Tag: Nicole Phillips

Kindness is a big deal in our house. It’s cause for celebration. We don’t have confetti or banners or balloons that drop from the ceiling, but my kids know they’re going to get a big hug and see absolute joy in their momma’s face when I find out they’ve gone out of their way to be kind.

Sing this song with me: “You can’t always get what you want… you can’t always get what you want… you can’t always get what you want… but if you try sometimes, you might just find, you get what you need.”

My husband tells me it’s by The Rolling Stones. I’ll have to take his word for it. I’m too tired to ... Read More

I’m supposed to be writing a column on kindness right now. There are so many stories of kindness floating around in my brain, but I can’t seem to catch hold of any of them long enough to actually write about them. I just keep thinking about tomorrow (my pre-op appointment) and next Tuesday (my mastectomy).

I’ve called The James twice to ... Read More

I’ve been putting off reading anything that has to do with breast cancer– and what to expect post-surgery. I don’t want to know about anesthesia and tubes and scars. Everyone’s story is different, so why bother hearing a horror story about a woman who woke up mid-surgery?

I’ve been rolling with the what-you-don’t-know-can’t-hurt-you theory. But then my new friend, Kim Wagner, ... Read More

I seldom swear. I used to. A lot. Then I started to feel kind of dirty whenever obscenities would come out of my mouth, so I stopped. Maybe that was God’s way of saying to me, “Can’t you find a better word?” Or maybe I’m just getting older. I don’t know…

Anyway, this weekend, standing in the middle of McDonald’s (thankfully, ... Read More

I don’t even care that I have breast cancer right now. I really don’t. Do you know what I’m distraught about? I’m grieved that the parents of two Park Christian students had to bury their sons this week. I’m grieved because it feels like the entire nation is divided over recent decisions by the Supreme Court. I’m grieved because a ... Read More

Never window shop for something you have no intention of buying. In an effort to stop researching breast cancer on the internet (which makes me sad), I started researching cars (which produces no emotional reaction).

Wouldn’t you just know it? I fell in love with a 2004 Audi convertible in Cincinnati. It was too far away and too expensive, which made ... Read More

I made it through my first public speaking event post-cancer diagnosis! I’m sure it would have been much better had I had a professional speech writer, but since none of you offered your expertise in that area, I muddled through on my own.

I talked about being a kid and visiting my mom’s husband in prison and about becoming Miss Wisconsin ... Read More

We’ve all been there, in line at the grocery store, when either we came up short or the person in front of us did. Maybe that’s why last week’s column about the woman who paid for the elderly man’s groceries resonated with so many of you.

I get to speak tomorrow for the first time in almost a year! My friend’s dad is in Rotary and was in charge of picking the speaker, so I’m pretty sure I’m part of the friends & family plan, but I’ll take it!

Now I just have to figure out what to say…

Before moving to Ohio, I loved speaking. I felt ... Read More