We’ve been back in school for one week. A week filled with tempter tantrums, late nights and even later mornings. Heading back to school after seventeen days of family time means finding the kids’ school uniforms, it means going back to the grocery store for food besides cookies and apples, and it means saying goodbye to so...Continue Reading
This Christmas our family relearned a terrible lesson about holidays. Every birthday, every New Years Eve, and every Halloween ends with one or more of our kids crying. One day is just too fragile to hold our months of anticipation. Under all those expectations, the day usually falls apart. For our Christmas this year, these expectations meant our day ended in tears....Continue Reading
Last week we hosted the African Children’s Choir at our house. They came right in the middle of one of the busiest weeks of our year, including the kids’ Christmas Program, faraway basketball games, big work deadlines, etc, etc. Late at night, when I was exhausted and needed to go to bed for the night,...Continue Reading
The Short Version: buy shampoo without sulfates and see if it helps your hair. The Long Version: Shampoo without sulfates gave my hair volume and shine. Here’s my hairstory. Over the past decade, I’ve tried all the miracle shampoos, emulsifiers, and expensive blow dryers. They all delivered—at first. Right after blow-drying my hair, it was...Continue Reading
Our family needs a different kind of Thanksgiving this year. We need a holiday like these homemade pecan pies. Our pies took a lot of time, but these were intentional hours. Unrushed hours together. We need that kind of a Thanksgiving. These pecans were from our friends’ orchard. They tasted sweeter because of the conversation...Continue Reading
When our oldest daughter, Catie, was in Preschool, one of my friends taught the four-year-olds at her school. I ran into her the summer before Catie started in her class and she asked how Catie was coming with writing her name. “Writing her name?!” I was shocked. “She’s only four.” “Some kids can write their...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
Sam and Elisabeth are back in the same class this year. This means they’re spending every minute of every day together. They are bonded together like super glue. With one glance across the dinner table, they can dissolve each other into giggles. They cry when the other gets in trouble. Like an old married couple,...Continue Reading
Dear Nate…. This is your first year to go to school all day and every day. No more pajama days. No more Best Friend Days with just me and you. Ready or not, your days will be filled with school for the next twenty years. Ready or not, your are now a big-boy student. Of...Continue Reading
A yucky stomach bug found its way into the intestines of our kids this week. Like a knee-locked junior high choir, they toppled off the proverbial risers of life one at a time. Each kid went from enthusiastic student to curled in bed, clutching his/her tummy. They each stayed home to watch movies with the...Continue Reading
