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Contemplating my 20s – What I would do differently?
My 20s? What would I do differently? Everything! and nothing. . . A younger friend is reading a book (20-Something, 20-Everything) and asked me about my 20s. So first – the EVERYTHING I would do differently in my 20s Being single in my 20s felt like a disaster, I was “supposed” to be married and having babies so I could be the energetic, young mother of my dreams. I chased that ideal at the expense of everything else. Nothing has ruined my life more than trying to match it to the idealized version in my head. I wish I spent more time just living than worrying about plans. Focusing on…
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Joy and Sorrow: the Bones of My Father’s Life
My father’s life and personality has been my strongest influence, for better and worse. As he grows older, there is joy and sorrow in every visit as I sit surrounded by the bones of my father’s life. This week I’ve traveled across the nation to visit my father. He is in an assisted living facility now after battling with some memory loss issues for several years and having had a small stroke. It is emotional for me to watch from afar while he deals with losing the pieces of himself. I’ve been able to tell he is losing ground in this fight. He used to be a Christian counselor and…
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Am I doing this right? Feels like Drowning
This week, life feels a bit like drowning. I’m fairly certain I’m not doing this stay-at-home-mom thing right. At the very least, other people are doing it better. I look at the crusty kitchen counter, the dog hair infested floor, the math worksheet she doodled all over (the I LOVE YOU’s are sweet, but what is 5+2?!), the three other subjects we didn’t get to, exercise bike taunting me, the completely unhealthy frozen pizza that is probably going to be dinner (again), and when was my last shower?! Other moms text me like – wanna hang out? and I stare at the message feeling like a failure. Obviously, they have…
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Day of the Deployed – Saying Goodbye
Today is Oct. 26 – the 11th annual Day of the Deployed, a day to remember the sacrifices of all the service members deployed around the world. Perhaps, also a day to remember the families left behind as well. (this site uses Affiliate links-purchases support our ministry through a small referral fee that never affects your cost.) I don’t know what it is like to be deployed. I only know what it is like to say goodbye and be left behind: the heaviness in my chest, the knot in my stomach, the steely resolve, and the tears hiding behind every smile. Below is my post from the day my husband…
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A Kiss and a Prayer
As a wife and mom, my going out after dark days are mostly behind me, but last night, a friend and I decided to live dangerously. We went to see War Room at 7:15 and have dessert afterward. For two mommies of littles, it was going to be a late night. We were out past 10, yo! As I was getting ready to walk out the door, it occurred to me I had no guarantee I would come home. Our highway into town is notoriously dangerous, especially in the dark. I could be walking out this door for the last time. I wasn’t maudlin, just mindful. Even though I had…
