Susan Hope Berlien

Hey, do you remember that pregnant cop from the movie Fargo? Just kidding (sort of). I'm a brown eyed mid-western girl who grew up swimming in, and ice skating on, the lakes of Minnesota with my two older brothers. To this day, being outdoors brings me such a sense of peace. My current home is just minutes from the first house I lived in. It's so amazing to be able to take my boys to the same spots I remember enjoying as a kid. Playing at the "horsey swing park", swimming at the Lake Johanna beach, wandering the trails at Central Park should be staples in every kid's life.

I also have a fascination for all things crafty. We often transform our dining room into a workshop of brightly colored paper, glue, glitter, and other paraphernalia. We don't hold back! The table we use was my great great grandmothers. I remember sitting at it, as a child, in the house my dad grew up in. I know Grandma Susie is looking down from heaven watching us create our masterpieces. I can sometimes feel her delight, in the room, as we work.

I'm an RN. I used to work in Cancer-Care and Hospice. Now, I work at a Family Practice Clinic part-time. I teach Breastfeeding classes and I'm working toward becoming an Internationally Certified Lactation Consultant. My career is well suited to me. I am a caregiver at heart and I've built my life around this trait. I want my home to be a safe haven for my kids. I try to provide peace, comfort, and fun in daily doses. My hope, is that my kids will remember their childhood in the same fond way I remember mine. Family connections are so important to me. Nana and papa visit often, and we see the cousins most weekends. I also believe in reading to, and sharing stories with, my kids every day. I think the world would be a better place if every child was read to, cherished, and loved on a daily basis.

Are you new here? Welcome! Sit down, relax, pour yourself a glass of Warm Chocolate Milk and enjoy. You might like to take a look at some of my greatest hits, glance at some photos, or read my award winning posts. I love to write about my experiences with motherhood (the struggles and the joys), my community, and my philosophies of life. Funny stories are often created as I stumble through my daily existence. Thank you for stopping by, please come again. In addition to the navigation bar at the top, you will find some topics located about half way down the sidebar, you can click on these to see related posts.

I'd love to hear what you think. You are welcome to leave a comment under a post, start a discussion (either in the comments or on the facebook discussion board), or if you prefer, e-mail me at susanberlien@yahoo.com. I look forward to your feedback. I want to work to improve my writing. Thank you!