Author Archives: minndixiemom

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About minndixiemom

I'm a Minnesota native with an Alabama heart, reflecting on the past while looking toward the future. My husband, David, and I landed in Huntsville in the late 90s through my former career in TV news. We have two amazing girls, Serina and Sophia, whom we are raising (or have raised... they're growing up!) with God's guidance and grace. Besides faith and family, my passions include writing, walking, mental health, and recovery. By day, I'm the Director of Development for North Alabama's largest community mental healthcare provider. Opinions are my own.

Thank you, Officer, for my speeding ticket

Posted on July 4, 2017 by minndixiemom

Reminders to slow down this Fourth of July and all year long It had been a fabulous weekend! Our daughters were in Atlanta helping a friend celebrate her 13th birthday. My sister, Heidi Hovland, made an impromptu trip to Huntsville, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ala., Holiday weekend, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Father’s Day 2016

Posted on June 19, 2016 by minndixiemom

Belated thanks and apologies to my late father, Gjert Andreas Hovland Dear Dad, This is my 14th Father’s Day without you. I remember when you first passed away on October 9, 2002. The hurt was not only emotional, but physical. … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Hello. It’s me.

Posted on June 3, 2016 by minndixiemom

Hello from the other side.  It’s been a long time since my last blog. Almost a year. A lot can happen in a year, including the release of Adele’s “25,” which surpassed 8 million sales by February. We are among the … Continue reading →

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Aladdin: Get Ready for a (magic carpet) Ride

Posted on July 24, 2015 by minndixiemom

When my oldest daughter started her journey with “Aladdin” earlier this summer, neither of us knew where it might lead. This theater business is hard work. Initially, she swore she would never do it again. Serina is a rising fifth grader at … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Theater | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

A Mother’s Day Farewell

Posted on May 10, 2015 by minndixiemom

Mormor is headed back to Minnesota. They call ours the sandwich generation and we were a classic example. Only sometimes the bread crumbles and the sandwich falls apart. In July 2012, my mom, Sigrun Hovland, moved from Minneapolis to Huntsville, … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith, Family, Mother's Day, multi-generational living, Southern living | 1 Comment

Fun and Flurries: Snowmageddon 2015

Posted on February 26, 2015 by minndixiemom

This year, winter in Huntsville, Alabama has been rather uneventful. Then came Feb. 25 and 8.1″ of snow, the second snowiest in the city’s history, according to the National Weather Service. While the roadways were deserted, Huntsville neighborhoods were buzzing … Continue reading →

Posted in Ala., Family, Running, Southern living | 2 Comments

Eggland’s Best ‘Your Best Recipe’ contest winners announced

Posted on November 12, 2014 by minndixiemom

And the winner is… Congratulations to Lidia Haddadian! She takes the cake — and scored $11,000 — for the recipe she submitted in the Eggland’s Best “Your Best Recipe” contest. Haladdian’s culinary creation, Southwestern Chorizo Tostada Bites, helped her clinch $10,000 … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Horse Crazy: The adventures of polocrosse

Posted on November 10, 2014 by minndixiemom

My oldest daughter is horse crazy. Serina, 9, rides at River Pine Farm every week, learning how to properly tack, untack, walk, canter and trot. But she’s also a horse “reader,” mentally consuming every horse-related book, fiction or nonfiction, she … Continue reading →

Posted in Horses, Polocrosse | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

I’ll be the judge of that

Posted on September 25, 2014 by minndixiemom

And that, and that, and that… Last week, I mentioned how much I love my full-time job as a professional fundraiser at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology. This week, I got to dabble in my “other” position: Eggland’s Best CEO (Chief … Continue reading →

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Fundraising: “That’s not a fun job”

Posted on September 18, 2014 by minndixiemom

On the way to school Wednesday morning, one of the radio hosts talked about cancer. “Ms. V.B. had cancer,” said Sophia, 7, referring to Tracy Van Buren, her joyful, spirited kindergarten teacher who succumbed to cancer in March 2014. She was … Continue reading →

Posted in Ala., Biotechnology, Health | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment