I spent much of my early childhood years hugging my mom’s leg. I know, call me a mama’s girl, but sometimes you just need your mom close by. Like when a strange man talked to me at the grocery store. Or when I waited for the bus on my first day of school. Or even the...
Hi everyone! I have a special guest blogger today … my daughter Emily! But first, a little background info. I’m a bit of a packrat. Truth be told, I’ve saved papers from kindergarten through college. So last week I stumbled across a binder full of my old papers. I...
In four short months my youngest will be heading into unknown territory. Her sisters have been there. It’s a mysterious place with lots of drama and awkward voice cracking around every corner. Some say it’s an orthodontist’s paradise. Yep. I’m talking junior high,...
Each day after school Madison proudly shared her backpack full of art projects, crafts and school papers. But not everything she learned in kindergarten could fit in her backpack. No teacher or textbook could compare to the valuable lessons she learned from an...
The other day I came across a picture I hadn't seen in years. Oh. My. Gosh. Our family had such a good laugh over that one. Never mind that Maddie’s little fingers are digging into Curt’s leg. Forget about Curt’s goofy expression. No matter how hard we tried, we...
Sometimes husbands know just what to say ... "Of course you're not fat." Other times, not so much ... "What's the matter with your hair?"Saying the right thing can take you far in a marriage. I should know. I still remember something Curt said sixteen years ago. It...
It occurred to me recently I have an anniversary coming up. It’s actually next month. No, it’s not my wedding anniversary. Curt and I were married in May. But I must say, this anniversary was even more life-changing than my wedding day. Before I get ahead of myself,...
Most people can appreciate the rustic charm of an old barn. But I think those of us who grew up on a farm view them differently than the casual observer. After all, we've seen them through the eyes of a child. FYI: This is a barn on my parents' farm, but not "the...
I crossed my arms and gazed up at the top shelf. This is silly, I thought. I don’t have time for this. Besides, it'll probably make me sad. But the temptation was too great. That big plastic tote in the basement storage room was calling my name. “Girls, come down here...
The weatherman said a storm was coming, and this time he was right. Fourteen inches of wet, heavy snow bombarded our area last week over a two-day period. It definitely disrupted some plans. Flights cancelled. Schools and businesses closed. Many lost power. I’m not a...
I remember that warm summer evening when it all began. “Look, Mom, there’s a kitty!” My younger daughter pointed toward the empty lot next door. An orange cat crouched down, spying through the grass. Madison jumped up. “Wait a minute.” I held my finger to my lips....
We had the typical struggle to get three girls out the door. Someone couldn’t find their shoes. Someone else was wearing her sister’s shirt. Amidst the chaos, Curt called over to me. “Did you grab the camera?” Emily groaned. “Can you please do me a favor? Can you not...
Most of the phone chargers in our house are falling apart. The problem? Too many teenagers have twirled them around and / or carelessly yanked them out of their phones. Wires are exposed and beginning to fray. A couple of them don’t even work anymore. Strangely,...