While playing in the yard with my kids a few days ago, I spotted a carpenter bee buzzing on the ground. Unable to fly, the little thing wasn’t long for this world. I promptly forgot him. Carpenter bees aren’t known for their endearing qualities, so it wasn’t as though he would be missed among the … More Little Bee Girl: Loving the One Nobody Wants
When you were four years old, playing on the beach, you ran to me. “Mommy! I found some shells!” I hurried over and looked, expecting to see a few common cockle shells in your hand. I couldn’t believe it. In the flat of your palm was a sand dollar. A tiny thing no bigger than … More Dear Daughter, I’m Sorry for the Broken Pieces
Levi, my two-year-old, crawled up beside me while I was writing in my journal a few days ago. He points to the place I’m writing. “Yours?” “You book?” I nod. He scoots closer and watches as I write in my leather bound journal that I bought on a trip to Italy several years ago. I’m … More Scribbling in God’s Book of Life
No one leaves me questioning how I portray being a woman as much as my daughter. She is my miniaturized mirror image, reflecting all my flaws and successes as a mother. She misses nothing. Of course all three of my children reflect back bits of me. The phrases I use. My facial expressions. When I … More Mirror, Mirror: Being A Woman of God
My two-year-old has a radar for the sound of the dishwasher opening. His running feet slap on the hardwood, and I try not to cringe. Because let’s face it, some jobs…most jobs are easier without little helpers who put the bowls in wrong-side-down and in the wrong spaces. But, here he comes. “I hep you! … More Little Hands, Mighty Helpers: Why Kids Need Chores
Or the life advice. Or the ten steps to success…. Because no matter how great those things are, sometimes the best intentioned advice just doesn’t work. We’ve been talking about change. Little changes paving the way to big changes. Barriers to change, and why “people never change.” Along whatever path to change you seek there … More When The Parenting Books Fail You
The Christmas season is drawing near. Here is the story of an ADHD child’s struggle to make Santa’s good list. I hope it challenges us all on how we think about the Christmas season. I was driving the kids home from their gymnastics class one early October day. It had been a rough day. … More A Christmas Question from an ADHD Child: Have I Been Good Enough?
I don’t love being vulnerable with complete strangers. Honestly I limped through writing this, but I know I’m not the only one out there who deals with such struggles. So here we go.
“Are you ready to get out of the bathtub?”
Since Ellie was the inspiration for Tuesday’s post, I was interested to know what my oldest son would say when I asked him what I should write about. It was a far cry from what I’d expected.
I’ve been feeling a little dried up in the inspiration department over the past few days. After trying out a few posts, none really felt right for the day. My three-year-old daughter, Ellie, was prancing around my desk this afternoon when I turned to her and said, “Ellie-girl, tell me. What should I write today?”
It was a calm afternoon, big brother was at preschool, little brother was sleeping, and Ellie was perched on a counter-stool eating lunch. I had ventured into the princess’s lair, rather her “house-room” as she calls her little domain. I can’t quite remember what I was looking for as I waded through piles from her … More Don’t Push My Buttons
My husband, Justin, held the Nerf gun that had already left an angry red welt on my side, aggravation mode in high gear. That thing is the devil’s Nerf gun. It feels like getting shot close range with a paintball gun. Justin pointed the Nerf gun at me. I aimed a death glare in return. … More He’d Take A Bullet For Me
Levi is my combination rough and tumble/snuggle bug. He is stocky and solid. Giving him hugs is like squeezing a bear cub. I’m dreading him growing out of his lingering baby attributes. We have a little routine every evening while I make dinner. I’ll be chopping and dicing above as he repeatedly opens and closes … More The Dept. of Unclaimed Grace
I want to start by saying it’s NEVER my intention to stir pots or poke wounds, but I also recognize the inevitability of unintentionally offending someone because I walk in a land full of hurting people who’ve been through horrible experiences. I fear you can’t hear my tone, my compassion, or my aching heart through … More Serpent-Doves Among Wolves
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