Of Sofas, Screwdrivers, and Surrendering to St. Vincent de Paul

Posted on April 21, 2025 by Marcia Ren

There are a few things in life that humble a person faster than a Wayfair furniture delivery. Not long ago, I had a grand vision: a sweet little dresser…simple, stylish, and perfect for our new townhome. The kind of piece that whispers, “I’m both charming and useful.” I clicked order, felt productive and confident…and a few days later, a box arrived that looked less like a dresser and more like an adult version of a 1,000-piece puzzle. Naturally, our kind friend who usually helps us assemble these marvels of modern inconvenience was tied up. So, while I was out, Joe…bless … Read the full blog post →

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Easter Light: A New Chapter, A Quiet Blessing

Posted on April 17, 2025 by Marcia Ren

This week marks a tender, sacred time… Not only because it is holy week, but also because it reflects the season of deep transition in our lives. Just a few short weeks ago, my husband and I moved into a new townhome in a new city. The journey here began in January, when we first started talking seriously about downsizing and letting go of the home we had loved along the coast. We listed our home on February 10. By Valentine’s Day, it was in escrow. Since then, life has been a swirl of packing, donating, saying goodbye, and now… … Read the full blog post →

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After Goodbye: A Story Still Unfolding (Finding grace in the in-between)

Posted on April 16, 2025 by Marcia Ren

“Sometimes the bravest thing we do is begin again…quietly” – Unknown It’s been a week and a day since we stepped through the door of our new townhome…a modest, light-filled place nestled in the rhythm of a different city. The kind of place where the mornings are quiet, the birds sound unfamiliar, and the light pours in from just the right angle to remind me we’re somewhere new. In many ways, the goodbye we just lived through feels like it happened years ago. And in other ways, it’s still sitting with me…tucked inside half-sealed boxes, in the scent of our … Read the full blog post →

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Chapter 5: Saying Good-bye

Posted on April 14, 2025 by Marcia Ren

As Eleanor packed the last of the boxes, she realized that the weight of goodbye wasn’t just in the belongings she had sorted through or the memories tucked away in old photographs. It was in the people, the routines, the way this place had shaped them. Letting go of a house was one thing…letting go of a life built within it was another. She hadn’t expected it to be so hard. And yet, amidst the bittersweet goodbyes, a quiet certainty remained. She and Thomas were ready. A new chapter was waiting, and it was time to begin searching for the … Read the full blog post →

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A Bunco Invitation: The Gift of Saying Yes (…and Then Changing Your Mind Like a Grown Woman Should)

Posted on April 9, 2025 by Marcia Ren

It all started with a bunny bag. I was standing in line at Marshall’s…holding a couple of pillows, a basket I probably didn’t need, and the feeling that I might never find my salt and pepper shakers again…when I noticed the cutest little spring display. Bunny-shaped gift bags. Ridiculously adorable. “I’m getting one for my Bunco group,” said the woman in front of me with a grin. That’s all it took. Bunny bags and Bunco. We started chatting. She told me her name was Cookie (yes, Cookie…like the snack, not the website popup), and she shared about her neighborhood’s monthly … Read the full blog post →

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Chapter 4: The Weight of Goodbye

Posted on April 7, 2025 by Marcia Ren

The process of letting go is never just about packing boxes and signing papers. As Eleanor prepares to say goodby to her home, she finds herself caught between the past and the future…sorting through not just belongings, but memories, milestones, and the quiet echoes of a life well-lived. The decision had been made, and the return to Seabrook Coast had felt both comforting and unfamiliar. The house was still theirs, the waves still rolled in, and the scent of salt still filled the air…but something had shifted. Eleanor knew it the moment they stepped through the door. The home she … Read the full blog post →

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Chapter 3: Returning To The Coast

Posted on March 31, 2025 by Marcia Ren

Leaving London behind didn’t mean leaving its influence. Eleanor carried it with her…the glow of city lights, the weight of history, the quiet realization that change had already begun. As the plane descended, she found herself caught between two worlds: the one she had always known and the one that had yet to unfold. The plane touched down under a sky streaked with soft blues and grays. Their home was perched along the edge of Seabrook coast… a rugged stretch where the sea met the land in a way that had always felt like theirs. The waves rolled in steady … Read the full blog post →

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London at Night: Chapter 2

Posted on March 24, 2025 by Marcia Ren

The magic of London in December lingers as Eleanor and Thomas step out into the crisp night air. Fresh from the enchantment of the The Nutcracker at the London Coliseum, they find themselves wrapped in the city’s glow…the streets alive with twinkling lights, the hum of passing conversations, and the quiet thrill of possibility. As they stroll through the bustling avenues, their conversation shifts from the performance to something deeper…reflections on time, change, and the paths still left to explore. Join Eleanor and Thomas as their evening in London unfolds, revealing moments of nostalgia, wonder, and the stirring realization that … Read the full blog post →

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Chapter 1: London in December – A New Story Begins

Posted on March 17, 2025 by Marcia Ren

For a while now, I’ve been wanting to share a story… One that blends a little fiction with personal reflections. I’m calling it a novella, and while some parts are drawn from real experiences, others are left for the reader to decide what’s real and what’s imagined. This is the first chapter: London in December. London in December The music swelled, filling the grand space of the London Colosseum, it’s soaring notes wrapping around Eleanor, like a warm embrace. On stage, Clara, twirled, the Nutcracker Prince guiding her into a world of magic and possibility. Eleanor sat transfixed, the beauty … Read the full blog post →

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A New Chapter: A Little Novella Begins

Posted on March 10, 2025 by Marcia Ren

March brings a season of change, and for me, it also brings a new creative project…one that blends fiction and reality, memory and imagination. As my husband and I continue preparing for our move, I find myself reflecting on the journey that brought us here…the places we’ve called home, the experiences that shaped us, and the anticipation of what’s to come. This has inspired me to begin something special: a little novella, part fiction and part truth. Some details may come from my own life, while others are born from creative storytelling. I’ll leave it up to you, dear reader, … Read the full blog post →

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