After three days spent making memories together in a beautiful campground, it was time to pack up and start the trip home. We went through the usual routine of tidying up the trailer and loading everything back into the car next to our three garbage bags full of dirty clothes. The kids of course started asking … Continue reading Five Life Lessons I Learned on a Camping Trip: Lesson #4 When the Car Gets Hot, Roll Down the Windows
motherhood
Holding On to Hope
It was just about three years ago that our family life took quite an unexpected turn. For a week or two I had just been feeling off, my chest had been hurting, and it was starting to make me nervous. It's hard not to let your imagination run wild when it comes to health stuff, … Continue reading Holding On to Hope
5 Tips to Help Manage ADHD
*When I first started writing this post, I intended it to be geared towards people who have ADHD or have some connection to this diagnosis. As I typed, however, I realized this could all apply to a far wider audience. Now, titling this: 5 Tips to Help Manage ADHD (But If You Don't Have ADHD … Continue reading 5 Tips to Help Manage ADHD
Learning to Be Small
It is a gloriously rainy day here in Northern California, and I have delighted in it. Rainy days have always had a marvelous way of speaking to my soul and prompting a whole lot of self introspection. Something about how big the clouds are makes me feel small and safe somehow. It has been over … Continue reading Learning to Be Small
Twas the Night Before a Mother’s Christmas
A few years ago I was tasked with writing something for the Christmas meeting our local MOPS was having. I tossed around a lot of ideas, and thought of various skits and dialogues, but nothing felt right. I just couldn't get Twas the Night Before Christmas out of my head, and I kept catching myself … Continue reading Twas the Night Before a Mother’s Christmas
I Am Not the Savior
Can I just tell you how NOT together I have felt lately? These last couple of weeks have been an excellent reminder of how much I am NOT in control here. If it’s not a suddenly unfillable prescription, it’s a runaway dog. If it’s not one son needing extra help at school it’s another one … Continue reading I Am Not the Savior
That Time We Went Camping…
Do you ever notice how some of the best memories come from things that were frustrating or unpleasant at the time? They turn into stories that get told and retold at family reunions or gatherings, followed by copious amounts laughter. I try to remind myself in the midst of everyday parenting frustrations that “someday this … Continue reading That Time We Went Camping…
It Takes a Village
Today has been a harder than usual parenting day. The culmination of a lot of various factors all came to a head this morning and we were knocked sideways by one of our kids' emotional explosion. The morning rush and tearful children are really not a great combo. With my husband and other two kids … Continue reading It Takes a Village
Of Boys and Butterknives
Can I just say, there are days when I worry about whether I am raising my boys right? Ok, ok, there are LOTS of days when I wonder if I’m raising my boys right. They aren’t exactly docile, they fight like crazy, always seem to be missing half of their clothing, and enjoy exuding … Continue reading Of Boys and Butterknives
All in the Heart
“I’m past my limits!” The text message read. “I feel like a failure!” My friend was verbalizing what I had been internalizing for quite a while. Pushed far past my limits by my kids, everyday felt like one big fat failure after the other. My patience has been shot, joy has been elusive, and I … Continue reading All in the Heart
Three Boys & a Hope 