I clasp my hands together and take a deep breath. Butterflies swirl inside my stomach. You’d think I was the one about to climb onto the balance beam. But I really want Madison to do her best. I know how hard she has worked. I know how many hours she has practiced. I...
Do you remember Charlie Brown’s best friend, Linus? He was that philosophical kid that dragged his security blanket around wherever he went. I used to think he was weird. Then I had kids – and I learned that it’s actually pretty common for little ones to latch onto...
Hi everyone! Thanks for stopping by. Today I'm sharing a story I wrote for Good Old Days Magazine. It's a story that reminds me that sometimes, the most treasured heirlooms are the memories of our family. It was just an ordinary spring day in 1952. Like many times...
I remember when I found out I was expecting my first child. I spent the following months reading every book I could find on becoming a mom. There were books about "what to expect" during pregnancy and childbirth. Books that explained how to care for a newborn. I even...
I handed Curt the camera and signaled for the kids. “Alright guys, let’s get a quick picture before you open your presents.” All three girls settled down in front of the fireplace. They knew the drill. We’d had this tradition since they were babies. The night before...
Christmas always brings back memories for me. I especially love to reminisce about my years with three little girls. I remember festive dresses and patent leather shoes for Christmas programs. Cute and comfy jammies on Christmas Eve. Heartfelt letters to Santa. One...
I hurried down the steps, my bare feet on the heels of my brother’s as we raced to the tree. “Santa came!” I squealed, spotting several neatly-wrapped presents tucked under the branches. We plopped to our knees and began inspecting every package. “This one’s for you.”...
It’s that time of year again. If it hasn't happened yet, it probably will. You'll open your mailbox, pull out the mail, and find a bright red envelope amidst the holiday catalogs and department store flyers. A Christmas card. There might even be a letter inside. Yes,...
So here we go. Thanksgiving is over and it's full-speed ahead. As you know, there's much to be done before Christmas. Especially for you "younger" moms. You know who you are. You've got little ones who still believe in the big guy in red. You're crazy busy. You're...
I'm half asleep. The 10:00 news is wrapping up and I hear a girl tiptoe into our room. I pretend I'm sleeping. Madison whispers to Curt, “Dad, you know that bar that holds up the shower curtain in our bathroom? Can I hang on that?” At least she asked permission. This...
I’ve always liked to shop. Not for groceries, mind you. I’m talking about clothes. Shoes. Purses. Those kinds of things. When my girls were young, I used to daydream about the four of us shopping together once they all became teenagers. It was gonna be great. I...
Hi everyone - Today's blog post is a little different than usual, but I wanted to share it with you. It's a story my mom told me about the day she and her two siblings moved my grandparents into a nursing home. As you can imagine, it was an emotional...
Certain words always come to mind when I think of my mom. Honest and kind. A hardworking farmer’s wife. She is definitely a lady who isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. However, there is one word I’m sure I never used to describe my mom: cool. Lord knows I wished for...