Now that it’s nearly spring (or mud season, as we call it around here, which may or may not include more snow), I thought I’d come back and finish the list of things that I am learning, which I started midwinter. Thanks, Emily P. Freeman, for the inspiration! 6. In addition to winter being a … Continue reading
“It’s not the experience that brings transformation,”says author and teacher Jan Johnson, “it’s our reflection upon our experience.” Emily P. Freeman Mid-Winter is an invitation to pause. We’ve already had significant snow (though the yard is mostly bare and brown now), the holidays are done and our attention at church is drawn toward Epiphany, days are … Continue reading
“Hey!” I barked, with a furious rap on the window. “Get out of there!” The offender whirled back, black eyes pools of panic. He darted, limbs pumping, careening crazily from the carpet of green across the smooth concrete and into the safety of the neighbor’s yard. He stared; I stared. Beady eyes afar calculated the … Continue reading
Parenting is chronic. Sometimes you need to take a break, lest you lose your everlovin’ mind. Locking yourself into the bathroom alone, or miracle of miracles, stepping outside of the house without the kids, provides a blessed bit of space, which allows you to remember that you do, in fact, love these funny little human … Continue reading
The light has faded, along with its promise, and you, snuggled up under ocean covers – light deepening to purple, hiding the mysteries beneath – hopeful for a bedtime chat. Slats of morning march inevitably across the floor, and with arm flung across your face, you murmur: not quite yet. A mother’s litany grows as … Continue reading
Today, I’m trying something new (for this blog): a video post! Very happy to welcome Cate, and have a conversation with her about Bullet Journals. Please feel free to comment below and let us know what you think!
Beauty will save the world. -Dostoevsky, The Idiot I read these words recently not in Dostoevsky, but in an article in Conversations Journal (no longer published, but its vol 14.2 if you are interested). The article was part of a whole issue entitled “Created to Create” (which has a beautiful array of pieces about art, beauty … Continue reading
“I’m not little, I’m medium!” with feet planted, you declare to those at the playground who would exclude the ‘little brother.’ Big squeezes, kisses rain upon your cheeks, rosy from outside play. Big squeeze, big squeeze, then: “Daddy, that’s too hard! I’m medium.” Dogs on leashes, small dogs – these don’t frighten the medium … Continue reading
Katniss Everdeen: [to her baby] Did you have a nightmare? I have nightmares, too. Someday I’ll explain it to you, why they came, why they won’t ever go away, but I’ll tell you how I survive it. I make a list in my head… of all the good things I’ve seen someone do. Every little … Continue reading
…finding your name written in the sand. …that moment of glaring beauty. …something unexpected (“my daughter just joined a ukelele band!”). …glimpses of the season. …the fragile things that dare to hope for something more.
"That got me thinking..." 