On Riding Bikes and Modeling Love
Posted:
July 22, 2022
Under:
Family and Parenting
Sometime in August or September of last year, Katie and Abby were riding their bikes in the front yard while I tidied up inside. I peeked out at them from time to time, and it was clear they were doing more than just riding. They were playing some sort of game. One of them would … Continue reading "On Riding Bikes and Modeling Love"
Read MoreI Do, Still
Posted:
July 14, 2022
Under:
Family and Parenting
In recent (and, if I’m honest, not so recent) months, Katie and Abby have had frequent conversations about the people in their lives whom they deem to be marriageable material. (I have no idea where this came from.) Abby’s young enough still that her list often includes such people as her dad or her brother … Continue reading "I Do, Still"
Read MoreOn Sleeping (or Lack Thereof) and Sickness and Sanctification
Posted:
June 23, 2022
Under:
Loving God
When it comes to sleeping, Emmeline is the worst. I mean this quite literally; of the five babies we’ve had, she is, hands down, the one who has woken me the most at night. And don’t even get me started on naps. She’s adorable, of course. She’s a snuggly love-bug who has a smile that … Continue reading "On Sleeping (or Lack Thereof) and Sickness and Sanctification"
Read MoreOn Casting Votes and Raising Kids and Living Life
Posted:
June 09, 2022
Under:
Family and Parenting
Late last week, Katie picked up a campaign flyer that hadn’t yet made it to the recycle bin. “This guy has ‘the energy and skill to get the job done,'” she read, then narrowed her eyes. “Wait a second. Who sent this, anyway? Are they just saying that because they want you to vote for … Continue reading "On Casting Votes and Raising Kids and Living Life"
Read MoreIt Seems Like God Would Have Wanted to Answer That Prayer
Posted:
May 30, 2022
Under:
Loving God
A few weeks ago, at the end of our bedtime routine, I put an arm around Katie’s shoulders and pulled her close. “Want to talk about anything, kiddo?” It had been a tough day. We’d intended to leave for a much-anticipated camping trip that morning but had needed to make a sudden change in plans … Continue reading "It Seems Like God Would Have Wanted to Answer That Prayer"
Read MoreWhat I’m Teaching My Kids
Posted:
May 14, 2022
Under:
Family and Parenting
At a recent meeting at our charter school, Abby was admiring the keyboard skin on our ES’s* laptop. Abby has long had a fascination with technology. (Her running birthday request for the last three years has been a phone, and she was legitimately disappointed not to receive one when she turned five.) The skin was … Continue reading "What I’m Teaching My Kids"
Read MoreThere Will be Time for the Other Stuff Later
Posted:
May 07, 2022
Under:
Family and Parenting
I’ve read a lot about abortion over the past week. News articles. Legal analyses. Fact-checking pieces. Personal essays. Opinions. Twitter threads. (Confession: I tend to do this when a big issue catches my attention. I take a deep dive, become consumed by everything there is to read about it. I don’t necessarily recommend this approach … Continue reading "There Will be Time for the Other Stuff Later"
Read MoreHappy Chaos, or, Babies are Good
Posted:
April 27, 2022
Under:
Family and Parenting
Maybe it’s because Emmeline’s still so little. Maybe it’s because we homeschool, so I have Katie and Abby with me when many of their peers are at school. Maybe it’s the spacing of our kids, or maybe there’s some magic tipping point between three and four that pushes us into the “large family” category. Whatever … Continue reading "Happy Chaos, or, Babies are Good"
Read MorePlease Don’t Look at Me, or, Thoughts on Easter and Faith
Posted:
April 24, 2022
Under:
Loving God
Last weekend, we celebrated. It had stormed all week, but Sunday dawned clear and beautiful and the world felt new. There was a sense of excitement as we gathered together in the school gym. (Ok. I’ll admit. This was, in part, due to the kids and their anticipation of the festivities to come. But only … Continue reading "Please Don’t Look at Me, or, Thoughts on Easter and Faith"
Read MoreOn Making Lists and Not Wasting My Life
Posted:
April 08, 2022
Under:
Family and Parenting
A few months ago, I implemented something new in our homeschool: I started giving Katie a list. It always has the same things at the top. Get dressed. Tidy your room. Brush your hair. Practice the piano. And then, checkboxes for whatever she needs to accomplish that day. Math pages. Copy work. Spelling. Addition practice. … Continue reading "On Making Lists and Not Wasting My Life"
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