I recently lost over 35 pounds. How does that make you feel? What is your immediate reaction to that statement? (You don’t actually have to publicly tell me. But hold onto that truth for a moment, please. I have a point here.) I always knew weight/size was an issue in this society, but I think […]
Sorry I Haven’t Been Myself
“Sorry I haven’t been myself.” I found I kept saying this over and over again the past year as an apology for being quieter than usual, for turning down invitations or offers, for moving slower, for being distracted, for needing quiet. For not being the “me” the person on the other end was used to […]
I Want to Give You Something Cool
Who here wants a holiday giveaway? It’s that time again, my friends, when I decide it’s time to give away something special to those of you who keep reading along. Since books are my love, my life, my reason to breaaaaaathe, I’m giving away an Amazon Fire PLUS a $25 Amazon gift card PLUS copies […]
12 Handy Tips for Parents of Elementary School Kids
Finally! Your kids are older now, sitting in that sweet spot between so little they need you all the time and big enough that you’re the one needing them to STOP GROWING UP AND AWAY SO DAMN FAST, OKAY?? It’s time to start letting go of the reins a bit, learn the best way to balance […]
Life is Messy. Bake Banana Bread.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the past four-plus decades of life, it’s that life is messy. Everyone’s life is messy. Real life isn’t Instagram-ready or Pinterest-pretty. It’s full of chaos—good and bad—and peppered with troubles. We all have them, even if you can’t see them in the posts you scroll through on your […]
No Means No. Stop Means Stop.
Much of my life—especially the first 25 years—has been spent having people not listen to my “No”s when they mattered the most. Showing respect is a very easy thing to do, but you have to believe you are equal to the other person to show it. Believe the other person’s wishes are important, valid. Every […]
Alternatives to the Pumpkin Spice Life
We all know that the most popular pumpkin spice obsessions are the pumpkin spice latte and pumpkin spice muffin—treats I have known to enjoy now and again—but it has grown far, far beyond that. I’m not saying that the Pumpkin Spice thing is getting out of hand, I’m just saying that you can drink it […]
Treatment
When my mom had cancer, there was a chain of calls made to get everyone praying for her. She did her treatment (surgeries, chemo, etc.) while friends and family prayed, while her church prayed, while the churches of her friends and family prayed after getting her on their prayer list. And she beat cancer. Did […]
20 Little Things That Are Slowly Making This Mom Lose Her Damn Mind
When my daughter decided to hide from me in the thrift shop so that we had to do a Code Adam lockdown while all of the shoppers helped me locate her? I was cool and organized when it happened, took care of what I had to, and once I found her I quietly told her […]
I Will Not Always Get to Do This
I look over to my right and see her eyes are closed. Gently, I lean over, confirming that her usually wildly expressive face and chatty mouth have gone soft with sleep. It crept in at some point during the movie while I was distracted, pressing on her until she couldn’t fight anymore, urging her to […]