Back from My Social Media Pause + A Whale of an Update

It’s been a while since I’ve posted! I took a little social media detox during and after our recent travels. (Well, truthfully, I was on social media… just quietly observing instead of posting anything new.) Make sure you read all the way to the bottom for a sneak-peek special surprise!

First, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who reached out to check in. We’re safe and sound here in Alaska. We heard the 70+mph winds right outside, but thankfully came through just fine. Unfortunately, not every part of Alaska has been as lucky, a gentle reminder of how quickly our world is changing and how connected we all are through the rhythms of nature. 💙

Our trip to the Lower 48 was wonderful. We spent time with Carlos’s family in Huntsville, Alabama, and with mine in Milwaukee and Manitowoc, Wisconsin. It did my heart good to see all four kids and catch up with family we don’t get to see nearly enough.

Back in Alaska, we spent a few days in Fairbanks before returning home, watching the northern lights shimmer across the sky, walking reindeer, and taking what was called a “sled dog ride,” but was really a UTV that the sled dogs believed they were pulling! We took the train through Denali National Park and, though we didn’t see the mountain that day, Denali made her appearance when we reached Anchorage.

Alaska has its own brand of quirk and the Alaska Railroad is no exception. On our ride back to Anchorage, the train rolled through long stretches of “off-road” wilderness, places where no highways or byways exist at all. Out here, if you want to get somewhere, you need an alternate way: plane, boat, or snow machine (as Alaskans call snowmobiles). But the railroad has its own uniquely Alaskan twist. Along the remote sections of track, residents can simply raise a flag by the rails, and the train will stop to pick them up, no station required. Somewhere along that route, as if straight out of a storybook, Shannon Cartwright, a beloved Alaskan children’s author and illustrator, flagged the train down. I had a brief but memorable visit with her, and when I asked for advice, she smiled and said, “Publish it on your own.” Since moving to Alaska, I’ve been pouring my heart into several SmartSeeds projects, and her words felt like a gentle confirmation that I’m right where I’m meant to be.

For those who don’t know, SmartSeeds began years ago when I started creating learning materials for my own children. Over time, I had to set those projects aside, but I never forgot them. Now, I’ve been quietly revisiting those ideas, nurturing them again, and preparing to share something new very soon.

One of those projects is a story I wrote and illustrated over fifteen years ago, about whales. It was originally meant to be the third nature book in the SmartSeeds series, but life took over and it sat quietly waiting for the right moment. That moment has finally come.

With new illustrations, new energy, and a song that pairs with the story, I’m getting ready to release it soon on Amazon. The lyrics and melody are mine, though I had a little creative assistance in bringing the sound to life (and I think you’ll hear that magic).

So today, I’m sharing a sneak peek, one of the songs from the upcoming SmartSeeds whale book.

Whales have always reminded me that even the quietest giants have stories to tell. I hope this one brings a little wonder to your day.