Author: Emily Sara Smucker
-
ABC Post 8: Squandering My $5 Tax Refund
When money comes to one unexpectedly, the best thing to do is squander it. 30 years from now you won’t remember or care if you spent your money on practical things like bandaids or cupcake liners, but you WILL remember the wonderful day you carelessly squandered. (I realize that this sounds like bad advice. But…
-
ABC Post 6: Making Memes of Me
I read an article recently that claimed that the only good thing left on Facebook is private meme groups. I’ve found this to be semi-true. Tiktok has more interesting content, Twitter has more news and current events, Instagram is better for actually keeping up with people…but Facebook does have one thing going for it, and…
-
ABC Post 3: Awkward Memories That Live in My Head Rent Free
I think I attract awkward moments. I think they just find me, somehow. No matter what I do, I will end up in an awkward moment. Like the other day, I walked into a coffee shop and the door closed on my boot and took it clean off my foot. Then the door closed, with…
-
The April Blogging Challenge is Back! (Also: I played a prank on my coworkers)
This year, we’re bringing the April Blogging Challenge back. The April Blogging Challenge is an annual event where me, mom, and whatever other sisters we can rope in blog for most of the days in April. Every year the rules are a little different depending on what we feel we can handle. This year, I’ll…
-
Surprising Our Mom for Her 60th Birthday
Last week my five siblings, one sister-in-law, and I flew to Oregon to surprise our mom for her 60th birthday. But before I get to that story, one quick announcement: On Friday, March 25 I’m doing a book signing, along with my mom and Shari Zook, at Piccadilly Coffee and Tea House in Lancaster PA,…
-
January 2022 Life Update
Still Living in Blacksburg VA It’s been a snowy, cozy January. I love looking at the snow. I put a desk in the corner window and feel piles of inspiration as I watch the interesting people in the street. Like the guy who rides his bicycle wearing a pink tracksuit and a hat with bunny…
-
Kenya Part 6: Mombasa, and the Journey Home
Hey friends! Are you ready for the final installment of my Kenya trip? Since returning I started a new job, celebrated the holidays, and came down with a sore-throat-and-headache virus that I’ve had for a week now and can’t seem to kick (I’m currently awaiting COVID test results). Needless to say, blogging got shoved to…
-
Kenya Part 5: Kisumu, and Steven’s Brothers
Some of you have been wondering where Steven disappeared in the narrative. Although I talked about him in my first post, he was mostly absent from part 2, part 3, and part 4. That’s because when we arrived in Nakuru, where the East African headquarters of Open Hands is located, Steven went on to Kisumu.…
-
Kenya Part 4: The Conference, New Friends, and Another Cool Ceiling
(If you want to catch up, here’s part 1, part 2, and part 3) When I began this trip, I had only a vague idea of what Open Hands was and how I’d be contributing. By the time I’d spent that epic day visiting savings group and interviewing small business owners, I’d fully caught the…
-
Kenya Part 3: Tea, Rest, and Inside Jokes
(You can find Part 1 here, and Part 2 here) There I was, locked in the house. I was too exhausted to spend another day traveling around meeting with small business owners, so I needed to talk to the other Open Hands people and hopefully figure out a new plan. But time was running out…
The Girl in the Red Rubber Boots 