Although I appreciate the style, you’ll hardly ever see me wear my hair in a ponytail. Why? These little guys. My ears. In high school, my other insecurity was my height. I hit 5’9” at the age of 13 and my best friend peaked at 5’ 2”, so you can imagine the contrast. Not only […]
Perspective
Dads, You ARE Appreciated
Bouncing around social media you’ll find all these blogs, videos, and memes encouraging moms, “You are doing great! Give yourself grace. Keep doing the hard stuff. You are amazing.” Etc. Etc. And then we dismiss or ignore the dads. Or worse yet, we applaud the moms and then beat fathers over the head, “You aren’t […]
Debunking the Myth of Minimalism & the Mess-Free Home
This isn’t a post about how to have a mess-free home or why decluttering will save your soul. As I write, I can look over my shoulder and see sticker pads on the floor and Legos stacked in the corner. My desk is piled up with books and coloring pages and papers to grade. Shoes […]
The Enneagram Book that will Change Your Life
If you’ve ever thought, “I sure wish that person (spouse, boss, child, friend) came with an owner’s manual,” get excited, because Ian Cron and Suzanne Stabile have created just that. In a witty and conversational style, they will lead you through the eclectic energy of each personality type without putting anyone in a box. Their […]
Do You Hate Winter and Dread Monday?
If you hate winter and dread Mondays, you might need a little dreary-day cheer today. Maybe you are just S.A.D. and need a little more sunlight and exercise. Please, if your situation is leading to depression (apathy, hopelessness, irritability, sleep abnormalities, loss of energy and guilt), consult a doctor or counselor immediately. Honestly, sometimes I […]
How to Encourage Your Kids to Write
We’re starting back to school today, which excites a few and makes others groan. If you are a teacher or homeschool mom, these tips might come in handy this semester. As an online English professor I know what it means to teach “the dreaded class.” Aside from public speaking courses, composition seems to be the […]
Scraping the Bottom of the Barrel: When You’ve Got Nothing Left to Give
When my youngest prayed to receive Christ as Savior, he finished and looked up at me, “I’m ready to go now.” At first, I didn’t grasp what he meant, but then I realized he was referring to Heaven. Prepared and ready, he wanted God to go ahead and beam him up. I understand that desire. […]
If You Are Hurting: the Point of Pain
My daughter’s teeth are overcrowded, coming in at angles instead of straight. Because of her young age, her dentist recommended she start using a myobrace (think retainer on steroids) at night and for one hour during the day. Having a great aversion to pain and all things uncomfortable, she will still have nights of tears. […]
Ho-Hum Holidays: Dealing with Loneliness and Grief
After my dad went on to Heaven in 2013, my siblings and I wrestled through our loss in various ways. For some of us, keeping everything else as “normal” and same as possible helped shrink the hole. But for my brother, starting a new tradition (even having our Christmas celebration in a different location–not at […]
How to be a Fun Wife
I think I’m writing this post today because I need to hear what I have to say. 😉 Between the two of us, Aaron definitely wins the fun award. He constantly endeavors to make this overly serious, stressed-out woman laugh (something God knew I desperately needed). He loves to play games with me and make […]