I am a Failure …

failure

I had planned to do everything correctly. I rushed to get into the car and out the door in time to get Rachel to therapy. I set the kitchen timer for ten minutes before I had to leave and packed up my computer bag ahead of time. When the timer went off, I ran out [...]

Three Uncommon Goals

heart

As we change our calendars this week from 2010, we automatically feel an unspoken invitation to new beginnings and fresh starts. A year’s worth of mostly blank pages beckon us to make our mark on the future. Hope has opened her door. First, I must admit I quit making New Year’s resolutions decades ago, knowing I would soon become a [...]

Celebrating Spiritual Birthdays

spiritual-birthdays

One of the biggest days for parents of young children is their child’s birthday! All over the country, moms go to great lengths to celebrate in a fitting way. One mom rents a clown, another a horse and buggy, yet another a restaurant complete with games and food. Cupcakes or cakes are often spectacular and gift [...]

What to Do When Your Child is in the Hospital

sick child

One of the scariest experiences as a parent is having a precious child injured or ill. It usually catches us by surprise, leaving us confused, worried, and emotional. Even if it is a planned operation, seeing a child hooked up to monitors and looking vulnerable is heart-wrenching. Few of us enter into parenthood with the expectation of [...]

Danger. Beware. Tablecloths Lurking.

Baby-Reaching

There are some things I forgot in the 16 years between babies, such as the dangers of tablecloths. As soon as Alyssa was old enough to sit in a highchair, she was drawn to tugging on the tablecloth. Drawn. When a baby is five months old, it’s pretty cute. “Oh, look at that, she can grab it.” [...]

A Late Unwrapping

gifts

Maybe it’s because it’s December. Maybe not. Gifts are given at other times of the year, I know. And all are not wrapped in shiny paper tied with ribbons. Gifts of inheritance, received after a death, are visible around my house in a set of Depression glassware, a loveseat, a crocheted blanket, a quilt — all physical reminders [...]

Our Family Christmas Tradition

Christmas Poinsettia

Our growing, young family is spread across three states, which makes gathering on Christmas day impossible. We have freed our adult children of the pressure to celebrate Christmas as in the past. It was a wise decision, even though we miss watching our grandchildren and their parents enjoy the day. We have settled on the [...]

Christmas Cookies

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Which kind of Christmas do you want to have?

Handling the Holidays During Loss or Grief

LonelyHoliday

October through December can be an excruciating time of year for those who have experienced a loss. In addition to the death of a loved one, divorce, illness, family trauma, job loss, a wayward child, or moving to a new location can cause serious depression during the holidays. Factor in that many people experience less [...]

Fun with Christmas Past

Christmas-Past

It’s fun to look back on memories of Christmas past. Can you guess which of our bloggers is in each picture? 1. You’re not so scary after all! 2. Hee, hee, hee more books for me! 3. All dressed up and to Grandmother’s house I go! 4. I love  Mama and Baby Beans! 5. A [...]