As a former Literature teacher, I love to use a photo as an illustration . It’s really a skill to use something seemingly insignificant and find all kinds of symbolism in it. M. would probably say it’s an inconvenient skill to make a big deal out of nothing, but we all have to be good...Continue Reading
Hello! So glad to be back at bestoftimes after our wonderful Tour de Midwest. More news about that tomorrow. Here’s our Baby New Year, all dressed up like the All-Star he is. (and no, still not walking.)Continue Reading
Santa made an early stop by Hergenrader Haus with a new scooter for Sam, roller blades for Catie, ride-on toy for Nate, and one bouncy pogo stick for Elisabeth. M and I are running on pure caffeine. And Christmas joy. Merry Christmas!Continue Reading
Merry Christmas Eve! We have so much to celebrate this Christmas Eve. The miracle virgin birth of our Savior. The miracle of a multitude of angels, suspended in the sky, singing a gorgeous praise song. The miracle of a star, so bright and unusual, that it attracted the wisest men. And other miracles, those astounding...Continue Reading
In this interview with Mary, Paul and Stella McCartney about Linda’s photography, the trio gush about how natural she was with a camera. Over and over they exclaim that their mother made picture-taking so fun for the family! SO NATURAL! Never posed. Oh, how I wish my family felt this way about picture-taking. Here are...Continue Reading
There’s some sleigh-filling to be done around here, so we’re off to Target. Don’t judge me by this picture. Four kids at a busy department store? This Santa resorts to what works. Icees. Questionable cart positions. Lots and lots of salty and fatty snacks. And all that’s just for me.Continue Reading
The elves around here are busy making cookies. How have I managed to get this old and not ever use fondant? I mean that in a way, thank GOODNESS I had thirty seven years of freedom from the tricky stuff. Here’s Elisabeth, mastering the perfect skirt from fondant. Ah. Little cookie clothes to decorate. Merry...Continue Reading
So, we’re trying something new around here this year for Christmas. In an effort to fight the legalistic YOU BETTER BE GOOD OR NO PRESENTS vibe that is the exact opposite of what God intended Christ’s birth to be, we’re trying to teach our kids grace. Over and over and over and over we’ve asked...Continue Reading
1. Yesterday we went to Second Baptist’s Really, Really Big Christmas Show. Oh, wow. Amazing. Sam was positioned right behind a giant pillar–and never complained. He was enthralled with the whole thing. The girls used the opportunity to snuggle with their favorite older friends in the neighborhood. I cried at the beauty of the production....Continue Reading
Even though Sam and Elisabeth are growing more and more independent every day, they are still twins, and their twin-dom affects almost every part of their personalities. Every part of their lives. Their twin-dom often determines their failures…their accomplishments…. And as always with twins, those seem to be one in the same. The proof is...Continue Reading
