In God Alone
This morning, I remember a great truth–the Greatest Truth–that sets everything right. In Psalm 62 King David writes, “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and salvation; He is my fortress, and I will never be shaken.” When it comes right down to it, all […]
That’s All
I’m talking about photography again and how you just have to stay alert all day long to the beauty the light illuminates. You just never know what you’ll see when you’re really looking. I’m telling my mother-in-law this as we drive through the neighborhood, and we just happen to pull over to visit with a […]
The Best Worst Thing
My husband and in-laws are driving with me to run errands, and my husband tells the story of the worst internship he ever had as a veterinarian’s assistant. It involved losing a dog, being attacked by a cat, and other tales too graphic for my blog. “It was the best worst thing,” he claims. That […]
My Best Teaching Practice
Today, my professional development seminar on teaching practices concludes. Participants have been asked to bring in their “best practice” to share with the others. I’m sharing this quote from “The Life Model: Equipping People with Skills to Thrive” study I’m reading: “The world is a fracturing place, and each of us is split to some […]
Leaders Take the Long View
Last night my husband reminds me to “take the long view.” When something goes wrong (a boring class, an argument with a friend, a dieting failure, a rejection from an agent, a poor parenting choice. . . I could go on and on), I tend to make catastrophic statements: Everything is horrible! I’m a disaster! […]
The First 10 Minutes
Today, the neighbors and I discuss how the first ten minutes of the day set the tone for the whole day. “It’s so true!” we all agree. If we wake up and snuggle children, sip hot coffee, and enjoy the view from the bedroom window, the day unfolds differently–and better–than mornings started with a jolt […]
When There’s No Time To Be Self-Conscious
I’m at my very first youth soccer game. My husband–the reserved man who doesn’t want any attention–watches my youngest daughter play. I’m sitting beside him, trying to fit in. I have some things this culture requires, including my minivan, my folding camping chair, and my beverage. I still need the rolling cooler, a better camera, […]
Go Beyond the Obvious
I’m often asked to help teenagers prepare for their SAT or AP writing. I immediately direct young writers to the two most important tasks: choosing strong verbs and employing varied sentence patterns. (Of course, I also tell them to read How to Write with Flair!) Once they do this, I tell them that graders […]
Who Does All the Work?
This morning, my husband announces that the Northern Cardinals have returned to the Winterberry bush to begin their nest. “The male does all the work,” he claims. “Look at him!” I start laughing. “That’s not the male. The male is the bright red one up in the tree.” The female is the one working hard […]
I Caught My Children Plotting
Just now, I catch my youngest daughter and her friend plotting. “Let’s get in our bathing suits. You get on the swing. I’ll spray you with water as you swing. It will be just like a water park in your yard.” “Yeah! Let’s do it! Run! Hurry!” The older daughter rushes to be part of […]