April 2005
April 30, 2005
New every morning
It's really cool when someone who's been reading your blog starts one of her own -- especially when you see the wisdom there immediately! Listen to this, from Blue-Eyed Tracy: I ponder how I become so full of myself and ask for forgiveness and the wisdom to see beyond me...11:55 AM in Inspiration | Permalink | Comments (1)
Talk about self-centeredness
So Jennifer Wilbanks, the Georigia bride-to-be who disappeared three days before her wedding, touching off a national (wo)manhunt, "just needed some time to think?" I can hardly believe someone could cause this kind of pain to so many for so long because "she needed some time to think." Will he...11:17 AM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (6)
April 29, 2005
Their futures - what really matters most
A while back, I blogged about how the number of meaningless everyday choices we're called to make rob us of our most precious commodity -- time. Okay, so I’m an older mother. Though I don’t mean to come across like a caricature, “Yesiree, back in my day we walked...11:14 AM in Mothering | Permalink | Comments (1)
April 27, 2005
Dirtier by the Dozen/Justin's Five Today!
Four and a half years ago, we got a call from Catholic Charities: Would we be willing to consider adopting another baby with Down syndrome? Barely missing a beat, I said, "I don't think so." I was feeling pretty old and tired. Jonny, our first son with Down syndrome was...2:00 PM in Down syndrome | Permalink | Comments (1)
Waging peace
“Tripp, you need to come home right away,†I blurted the moment my hubby picked up his cell. “There’s a guy cutting off the branches of our trees!†Fifteen years ago we had just moved from suburbia proper to the country. It seemed like every day we were dealing with...11:44 AM in Inspiration | Permalink | Comments (3)
The art of apology
To parents: Let's face it, none of our kids are going to grow up to be perfect. They're going to make mistakes, break things, and hurt people - just like you and me. One of the most useful gifts you can give your kids, then, is the ability to say...1:57 AM in Mothering | Permalink | Comments (0)
April 26, 2005
Apologies all around
Dear Matt -- I am sorry for hurting you. I will keep it as simple as that. I know it is a painful loss for you that Luke is gone. I am praying that God will give you the strength to get through this time as well as the other...7:00 PM in Family | Permalink | Comments (3)
April 23, 2005
Birthday reflections from a Mommy-Come-Lately
Mommy, how old are you?" my youngest daughter Madeleine asks me every now and then. I always get the feeling she's worried – kind of like me rummaging through the fridge and finding a package of pork chops dated a few days ago. And Madeleine worried is truly something to...9:17 AM in Mothering | Permalink | Comments (3)
April 19, 2005
Practicing the Presence
Julana's last comment about Brother Lawrence was just what I needed to hear. I even pulled out a copy of Lord, Please Meet Me in the Laundry Room to remind myself what I'd already written: More and more, my prayer life became not just a compartment of my life, but...11:40 AM in Inspiration | Permalink | Comments (4)
Front load washers
My daughter Sam's washer went kaput this week and she had to buy a new one. I had to sing the praises of my front loader and she decided to get one too. I've had one for five years now and have saved way, way more than it cost to...10:12 AM in Practical Info | Permalink | Comments (3)
April 18, 2005
Brainfreeze
Do you get brainfreeze? Do your kids? I really want to know. Summer's officially here and I've already had my first brainfreeze from my first Slurpee. For you lucky people in the 70% of the population who don't get brainfreeze, let me explain on behalf of the 30% who do:...3:55 PM in Family | Permalink | Comments (5)
April 17, 2005
Ode to a dirt road
I live off a dirt road a mile and a half from Waterford, Virginia -- a teensy, 272-year-old village with housing scrupulously maintained in nearly original condition by residents who have taken on a ministry of preserving the past while living in it. They do a stupendous job, raising money...4:55 PM in Culture | Permalink | Comments (2)
Someone actually thought of this
For those inclined to simple solutions, this group has come up with one for Global Warming: World Jump Day....4:50 PM in Fun Stuff | Permalink | Comments (1)
April 14, 2005
Adoption -- reflection of the divine
I remember when the thought first occured to me that our family could adopt a baby who needed us. Jonny, our eighth, was two. Madeleine was barely a year younger, and the best thing that ever happened for him. Because Jonny has Down syndrome, they were growing up like twins,...2:38 PM in | Permalink | Comments (3)
April 12, 2005
SUMMERizing/Baby Names
Do you ever get that feeling when you're going a mile a minute that you're running out of breath? I feel like I'm just coming up from air after a week of being immersed in switching from winter to summer. I don't mean to complain, but after 30 years of...7:50 PM in Babies | Permalink | Comments (2)
April 9, 2005
Writing advice
People often ask me how to get started on a writing career. After responding to another request the other day, I decided to post my advice here. My first recommendation is to attend a Christian writers' conference. There you'll begin working on three aspects that you will be working on...10:03 AM in Writing | Permalink | Comments (6)
April 7, 2005
In praise of homeschool moms
It is truly amazing how God honors the sacrifice of homeschooling mothers by tapping into a fountain of creativity they might never have discovered had they been busy pursuing a "career." Have you noticed too? It's just amazing how many writers, speakers, and teachers have been born within the...11:56 AM in Homeschooling | Permalink | Comments (5)
April 5, 2005
Our Heroes
Do you have heroes? Let's share. To get things started, here are mine: Mother Teresa -- Unconditional love, compassion, service to "the least of these," and outspoken devotion to the unborn (once setting aside the nicey-niceness of the annual and often hypocritical National Prayer Breakfast to confront the pro-abortion...8:33 AM in | Permalink | Comments (12)
