homeschool, adoption, parenting, family, homemaking
I hate ALS. This disease took more from Dad than his final breath: ALS stole his speech. ALS stole his ability to eat, or even swallow his own saliva. ALS stole enjoying a cup of coffee with friends at Waffle House. ALS stole cruising through the mountains on his Harley. ALS stole wood-chopping and physical [...]
This motherhood gig is hard. Which makes sense, because each and every day we are battling the world for the hearts and souls of our children, even as we prepare meals and push them on swings and remind them to wash their hands and clean their rooms… The video below is based on a post [...]
If you follow me on instagram, I know you’ve seen my uber-adorable grandniece! Doctors told my niece she would probably never be able to get pregnant. Obviously, God had something else to say about that, but the unexpected timing meant that Sarah wasn’t done with her education degree before Riley came along. So, while Sarah [...]
I’ve taken training classes about helping others through grief; I’ve read books and articles on the subject, been a listening ear for friends trudging their way through it. I know denial is the first “stage” of grief. I suppose I’ve often pictured it rather dramatically. A heart-wrenching scene, possibly even accompanied by sobbing and/or hysterics. [...]
Five-year-old Scout has, of course, only recently joined our family, and comes with her own preconceived ideas about the holidays. She thinks, for instance, that she will get an iPad for Christmas. (Not gonna happen!) And her entire expectation of Easter involves the Bunny leaving eggs full of candy for her to find. We’ve never [...]
A week ago today, my dad passed on. We knew the end was near but, stubborn as ever, my dad went on his own time. He’d had a horrible night. I am forever grateful to his longtime friend for staying overnight with him at the hospice center; I don’t know how I would’ve dealt with [...]
I had other posts scheduled this week, but life took a turn. Things aren’t always easier just because you know they’re coming. My dad is in his last days. I saw him last Friday, and he even got to meet Scout and Jem. Knowing he met our future children, even for just a moment, was [...]
Next month, Ken and I will celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary. I love him more and more as time goes on. Getting here, however, has been a bumpy ride. We’ve recently started helping out in a Sunday school class for newly married couples. The leaders of the class are delightful long-married folks, so I think, [...]
After a couple of weeks away from blogging to enjoy the holidays with my family, it’s time to catch up! First of all, I updated a few blog-related things. Notice my header with a new girl that looks even more like me? Love her! I moved my feed, too, so I hope my subscribers are [...]
{This photo is from a few years ago; one our “re-creations” ~ this time with Kathryn as Norman Rockwell’s “Girl at the Mirror.”} Nearly every woman I’ve photographed says she hates having her picture made because she doesn’t like how she looks. It can be related to weight (too “skinny” or too “fat”), or a [...]
My grandmother has lived with my aunt Beckie, right around the corner from us, for the past couple of years. Last year I hosted Thanksgiving so that my grandmother could come to dinner because she’d become mostly home-bound (and we live so nearby). I planned to do the same this year, but the weekend before [...]
Years ago I went through a time in my life when stress and emotional pain made me want to spew hurtful words. With a whole lot of prayer and verse-memorizing, I succeeded in taming my tongue, but now it’s time to take my words to a new level: not-hurtful is not good enough. My words [...]
