Dear Catie…. When you were younger and you didn’t understand something, it seemed harmless. Look at you trying to type! One day we will laugh about how hard this was for you. You hate to comb your hair. You’ll look back on pictures of this and cringe. But now that you’re in Middle School, it feels...Continue Reading
Dear Elisabeth….. Welcome to Third Grade, sweetheart. Lately, you seem more like 39 than 9. Every morning, when you walk down the stairs (with your hair combed, your shoes tied, and your game face on), it’s like you’re a middle-aged woman off to her demanding job. But then …you tell me about your dreams (or nightmares)...Continue Reading
Dear Nate…. It’s a little shocking to see you in your hipster glasses and big First Grade desk, ready to tackle a year of spelling tests and fast facts. You’re the baby of our family, and we would all probably feel most comfortable if you needed us to keep wiping your nose until you’re 22. But it’s only...Continue Reading
If you’ve held a toddler having a temper tantrum, you know they pass through phases, like a speeding train through stations. The kid begins with feral screams of anger. These might go on for a while, and then the screams fade into choking sobs of self-pity. You hold the writhing toddler the whole time. And even though you...Continue Reading
Here’s a riddle for you: An introvert walks into VBS. What happens next? If you’re a deep thinker like me, you know the answer. Walking into a rocking sanctuary with 200 people is like stepping on to Super Loud Planet Extrovert. We shut down a little bit. Everyone is yelling. Us introverts would rather think about Jesus than scream about...Continue Reading
No one really needs a puppy. In fact, it’s probably a good life strategy to assume you will be most productive if you never adopt a puppy. Unless you have four kids under the age of twelve and a long summer right around the corner. First Reason We Need a Puppy Right Now Our dog...Continue Reading
Yesterday’s historic flooding in Houston showed a lot about our city—that we have too much concrete and not enough ditches, that Houstonians are the most fantastic helpers, and that weather can still paralyze our beehive highway system. For our family, the day off revealed something about us. It took until the afternoon, but we finally...Continue Reading
This week I talked to elementary school kids about my job as an author. They were sweet and silly and asked great questions (“How much money did you make last year?”) After my talk, a few Fifth Graders lingered to tell me about the books they wanted to write. As one girl stared at her Converse,...Continue Reading
Back when I worked as a waitress, the hostess would sometimes seat four tables, one right after another. When this happened, you would have to flag down another server and say, “My hair is on fire” to let them know you needed help. My hair has been on fire the past few months. I’ve had a book deadline, and the stories...Continue Reading
Old friends are like the bread machine hidden in the laundry room cabinet. Over the years, our family has enjoyed loaves of cinnamon raisin, sticky pecan, and plain old white from that machine. Now it’s neglected. And missed. When I lug the machine out and bake with it, the smell of homemade bread makes me ashamed of all the months it’s collected dust. It...Continue Reading
