Lately when I look at Catie, I can see her little-girl self and her future teen self mixed together. Her smile is the same as when she was six months old. The look she used to get when she concentrated on writing her name is still the look she gets when reducing fractions. Her laugh...Continue Reading
This is a week of prayers. Me praying, friends praying for me, us praying for each other. I asked for prayer because this week was shaping up to be an intense one. Three of the kids were starting new sports, which meant lots of nerves, schedule changes, and hectic nights. Mike is crazy-busy with work and...Continue Reading
For a million reasons, I feel like I’m waiting to exhale. My breath stays permanently stuck in the back of my throat. I’m stalled here—waiting for so much before I can relax. My lungs are burning, my head aches, and I want to decompress, relax. Holding this exhaust in my lungs is exhausting. Are you...Continue Reading
When we bought this house, I called it our forever home. This was six years ago, when Catie was 3 and the twins were 1. We said this house would hold all the kids’ childhood memories. Teen years and first boyfriends and girlfriends and hundreds of sleep-overs would happen between these walls. When we were empty-nesters, Mike...Continue Reading
Dear Lord, Give me a heart so peaceful, I can look at this picture and not cringe. Help me not to see the wrinkles on my forehead, the fine lines around my eyes, the dark roots, desperate for some highlights. Let me look past the poor photography skills that make my kids’ heads look like they’re...Continue Reading
After twelve years of trying to figure out what it means to be a successful Writer, I’m finally learning a bit. I’m starting to realize that playing the role of Writer is ego-feeding, control-freak work. It’s not writing, and real writing is what gives me the healing I desperately need. When I’m scared, I try to...Continue Reading
The kids and I handed out thousands of water cups at a triathlon Mike competed in this summer. Even though our family had a great day helping those thirsty runners, I can see the metaphor in this picture. It shows a lesson God is teaching me more and more every day. Here’s what I’m learning:...Continue Reading
My friend, Bonnie, has been in a coma for several weeks. She is 31 years old. Even though Bonnie is a decade younger than me, she’s always been wiser. We were supposed to travel to Chicago together this month for the Storyline conference, and we joked she was in charge of our itinerary because...Continue Reading
Dear Catie… Fifth Grade has got to be easier than the last couple of years. In Third Grade we discovered so much about how you learn. In Fourth Grade we found out how well you get along with your class. You know yourself better now and understand how you learn best. You’re confident your teacher...Continue Reading
We are having one of those weeks that can only be described as a Hot Mess. The kids have all been sick with a lingering virus and nasty cough. They’re also finishing up the school year, so they’re emotional and transitioning. And we all know ugly transitioning is. The weather has been rainy. The moods...Continue Reading
