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 [...]
Adoption: Love Takes Time (and Grace)
on April 30, 2013
On the shuttle bus from the airport to the hotel, just a few minutes after meeting Ashley for the first time, I had a little revelation. She was talking about her pregnancy (seriously adorable baby bump!), and I realized what I’m missing with these two new children of mine: Pregnancy. Hearts and minds need time [...]
Sense of Humor Required
on March 11, 2013
This adventure with two new kids in the family requires a sense of humor. Thankfully, Ken has that in spades, and his humor helps me keep my sanity. I’ve managed not to actually pull out my hair (yet!) but there are times I’ve considered it. The non-stop dirt bike sound effects make me a little [...]
Not what I had in mind
on January 31, 2013
My living room is bedecked with assorted baby paraphernalia. For the first time in more than a decade, I have a kitchen cabinet devoted to baby food, baby bottles, rice cereal, and other such things. I can once again vividly call to mind the smell of Desitin. I even have a stash of diapers in [...]
Tell Her She’s Pretty
on December 18, 2012
{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 [...]
7 Ways to Make Your Words Mean More
on November 13, 2012
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 [...]
Hope for the Weary Mom: LaToya’s Review
on October 24, 2012
Hope for the Weary Mom is being re-released! LaToya has read this new-and-improved, expanded version, and shares her review here today… —————– Motherhood is hard work, but I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that. There are moments where I am completely overwhelmed by the task of taking care of my children. These are [...]
Teen Auto Agreement
on October 22, 2012
We have entered a new stage of parenting: a newly licensed teen driver with her own car! We agreed to match Lindsey’s savings towards the purchase of a car, and then agreed to loan her the remainder of the money needed to buy the car she wanted. We finally found a good used vehicle after [...]
For Parents Only
on August 29, 2012
There’s a whole lot I don’t know about raising kids {crazy, right!?!}, and I’m always on the lookout for resources to help me figure things out a little bit more. When I find something good, I want to share because I’m guessing I’m not the only one who still has a few things to learn [...]
Entitled to Children
on June 20, 2012
We talk often around here about kids. About having them, about adopting them. Lindsey wants nothing more than to have her own family one day, and even now she worries how she’d handle it if for some reason she is unable to conceive. She knows I would love to have another baby, and doesn’t understand [...]
Frugal Father-Daughter Dates: ebook Review
on June 6, 2012
When Ashley announced that she was writing an e-book about father-daughter dates, I jumped at the chance to review it. After all, there just so happens to be a father and two daughters right here in my house, and my husband already makes a point of taking our girls on dates (like the annual Father-Daughter [...]
Learning what {mothering} really is
on May 14, 2012
For almost three years now, I’ve mothered Lindsey. I’ve cooked meals + washed clothes + set up dentist appointments + driven her to activities + made her clean her room + took care of her when she was sick. Lindsey knew she missed out in her early years on some of what a mother does, [...]
