I felt creative last Saturday and went to the craft store to make a wreath. I noticed four words everywhere: Gather. Thankful. Blessed. Family— emblazoned on doormats, plates, ceramic pumpkins! Everywhere, like a mantra! I gave up on the wreath and purchased a dollar sign with “Thankful and Blessed” scrolled across a pumpkin, and hung
The school year is in full swing which means early mornings, lunches to pack, homework to check, and my least favorite game: find your shoes. I have a dichotomous relationship with shoes. Personally, I love them, and as my children often point out, I have too many. As a mom to five sons, I often
You are not alone. You may think you are the only one whose kids don’t let you talk on the phone or pee alone, but I am here to assure you that these are five universal, immutable truths: The Parched Phenomenon: We have made it to bedtime. We are so close to the finish
It’s that magical time of year when the weather starts warming up, we start planning summer vacations and looking forward to longer, slower days, and it all starts with Spring Break. Spring Break is always a welcome respite as our kids grow weary of school and we grow weary of taking them. I always look
In our family, three boys happen to be the older ones, and four girls happen to be the younger ones. The boys do magic tricks, battle with swords, and need to know the exact location of the bathroom on the Millennium Falcon so that the model they are building will be completely accurate. The girls,
This morning was shower day. I had been sitting in my chair in the living room waiting for our one bathroom to be free of other dirty bodies washing up. Nobody, I repeat, nobody needed me. Not a child in sight. As soon as the shower is free, I move in, get ready to assume
You made it! Jesus is Born! You survived the marathon: the thinking, the planning, the shopping, the wrapping, the cooking and baking, and now it’s time to relax. I know, you are looking around at the mess and the aftermath and feeling like you need to start cleaning up, but you must resist that urge.
I can look at the chaos in my life and laugh about it or cry about it, but I figured that laughing was better—and maybe other moms can relate! A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones (Prov 17:22). — I gave her a bowl of ice cream,
I think it goes without saying that we all love our children. But . . . this is a safe space, and I decided to take this opportunity to reflect on the things I miss about life before kids. Not as a referendum on motherhood, of course. I truly cannot imagine living out a different
I think it goes without saying that we all love our children. But. . . this is a safe space, and I decided to take this opportunity to reflect on the things I miss about life before kids. Not as a referendum on motherhood of course. I truly cannot imagine living out a
Have you ever lost a precious item or something of great value? I have a few times, and twice it was the same kid! The first time it occurred was when this guy was only two years old, the youngest of six. The two oldest girls were away at camp, and the three oldest boys
Our family has been strictly social-isolating for three weeks now. During this time, I have read a lot of advice about how to survive, but I just wanted to go ahead and say—aim higher! Here are some simple tips that I have found not simply to survive, but to thrive during the quarantine: Get creative
We all know quality time with our kids is important. We know they thrive when they feel safe, and loved, and prioritized. For our family it is usually a game night, but sometimes it can feel a little like purgation. Can anyone say Candyland? Here’s a scenario that may resonate with you: It’s time to
I have been a stay-at-home mom for over one-third of my life. Until recently it was my only job. I went back to work about a year ago, and thankfully, I get to do that job from home, so I feel very blessed. The other day I was thinking about how many of the skills
So I have an embarrassing confession to make. “Livin’ La Vida Loca” was a guilty pleasure song for me. When I first heard it, I related to the red-lipped beauty’s commitment to dancing in the rain, and fancied myself a strong woman who lived an exciting crazy life. (Of course, I have never embraced black
It’s that glorious time of the year when the kids are out of school, and we head out as a family to camp, or go to the beach, or go to a family reunion, and people ask, “Where are you going on vacation this year?” Vacation? That can’t be the right word. “Vacation” evokes rest,
You are not alone. You may think you are the only one whose kids don’t let you talk on the phone or pee alone, but I am here to assure you these are five universal, immutable truths: The Parched Phenomenon: We have made it to bedtime. We are so close to the finish line: a
Sometimes our efforts at catechesis or character formation do not go as planned: but they can be funny. An attempt to get my three boys, lounging around on couches, to pick up their ubiquitous LEGO’s AND appreciate their blessings: “Boys, get over here and pick up these LEGO’s . . . and if you don’t,
Seventeen years into parenting, I have heard them all: “I finished my homework.” “My room is clean.” “I folded my laundry and put it away.” “I don’t know who ate the chocolate.” “I did not tie up the dog like a bandit.” “I am not sure how that window pane broke.” “I’m not sure what
I hate getting old. No, wait! I kind of like getting old. Can I be honest? I’m 63, and at this point, I’m no longer an overworked, chauffeur mom plucking a few gray hairs. I’m a bonafide empty nester grandma, and gray hairs are even in my eyebrows! This summer, my husband John turned 65
I surveyed the kitchen with a twinkle in my eye. It was one of those rare days when homeschooling had gone surprisingly well. Considering it was an unseasonably sunny Texas day and the balmy warmth beckoned all parties to distraction, I marveled at the healthy pace of both progress and cooperative behavior. I had gotten