Author: nicole

Remember a few weeks ago when I just couldn’t find the right words for an upcoming presentation on kindness? Well, I found them. They may not have been perfect words, but they were words from the heart and honestly, these days, why bother with anything else?

Actually, I found enough words for TWO presentations this week!

On Tuesday, I shared my cancer ... Read More


I did it! I kept my feet moving in a fast-paced back and forth motion for 10 whole minutes!

If you don’t understand why this is a big deal, then you are clearly an elite athlete. Congratulations.

As I was driving to the running trail yesterday, my mind was at war. “What am I doing? This is dumb. I should ... Read More


Today I will run. That sounds like the title of a children’s book sitting on my shelf. Maybe it is. I’d get up and look, but then I would be giving in to procrastination. I have two big plans for the day: 1) writing in my cancer journal and 2) RUNNING!

I’m actually excited to see if I can do it. ... Read More


I am cancer-free! My husband and I wistfully joke that someday we’ll look back and say, “Remember that summer I had breast cancer?” It’ll be just one more little chapter in the story of our lives.

I’m still going through the process of reconstruction, so I have at least one more surgery in my future, and I’ll have to take an ... Read More

Dear 2233,

Do you mind if I call you that? I know your real name is Tamoxifen, but that seems kind of formal. And the numbers on you say 2233. Maybe I could call you 22 for short?

So 22, it sounds like we’re going to be together for a while, like maybe ten years, so I figured it’d be nice ... Read More


I love sugar. It may not be healthy, but it’s true. I love sugar almost as much as I love kindness.

Beth Delgado is a businesswoman in Grand Forks who clearly shares my heart. She’s making it her business to make people’s days a little sweeter in a lot of ways.

“Here in Grand Forks I have a quaint little shop called ... Read More

Have you ever needed something brilliant to say? Something that would perfectly express what sits so delicately, yet passionately, in the center of your heart?

I’m not supposed to be writing this blog right now. I’m supposed to be writing a 45 minute speech. I want it to be clever and interesting and motivating and make everyone fall over in ... Read More


What I could spend $1900 on:

542 gluten-free cupcakes

126 self-help books

40,500 Advil tablets

678 gallons of gas

7600 meals at the North Dakota food bank

What I will spend $1900 on:

The removal of 1 breast.

Saul and I actually had a lot of laughs last night talking about how rude it is that I would have to A) Fight cancer and B) Pay for ... Read More


It’s amazing how quickly things return to normal. I have a long to-do list today which includes enthralling activities such as: scheduling dental appointments, calling the insurance company, welcoming the dishwasher repairman, and waiting for new flooring to be delivered.

Sometimes I want to yell, “HEY! Doesn’t anybody around here remember how incredibly BRAVE I was this summer?” Actually, sometimes ... Read More


There must be something in the water, or maybe back-to-school time brings out the best in people. Whatever the case, I’ve gotten to hear lots of great stories lately that I want to share with you.

Like this one from Sandy:

“The most awesome thing happened to me today. I am moved beyond words. I went to Wal-Mart to purchase my classroom ... Read More