Two types of people walk on the beach: those who pick up the shells and those who don’t. For forty years, I didn’t pick up shells. Taking home bucketfuls of shells seemed like something a tourist would do. The only people who collected shells were the ones who needed souvenirs of the beach, right? Also, taking shells home felt...Continue Reading
Does it seem like the Spring Break is the year of the Super Vacation? This year every one we know seems to be doing a really big vacation. Grand Cayman! Disney with all the cousins! Snorkeling with the kids in Honduras! Mexico! For the past few months our friends have been busy buying bathing suits and...Continue Reading
You need a beach vacation as much as they do. For the past ten years, our family has spent almost every break lugging sand buckets and shovels down to the beach. We have gone with family, close friends, and new families we’re just getting to know. Every single time, the kids play so hard, they...Continue Reading
During the 40 days of Lent, I’m writing 40 blog posts. Instead of giving up chocolate or Facebook or corn syrup or whatever, I’m adding this habit back into my life. I miss documenting the seasons our kids are slipping in and out of; I miss remembering and anticipating and processing our lives here. But...Continue Reading
Our kids are at the age where they’re starting to understand relationships. Yesterday Catie pulled me aside and confidentially explained to me about my moods. She said,“just so you know, when you’re in a bad mood, we notice. Sometimes we don’t even want to be around you.” I explained that was kind of the point of a...Continue Reading
This weekend our family headed down to Galveston for three days at the beach. We collected shells, took long family walks, ate delicious seafood dinners, did two museum tours, and soaked up an afternoon of body surfing and sandcastle-building. The weather was gorgeous, the locals were friendly, and the beach was so peaceful. This glorious...Continue Reading
Last year at this time we were buying a house at the beach, and I was scared to death. Even as we were signing the papers, I wasn’t completely sure a vacation home was such a good idea for us. While I was also excited and determined to make this longtime dream a success, the house...Continue Reading
Mothers Day is a wonderful pause, the perfect time to think about the big questions: Is anyone learning anything ?; These kids won’t be home forever, what lessons will they take with them?; DOES ANY OF THIS REALLY MATTER? Truthfully, the answer to these questions usually feels a little dismal. The kids don’t seem to...Continue Reading
Our Frozen acting troupe is available for all your birthday parties, all your plays, all your Ren Fests, all your street performances, and all your family gatherings. Actually, family gatherings are their absolute specialty. This group of ENTHUSIASTIC SINGERS is fantastic at crooning out every word of the Disney songs at the top of their...Continue Reading
Today begins Lent: to give something up or not to give something up? The pendulum keeps swinging, doesn’t it? For a while there, fasting from something was only a Catholic thing. Then a Christian thing. Then the fasting was scorned by Christians everywhere. Shortly after that it was celebrated. No matter what your decision, critics...Continue Reading
