Editor’s Note

The women whom I love and admire for their strength and grace did not get that way because shit worked out. They got that way because shit went wrong, and they handled it in a thousand different ways on a thousand different days, but they handled it. -Elizabeth Gilbert I am currently listening to the podcast We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle. This has been a season of Jen Theisen telling herself she can do hard things. I hear myself saying I can do hard things throughout the day. Some days, I am speaking in my head. On …

Exciting times here at 5ive. We are working to reignite not only the magazine but the cause. Stay tuned for new activities and events focused on our mission. We welcome new advertisers and appreciate those with us from the beginning. Without their support, we do not exist. There is so much to celebrate. My amazing friends, I choose to celebrate everything big and small in this next season of my life. When faced with adverse and challenging events, we realize the mettle of our character; thus emerges who we indeed are as a person. The most difficult circumstances have promoted …

Happy February! I hope all of you are settling into 2022. In the evolution of 5ive, so too has been the evolution of the fabulous five, aka my five beautiful children. In the last editorial, I was brutally honest and shared (courtesy of one of my favorite authors, Jen Hatmaker) that “my script has been flipped” and all that comes along with our scripts being flipped. Many thanks to all of you who have been incredibly supportive and compassionate during this challenging season. Over the past months, I do not know how I got from point A to point B …

Loving ourselves through the process of owning our story is the bravest thing we will ever do. —Brené Brown The annual courage issue is here, my beautiful reader friends. In these pages, you will meet some amazing women who were courageous to live through and to share their incredible stories. I am honored that each of these women were were willing to share their courageous choices with all of us. This issue has always been my favorite of the year. I get to reflect on all the amazing women in my life. Indulge me. My sweet Grace has grown so …

May there always be work for your hands to do. May your purse always hold a coin or two. May the sun always shine on your windowpane. May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain. May the hand of a friend always be near you. May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you. -An Irish Blessing Ladies, not sure about all of you, but our summer has cruised by so very fast. It has been a flurry of activity; summer is always a time to refresh. I planted a garden for the first time. Quinn and I …

Empathy has no script. There is no right way or wrong way to do it. It’s simply listening, holding space, withholding judgment, emotionally connecting, and communicating that incredibly healing message of “You’re not alone.” –Brené Brown Hello ladies. I am going to get right to the update: summer is here, and I have not done a Christmas card in two years. I consider you all my friends and family, so here we go. Joe, the eldest, has had enough of the Midwest and is taking the show on the road. He will still be working for the same company but …

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life.” ~Prince Hello friends; the above quote is from one of my favorite songs, “Let’s Go Crazy.” It was an iconic song of the summer of ‘84. It takes me back to a time of innocence and a time of freedom from real worry. As I write, I have a fresh cup of coffee, and Prince is playing in the background. I am learning to enjoy the little gifts, and this moment of quiet and time to write is a gift. Collectively, we have all been through …

The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but in rising every time we fall. – Nelson Mandela This quote hit me hard today. I get daily quotes. Nelson Mandela’s passage was a God wink; I was having a tough day. I am an imperfect human, trying to navigate this crazy life. The above quote passed over me when I first read it, as I was busy with my day’s morning madness. However, it came back hard like the whipping wind I felt against my skin as I strolled the dog through Putnam Trail on the coldest day …

Ladies, November is here, and things do not feel any less crazy than the last time we spoke. I had this editorial all written. I wrote about all the ways I have seen the community come together. This issue is full of positive stories of how this community has pulled together as a healthy community. The articles in this issue are genuinely impressive. Nevertheless, my first draft wasn’t authentic. I was born and raised in the Chippewa Valley, moved away for college and work, but have now been back for over 22 years. The Chippewa Valley is my home and …

Hello, my beautiful readers. It has been a long minute since we have all been together. I have, however, seen you courageous mamas. I have seen you taking care of your babies of all ages. I have watched you navigate working from home and traverse our daily changing new world. I have looked into your scared eyes at grocery stores. I have watched you take care of your parents and say your last goodbye to your family. I have watched you take action on social injustice and help your community in ways that have indeed been remarkable. The world and …