With Thanksgiving approaching, I can’t help but remember this miniseries I did during the summer of 2013. Reading through it recently, I wanted to share it with you again. It’s not all well written. It’s not all deep. It’s not always great. But here’s what it is: Honest. True. As I read it I can […]
What My Two Year Old (And I) Needed Most
Day 29 of 31 Days of Connecting My son and I have been butting heads. He’s in the throes of the terrible twos and most of our conversations are conflicts. For example: “Go potty, Ben.” “No!” “Should I pull down your pants or should you pull down your pants?” “I do it.” (Tries, can’t) “Should I […]
How this Perfectionist is Picking Hersel...
I am a perfectionist. A perfectionist who doesn’t want to do anything wrong, fears others showing me my failures, and who is constantly aware of what I could do better. I am tempted to define myself by my behavior, my finished to do list, or my perfect children who eat, sleep, and produce according to […]
“To Be Perfectly Honest” a Book Review
A couple of years ago I got really excited when I realized I could get books for free if I wrote reviews of them on my blog. Well, I read two books and had a baby and never wrote the reviews. So, to fulfill my original promise, here’s one. The title and premise of Phil […]
I Turned Towards My Father, Repentant in...
As I put my children to bed for the night, apologies were in order. They did not listen well, this is true. They also did not deserve the level of anger and frustration that came their way from their worn mama who was just trying to keep it all together. As we finished up in […]
3 Ways To Swallow When You’ve Bitten Off
While sitting at the smorgasbord of opportunity, my eyes glimmered in the candlelight of my dreams as I loaded my plate high with events, commitments, opportunities. Each one looked better than the rest. Each was an easy yes. And last week they happened all at once. Beginning October 1st, I joined #write31days and committed to […]
Why Sympathy Spurs Shame, but Empathy Em...
Day 28 of 31 Days of Connecting When Jack was 3 or 4 months old, we went to a family friend’s house for lunch. Not knowing them well, I mostly kept to myself, hiding myself in Jack’s needs. When he finally went down for a nap, I had no choice but to engage in conversation with […]
What our friends need most from us…
Day 27 of 31 Days of Connecting I fully intend to listen well. To be a good friend as my friends have been to me. To support them as they have supported me. And yet, I find myself doing it again. Focusing on me. While she shares her struggles feeding her baby boy, I’m trying […]
Temporary Forever, by Shawna Ervin
Day 25 of 31 Days of Connecting My dear friend Shawna wrote this short story, Temporary Forever, and it was published in Sliver Stone Magazine. I am so proud of her. It is a story about a mom who remembers her life back in foster care, the fear, the heartache, and the hope that is in that system. […]
Know Thyself: it will change the way you...
Day 24 of 31 Days of Connecting Three years ago I was pregnant, working around 15 hours a week, moving us into our house, taking care of our two year old, trying to potty train said two year old, and I could not understand why I was so.very.tired. I looked around at other moms I […]