Back in the Day
When I pick my daughters up from youth group, a girl in Dr. Martens boots and a Nirvana t-shirt and flannel shirt approaches me. She heard that once, I wore shoes like that and listened to the kind of music she loves. I play it cool. I remember when Nirvana came on the scene and […]
Morning Pep Talk: Anything Can Happen Today
I wake up thinking about Mark Twain’s quote: “Apparently, there is nothing that cannot happen today.” It fills me with joy and expectation, with a shimmering hope that carries me through a tired morning. As we sit together and fill out the Morning Prayer Journal, I tell my daughter about “waiting in expectation” of what […]
Morning Pep Talk: Finding Good in People Who Annoy You
I’m learning that everything and everyone annoys a pre-teen. Maybe it’s part of development; they differentiate by being annoyed. It’s almost comical. This morning, I find myself praying that my daughters live in peace with people. I want them to fulfill the Biblical command to “live in harmony with one another” (1 Peter 3:8) and […]
The Curious Mind
Today I teach my last unit for my advanced writing classes. We begin studying the classic humanities essay. Here, a writer begins with a curious observation–about anything at all ranging from the natural world to any kind of concept–and then uses the essay to move through increasingly complex questions about this observation in order to […]
Using the Word “Best” in Questions
Today I learned that people enjoy answering questions that contain the word “best.” Especially when engaging with older folks who enjoy looking back over a lifetime of memories, the question, “What was the best. . . ?” draws out information for a great conversation. You might ask, “What did you enjoy best about raising children? […]
Your Symbol for Order
Today I realize that I absolutely must scrub the kitchen floor. If I don’t, I think about the stains of chocolate from Kate’s “Dipping Chocolate Cookies”; I think about the cilantro deep in the crevices from our shrimp taco night; I think about coffee grounds and cinnamon and stained tiles from dripping teabags. I realize […]
The Actual Plan
Today I learn how our good intentions do not mean the same thing as a plan of action. Scheduling what we intend to do–exercise, write, meal plan, clean, or whatever it is you wish to accomplish–doesn’t just happen. But if we make a schedule or some kind of real, tangible plan, things happen. When I […]
Small Hospitality
Today, two friends arrive for afternoon tea and fruit. That’s it: tea and orange slices. I remember how, years ago–back in the days of toddlers, sleep-deprivation, and tighter budgets– hospitality meant I popped popcorn and filled a pitcher of ice water for friends who sat and talked with me as I folded laundry and apologized […]
Updating the Teen Bedroom
Beginning to transform little girl bedrooms into teen bedrooms over the past years has blessed our daughters. It’s a fun way for them to connect with us, and the ideas don’t require lots of money. At this point, they lead the way with color choices and ideas, and we become the labor (well, it’s mostly […]
Such Wind
Today, high winds whip through our neighborhood. We receive alerts of fallen limbs blocking a roadway and of school buses delayed on their journeys homeward. In a single moment, the backyard flares with afternoon sun, storm clouds, snow, and wind so strong the thickest oaks sway. It’s like a collection of all the season’s weather […]