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Why March Is Reading Month Means So Much to Me

There is something magical about March in a classroom. March Is Reading Month isn't just another themed celebration on the calendar. For me, it's personal, which is why it's one of my favorite times of the year. As a teacher, I see firsthand how reading can quietly turn into a chore. It becomes something timed, measured, and tested. And while those things have their place, they can slowly steal the joy from it. March gives me permission to bring the fun back. We talk about bo

dneumann1972

6 days ago2 min read

Indoor Adventures

What do you do when it's raining and your grandbaby says he misses you and just wants you? Well, of course that means an indoor adventure. But not just any indoor activity. The kind that entertains him, keeps him engaged, and builds the kind of memories that stick. He loves dinosaurs.He loves pretend picnics. So naturally, you combine them. You create a Dinosaur Rescue Picnic Adventure. Before I went to pick him up, I scattered dinosaurs all around the house — on top of furn

dneumann1972

Mar 12 min read

Valentine's Day Is Just Around the Corner

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and as a teacher, this was always one of those days I quietly dreaded. There was the pressure of making sure every child had a Valentine bag or box ready for the big day. Then came helping each student walk around the room, passing out cards and making sure no one was missed. I always requested that names not be written on the Valentines so we could simply go in a circle and avoid confusion, but there were always a couple of parents

dneumann1972

Feb 62 min read

When the Cold Didn't Bother Me

When we were children, didn't it seem like the cold never bothered us? We could play outside for hours. Snowball fights, sledding, building snow forts. Our cheeks were red, our gloves soaked through, and still we didn't want to come inside. The cold was just part of the fun. It didn't ache in our bones or catch in our lungs. It was something to run through, laugh in, and forget about. Now, the cold feels different. As I've gotten older, my bones ache more, my health has chang

dneumann1972

Jan 262 min read

More Than A Date On The Calendar

Today, my husband and I celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary. Twenty-four years feels like a long time when you say it out loud, yet somehow it also feels like the blink of an eye. Time has a way of doing that, stretching and shrinking all at once. Anniversaries often get grouped in with holidays, marked by cards, dinners, or social media posts. But the older I get, the more I realize that anniversaries aren't really about the calendar at all. They're about accomplishments.

dneumann1972

Jan 202 min read

Willow, The Unexpected Guest

My husband and I made it home from our winter road trip, and while the weather did everything it could to make the journey memorable—cold and slow—the real story happened inside the library. It was one of those blizzardy Michigan days where the snow seemed determined to convince everyone that staying home was the better choice. The library itself was calm and quiet, not the bustling event day you sometimes imagine when packing boxes of books and braving winter roads. But here

dneumann1972

Jan 202 min read

Blizzard Chaos

Tomorrow, my husband and I are hitting the road...right into a blizzard! Yes, you read that right—a full-on, snowy, wind-whipping, cozy-chaos kind of blizzard. But honestly? We're kind of excited. Our car is packed with warm layers, snacks, playlists, and a tower of books for an upcoming event. Between navigating snow-covered roads and sneaking in a few laughs at our questionable driving skills in a storm, this winter road trip is shaping up to be an adventure we'll never for

dneumann1972

Jan 161 min read

Here is to 2026!!

As we reach the final days of 2025, it's natural to look ahead to 2026 with hope. A better year. Maybe a better version of ourselves. A better job, a better attitude, a healthier body. New goals feel possible when a calendar turns. But before rushing forward, I want to pause and reflect on what made 2025 meaningful. This year brought new friendships and the chance to meet incredible people at events across the state and even as far as Missouri and Ohio. It included family tim

dneumann1972

Dec 25, 20251 min read

Cody, The Miracle Baby

Cody is our youngest, and from the very beginning we have called him our miracle baby. Born at just 28+ weeks, he fought to survive. He was tiny and determined and wrapped in more tubes and wires than any parent should ever have to see. But he made it. And not only did he make it, he grew into the most gentle, big hearted young man you could ever hope to meet. When I began the journey of writing Annie the Porcupine, Cody was the person who kept me grounded. He believed in me

dneumann1972

Dec 8, 20252 min read

A Tin of Buttons and a Box of Notes

My mom's most prized possessions? A tin of buttons and a box of handwritten notes. She never said it outright, but I don't think it was the buttons or the paper that mattered most — it was the memories they held. Each button told a story: one from the blouse she wore to my wedding, another from the dress Annie wore home from the hospital. Each note carried a heartbeat from the past ,a letter from Cody asking if angels have elbows, my childhood essay about why you should love

dneumann1972

Nov 10, 20251 min read

November 5th

Today should have been another amazing day. But for me, it is always the day my sweet Julie took her first and last breath. Although I only held her in my arms for a moment, I have held her in my heart for all eternity. When I started writing I Want a Birthday Party , it only made sense to name Annie's new sweet porcupine friend Julie—birthday twins who together learn the true meaning of birthdays. The book is dedicated to my Julie, a small but lasting way to honor her memory

dneumann1972

Nov 3, 20251 min read

Autumn Road Trips

Last week my husband and I took a little road trip, just the two of us and the open road dressed in autumn's finest colors. The trees were bursting with golds, oranges, and deep reds, and that unmistakable freshness filled the air, reminding me why this has always been my favorite time of year. There's something about autumn that invites you to slow down. The pace of life softens, the days grow shorter, and everything feels calmer. As we drove through winding roads lined with

dneumann1972

Nov 3, 20251 min read

Full Circle Moments

This week, I was honored to receive an email from a former student. She was in my Young Fives class, and while it feels like just yesterday, in reality she's now in tenth grade. Time really does have a funny way of sneaking by. She explained that her teacher had given an assignment: reach out to your early education teacher, someone who made an impact on your life. I thought, what a great idea! As teachers, we pour so much of ourselves into those early years, but we rarely g

dneumann1972

Oct 23, 20252 min read

A Mother's Love

I know I've talked before about my mom no longer being with us. And if you've lost your mom, you understand the hole that's left behind,...

dneumann1972

Oct 2, 20252 min read

Laughing Wolfe Media Review

I had the pleasure of working with Laughing Wolfe Media ( https://www.laughingwolfemedia.com/ ) for voice-over services on all four of my...

dneumann1972

Sep 16, 20251 min read

Squeals of Delight

Today was one of those days where packages brought squeals of delight. First, my book arrived for final proofing (that's the word I...

dneumann1972

Sep 10, 20251 min read

Mother's Love & My New Book

The newest story in the Annie the Porcupine series is coming soon: But I Love My Mother Too. This is a book I never planned to write....

dneumann1972

Sep 4, 20252 min read

Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone

Lately, I've been surprising myself. I thought I knew the kind of writer I was, the lane I belonged in and the stories I was meant to...

dneumann1972

Aug 25, 20252 min read

Homemade Applesauce with Roland

One of my favorite childhood memories is baking and cooking with my Grandma. Those moments in her kitchen have stayed with me my whole...

dneumann1972

Aug 9, 20252 min read

I'm Not Three Anymore

This week, I played hide and seek with the grandbaby. It was one of those days when you just have this overwhelming desire to be a child...

dneumann1972

Aug 9, 20251 min read

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