Dec 29, 2015 | Everyday Stories
In O’Hanlon Family Christmas Letter Tradition, here is mine: 2015 was another full year for me. Somehow full, but not too busy, which I think is my favorite kind of fullness. There were enough spaces and places that were slow, quiet, and solitary that I was...
by jo | Dec 15, 2015 | Advent, Everyday Stories
I remember being in college, and learning that one of my old junior high students from the youth group I helped with had had his mother die. On Christmas day. Their dad was already out of the picture and life was already hard. For a story I wrote earlier this year...
by jo | Nov 24, 2015 | Everyday Stories
If you told me 12 years ago that my world would change forever in a few months, I either wouldn’t have believed you, or I wouldn’t have been thankful at Thanksgiving. Not really. I probably would’ve said that I’d be grateful — good, strong church kid that I was. But I...
by jo | Nov 10, 2015 | Everyday Stories, Jesus Time, Memoir & Essays
When I was born, I was in a hurry. As my mom’s third child, she’d gone through the ordeal before. She’s one of those women that actually loved being pregnant. She felt beautiful and vibrant. She worked out and was healthy. It was a good deal for her. But only 30...
by jo | Nov 3, 2015 | Everyday Stories, Memoir & Essays
There are cute signs at Target, World Market, even Ikea that say things like “What I like best about my home is who I share it with,” or “Home is wherever I’m with you.” But I live alone. It’s recent this time. I’ve had roommates for the past year and a half or so...