May You Flourish
Last night, my dear friend uses the verb flourish, and I just can’t get the word out of my mind. It shimmers. It resonates with my heart. Etymologically, the word means to “flower” and also to “brandish” (like a weapon). When something flourishes, it blossoms, thrives, and prospers. But to flourish also suggests a strength, […]
It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way: The Story of the World’s Best Breakfast Quiche
This week, I learn that you don’t have to use pastry crust if you want a great quiche. You can use potatoes! If you grate a potato into the bottom of your pie dish and load up the veggies and egg mixture–letting it rest in the fridge overnight–you’ll find you have a savory “crust” when […]
Send Children Outside
I swing the windows wide open and send my daughters outside. It’s over sixty degrees today, and after a long winter, today feels Bermuda hot. We clean the cobwebs off the bikes, raise the seats, pump the tires, and then let the girls loose, ponytails flying. We bring out the new chalk and jump ropes. […]
Chasing Down That Light
I spill out of the woods onto the meadow. I see the way the late afternoon sunlight strikes the raw, brittle plants that rise up from the earth. I bend down, watching the light, and take the photo. I remember that photographers go after the light. I’ve never had any other formal training than this: […]
Watching Hugo and Loving God: The Secret Message From a Father
I finish watching Hugo with my children, and we all have tears in our eyes. The story strikes deep into the heart as the final line resounds: “It’s about how [he] searched so hard to find a secret message from his father and how that message lit his way . . .all the way home.” […]
And So We Go Owling
We go to the woods, and we observe emerging trees. A new forest grows up under our feet. Something about this brave little tree makes me so happy. Hello! I’m here! So far, Spring Break includes walking in the woods and across the meadows. We hunt for antlers. Later, we go owling with the neighbors. […]
Steamed Chinese Dumplings
Yesterday, we return home from a voyage because the little one has a fever and stomach pains. With nothing planned for dinner and an empty refrigerator, the oldest one devises a plan for interesting and fun. And we sure need some interesting fun to make up for a disappointing Spring Break. As the sick […]
One Hundred Joys
In the midst of my worst postpartum depression, I remember all the advice from doctors, therapists, pastors, and friends. They often mentioned finding reasons to get out of bed each day. They suggested local outings, meeting with friends, and learning new skills. They knew I needed to wake up and remember what I love. It […]
When You Can’t Find What You’re Looking For
I’m in the woods where the deer roam, but instead of shed antlers, I stumble upon trametes versicolor. It’s a special kind of mushroom. Trametes versicolor © Live with Flair With all this gloomy rain, the forest floor erupts with various mushrooms and lichens. In China and Japan, scientists believe that a protein within this […]
3 Ways to Debrief
After school, we institute our sifting and sorting routine. We hang up coats, put away our shoes, and carefully empty the backpacks. We sort each paper, display art projects, and clean out the lunchboxes. The whole process takes only 15 minutes. If we don’t do this, the mess and mayhem of the day simply tumbles […]