Reading Now

Reading to Kids

  • Story of the Orchestra
    Story of the Orchestra
    With CD!
  • My Big Book of Catholic Bible Stories
    My Big Book of Catholic Bible Stories
    Love this! Check Giveaways
  • The Little Red Hen
    The Little Red Hen
    Hooray for a good work ethic! The little red hen asks but receives no help in her efforts to put bread on the table. Yet all who wouldn't help would like to eat. In a refreshingly old-fashioned triumph of moral consequences, they don't get to!
  • Noisy Nora
    Noisy Nora
    Poor Nora! The loveable mousette experiences all the pangs of the child-in-the- middle, caught between the demands of baby brother and bossiness of big sister. Catchy meter, playful illustrations make for a wonderfully satisfying mouse's tale. Baby-Preschool
  • A Chair for My Mother
    A Chair for My Mother
    A remarkably beautiful story told by a young girl whose mother is a waitress. Since they lost all their furniture in a fire, they've been saving mother’s tips in a jar – so they can buy a big comfortable chair for their whole family to enjoy – daughter, mother and grandmother. Life has its ups and downs, but there’s always lots of love. Ages 4-7
  • Caps for Sale
    Caps for Sale
    Be dramatic! Shake your fists! Stomp your feet! You and your toddler will have so much fun with this wonderful story, in which common sense prevails over temper tantrums! 3-7

    See more great kids' books under Barbara's Picks
  • Character Sketches From the Pages of Scripture, Illustrated in the World of Nature
    Character Sketches From the Pages of Scripture, Illustrated in the World of Nature
    Institue in Basic Youth Conflicts

June 2006

June 30, 2006

Blogs of Beauty Awards

Has a year gone by? I guess so because Sallie at A Gracious Home is hosting her annual Blogs of Beauty Awards. She is accepting nominations in many categories until Sunday, July 9 at 5:00 PM EST. She will then announce finalists and open voting until Monday July 17...

9:28 PM in Blogging | Permalink | Comments (1)

Angels in Adoption - nomination time

Two years ago Tripp and I received the Congressional Angel in Adoption award. We were nominated by our Congressman, Frank Wolf, who had been notified about us by a friend of mine who is also a writer from Loudoun County, Ann Stewart. I had never heard of the Angels in...

5:47 PM in Adoption, Family | Permalink | Comments (2)

Does being pro-life define who you are?

Ask these pro-life young people who let me take their picture at last January March for Life in Washington, DC....

11:26 AM in Pro-Life Issues | Permalink | Comments (1)

Have you changed too?

My last entry - Stunning Rebuke to Planned Parenthood - drew this response Bryanne:WOW!!! Thanks so much for sharing this article, Barbara. I am ashamed to admit that I have buried my head in the sand when it comes to the abortion issue. I always knew I would never personally...

10:36 AM in Feminism, Pro-Life Issues | Permalink | Comments (11)

Stunning rebuke of Planned Parenthood

Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2006 06:48:29 -0500 Planned Parenthood Celebration Jolted by Abortion Survivor by TED HARVEY, Assistant Minority Leader in the Colorado House of Representatives and current candidate for the State Senate. (reprinted by permission) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- She sings the anthem to applause, then her secret is revealed to stunned...

8:43 AM in Disabilities, Pro-Life Issues | Permalink | Comments (24)

June 29, 2006

This weather is distracting, to say the least

Wow. I'm sitting at my computer in front of a window that gives me a wonderful view of God's creation. After tons and tons of rain, today has been bright and sunny. At around 2:50, the blue sky was suddenly eclipsed by an enormous black cloud that turned everything shades...

3:30 PM in Loudoun County, Writing | Permalink | Comments (0)

This weather is distracting, to say the least

Wow. I'm sitting at my computer in front of a window that gives me a wonderful view of God's creation. After tons and tons of rain, today has been bright and sunny. At around 2:50, the blue sky was suddenly eclipsed by an enormous black cloud that turned my green...

3:30 PM in Loudoun County, Writing | Permalink | Comments (3)

Queen of Crockpots

Just wondering who received the most crockpots as wedding presents - how many you returned and how many you kept to give as wedding presents yourself?...

9:17 AM in Fun Stuff | Permalink | Comments (11)

What's in your crockpot?

Crockpots are a busy mother's best friend. You toss everything in in the morning and forget about dinner (except for the dreamy smell of food cooking all day) until the last minute. How cool is that? Three favorite things I do with mine: Chicken cacciatore - a bunch of...

8:39 AM in Practical Info | Permalink | Comments (5)

Geography test

Place the State is a fun place to find out how much you know about U. S. geography. Take the test yourself - amybe more than once :) - before passing it on to your kids. Will really help them memorize and understand the physical relationship of the 50 states....

8:32 AM in Fun Stuff, Homeschooling | Permalink | Comments (1)

How to capture a mother's heart

Danielle confesses her new love at Myy Secret Crush. Who couldn't identify? I'm still chuckling. Thanks, Danielle!...

6:28 AM in Humor | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 28, 2006

Boys' haircuts

It's been over a year since I ran this - just thought someone might be brave enough to give this a whirl starting over the summer (buzz cuts are easy!) The best $25 I ever invested was in a Wahl hair clipper kit fifteen years ago when I had four...

5:59 PM in Practical Info | Permalink | Comments (11)

Entertaining Angels

Here is my column from this week's Loudoun Times-Mirror. If you live in Loudoun, you can find my column on page A2 every other week. It's called Close to Home, and it's been running for almost three years. This week's was stimulated by the rejection from neighborhood boys (and parents)...

4:02 PM in Disabilities, Down syndrome, Loudoun County | Permalink | Comments (2)

Parenting Q&A - keeping 3 year old busy

A reader writes:I am a homeschooling mother of 4: 17yods [for newbies, this means 17 year olds dear son], 11yods, 9yodd and 3yods. My 3yo just transitioned to one nap a day, so I need to figure out what to do with him during our school time. He is very...

3:15 PM in Homeschooling, Montessori, Preschoolers | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 27, 2006

Sweet Baby James Update/ Thoughts on Adoption

Well, evidently there are a lot of people interested in Sweet Baby James! I just spoke to the receptionist at A Helping Hand and they have been inundated with calls and emails - over 300 in one day. They are somewhat overwhelmed at the moment, and have released a mass...

3:35 PM in Adoption, Disabilities, Down syndrome, Mothering | Permalink | Comments (11)

Longest subscriber winners

I've been trying to sort this out - who subscribed, commented, started reading on what dates. My thought was that even if readers weren't subscribed, if they commented early on and I knew they were part of the scene here, that would count. After all, I've never subscribed to a...

11:16 AM in Blogging | Permalink | Comments (4)

June 26, 2006

Blog subscriptions

Someone asked in the comments how to subscribe to Mommy Life. I know you can subscribe at Bloglines - which has a link in my bottom right sidebar. I don't know how the RSS feeds work, but maybe someone else can explain. And some commenters mentioned other subscription sources. Feel...

11:32 AM in Blogging, Contest | Permalink | Comments (3)

My friend Mel

I must confess I don't get much time to read other blogs, but this morning I paid a visit to Mel at Actual Unretouched Photo. Mel lives about 3000 miles away, but though we've never met face to face, we have a very real, authentic and supportive relationship - just...

9:17 AM in Blogging | Permalink | Comments (2)

Building a work ethic in kids

This was originally printed in Christian Parenting Today - in 2001 maybe? - but just posted at Woman's Touch: Seven Strategies for Building a Work Ethic in Your Kids By Barbara Curtis Today is my first son’s first day at his first job. Josh is rarin’ to go, but pauses...

6:26 AM in Mothering, Teens and Tweens, Toddlers | Permalink | Comments (1)

Fulltime motherhood found "not worthy"

From LifeSite: Feminist Says Child Rearing not Worthy of Time and Talents of Intelligent Humans By Hilary White NEW YORK, June 20, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Linda Hirshman, a feminist US writer on cultural issues, has told the world why she thinks staying at home with the children is an occupation...

6:06 AM in Current Affairs, Feminism, Mothering, Pro-Life Issues | Permalink | Comments (1)

June 25, 2006

Big weekend

Tripp went "over the mountain" - that's what they call going over the comparatively small but still quite beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains - yesterday to fetch five of our grandchildren (Timmy, Patrick, Andrew, Jeffrey and Trinity) whose parents are going to a wedding in New Jersey today. First they went...

8:21 AM in Family | Permalink | Comments (3)

More on Jonny

I teach my kids that the Bible is like an owner's manual for a car. It tells us exactly how to live our lives successfully - not by the world's standards, but by God's. And successful living brings joy and peace. Throughout the hurtful events that have just taken place...

7:19 AM in Disabilities, Down syndrome, Family, Loudoun County, Mothering | Permalink | Comments (2)

June 24, 2006

Jonny - for the benefit of my neighbors who do not want to know him

With all the discussion about Jonny lately, I thought I'd run some pictures to let you know a little more about him. He is one of the kindest, most caring, and joyful people I know. Everywhere we go, people come up to us and greet our family - not because...

6:27 PM in Disabilities, Down syndrome, Loudoun County | Permalink | Comments (14)

Urgent adoption need - Chinese baby with Down syndrome

Time is running out for James, a sweet little Chinese boy with Down syndrome on whose adoption hangs the fate of other such children in China. [6/27 Update here] Listen to this from the social worker handling his case: China officials have not offered children with ds for adoption...

9:10 AM in Adoption, Down syndrome | Permalink | Comments (22)

Laundry - sharing the load

While the women in our house are constantly involved with carrying dirty clothes down from bedrooms and carrying clean clothes up to drawers and closets (in our home we have division of labor because the men in the house do things I really don't want to share either :)...

8:25 AM in Big families, Family, Montessori, Mothering, Practical Info, Teens and Tweens, Toddlers | Permalink | Comments (3)

Subscriber contest - don't forget

Don't forget I am giving away five of my books (winners' choice) to the five readers with the longest subscription to MommyLife. Details here, where you can see that there are ways to find out when you subscribed via Bloglines or even when you bookmarked a site (I didn't know...

7:04 AM in Contest | Permalink | Comments (8)

June 23, 2006

Ending the week with humor

This Paul Aldrich video is simply hysterical - especially for Gilbert & Sullivan fans. The tune is based on "A Modern Major General" from Pirates of Penzance. The Modern Church Historical...

3:23 PM in Church Issues, Humor | Permalink | Comments (0)

Local news: Pippin

Sophia, Maddy, and Jonny are in this Growing Stage production of Pippin (adapted for younger performers) Performances at Belmont Ridge Middle School June 23, 24, 30 and July 1 7:00 pm June 24, 25 and July 1, 2 2:00pm If you come see Pippin, look for Tripp and me and...

3:10 PM in Loudoun County | Permalink | Comments (0)

You need this safety tip

Here's why when I'm in an attended parking lot I always detach and give them only the car key: Stalker Hides Under Woman's Bed for Two Days...

1:52 PM in Safety | Permalink | Comments (3)

The purpose of my blog and my writing

As for the drive-by commenter who advised me to "get over it" - meaning the recent incident of outright prejudice against my son - I would like to say: Sweetheart, this is how I get over it. I'm a writer, which means my mind is finely tuned to the events...

8:09 AM in Blogging, Disabilities, Down syndrome, Family, Writing | Permalink | Comments (8)

While I lay sleeping

After I posted my last 120 visitors yesterday, Mrs. DMG commented that she liked seeing the foreigh countries represented among my readers. Because of time differences, most of the visits from foreign countries are at night. It's 6:30 am here and this is a sampling of some of the visits...

6:15 AM in Blogging | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 22, 2006

On prejudice and disabilities

While we're on the subject of facing prejudice because of disabilities: Stephanie sent me a link she found at Lori's The Road Not Chosen to Newsweek's recent My Turn column: My Brother is Not His Disability written by 16-year-old Colgan Leaming. She speaks of the immense joy she feels spending...

11:04 PM in Disabilities, Down syndrome | Permalink | Comments (2)

Helpful books for parents

I've added these under Barbara's Picks. They're books I've used myself for almost 20 years in raising my kids. Proverbs for Parents - An invaluable reference arranged by topic, so parents can look up something like obedience, pride, fear, honesty, trustworthiness, giving - and many more - for a complete...

5:26 PM in Books, Fathers, Inspiration, Mothering | Permalink | Comments (0)

My last 120 visitors

Once in a while, I like to run one of these to see where readers come from. With an average of 1500 visits a day, I can't keep track of everything, but when I do take a peek, I'm always surprised by strange sounding cities all over the world. Kinda...

3:28 PM in Blogging | Permalink | Comments (4)

Not all wounds are the kind that need a bandaid

Yesterday on the radio news there was a report of police apprehending a man charged with a string of incidents involving exposing himself to little girls in the northern Virginia area. The man gained their trust by promising to show them a box of rabbits. The report heralding his...

1:05 PM in Montessori, Mothering | Permalink | Comments (1)

Prodigal daughters/ prodigal sons

Father's Day was wonderful - Kip and Samantha and the five wonderful grandchildren they're given us (who will be spending the weekend with Grandma and Grandpa this weekend), Nathan and Jasmine and their equally wonderful five, newlyweds Josh and Hattie, Ben and his lovely Anna, and the rest of the...

11:50 AM in Books, Family, Fathers, Inspiration, Mothering | Permalink | Comments (6)

June 21, 2006

Diet update - Out with the Old

They say a picture's worth a thousand words. Check out these: This is a jacket I just sold on Ebay - but before I mailed it, I asked Ben to take my picture. Very different than it used to be - didn't need 50 takes to find one I could...

7:06 PM in Diet | Permalink | Comments (21)

Another thing about Sophia

Another thing I love about Sophia is how when it comes to learning she is not compartmentalized. That is, she doesn't turn on her academic side just for school and then let her mind veg while she parties down at other times. Don't get me wrong - she knows how...

6:01 PM in Family | Permalink | Comments (2)

About Sophia

I realize I don't say much about Sophia. I think it's because sometimes our relationship is strained due to issues having to do with chores, attitude, respect - the usual teenage daughter stuff. So I just want to say right here and now that Sophia has been a really exemplary...

10:41 AM in Family, Mothering, Teens and Tweens | Permalink | Comments (2)

Who subscribed first?

I would like to thank all of you who subscribe to MommyLife, either through RSS feed (which remains a mystery to me) or Bloglines (which you can access from my bottom right sidebar). Writers need readers. And you all are important to me. With that in mind, I thought I'd...

9:49 AM in Contest | Permalink | Comments (13)

Diet Update

Well, I think I finally got past the Evil Plateau that I've been trying to outlast for three weeks. Yay! I was holding steady at 55 pounds lost for almost three weeks, but yesterday dropped two more pounds - and I feel like my body is revving up for...

9:43 AM in Diet | Permalink | Comments (6)

June 20, 2006

Never mind.

I said this morning I hoped to bring you all some news of a Peapod alternative for those of you outside Peapod Land. I'm glad I waited to do my homework first, because it didn't turn out to be all I hoped. Articles like this one from the Boston Globe...

2:14 PM in Practical Info | Permalink | Comments (2)

In praise of Peapod

And shopping online in general. By 8:00 this morning, I had already taken my walk - wanted to get out before it gets brutally hot and humid here - and put away 183.25 worth of groceries delivered by my faithful Peapod. Not only do I save on gas and...

8:39 AM in Practical Info, Resources | Permalink | Comments (7)

Boy Scouts of America

A few months ago we had Boy Scouts at our church. Jonny fell in love with the uniform and decided he wanted to join. Now he goes to meetings every Monday with the troop and he's made some new friends (I am so grateful that we live in a...

7:36 AM in Boys | Permalink | Comments (12)

June 19, 2006

Bronzing baby shoes

Does anyone still do this? It was a kind of old-fashioned custom 12 years ago when I did these: These are Jonny's shoes. He's now 14 and about a size 8 shoe. Looking at these makes me feel all mushy inside. These were a pair of red clogs that Sophia...

8:26 PM in Family | Permalink | Comments (2)

Something new at my website!

Most of you have probably visited my website BarbaraCurtis.com since its recent extreme makeover. but I just wanted you to visit today to see the cool new thing added by my Webmaster - my name looks like I'm writing it on the spite. Isn't that cool? Soon to come: links...

11:46 AM in Blogging | Permalink | Comments (2)

Teaching compassion and generosity

Received this email from Joni, who blogs at What It's All About Hi Barbara, My name is Joni. I am the SAHM to a 4, 3 and 16 month old. I found out about you after reading The Mommy Manual, which I love. It is in my top 5 books...

10:10 AM in Montessori, Mothering, Teens and Tweens, Toddlers | Permalink | Comments (1)

Radio - great family movie

My letter to my neighbor about her son's rejection of Jonny mentioned a movie that is a favorite of mine. I've added it to Barbara's Picks - which I'm sorry has been a little neglected lately because there is MUCH more to come when I'm finished with my latest books....

9:58 AM in | Permalink | Comments (2)

Maddy's singing competition

On a happy note, Maddy was involved in a music competition that was held at the Ernst Cultural Center at Northern Virginia Community College Saturday night. There were 17 contestants 13-18 including one band, two piano soloists, and 14 vocalists. The material was not trendy pop, so Madeleine was more...

9:48 AM in Family | Permalink | Comments (0)

Children's table and chairs

From a reader: I looked through "Barbara's Picks" and didn't see one...but I was wondering if you know of a good toddler table/chair available online? (Or at a chain like Target, etc.) I want to set up a "space" for my 14 month toddler, so that he has a specific...

6:50 AM in Montessori, Mothering, Toddlers | Permalink | Comments (2)

June 16, 2006

Father to the fatherless

Those of you without a father - or without an authentic relationship with your father - may enjoy this piece which first appeared In World magazine for Father's Day 1998. His Little Girl Trusting the Heavenly Father after an earthly one fails by Barbara Curtis I remember the day...

1:34 PM in Fathers, Holidays | Permalink | Comments (6)

Take your kids to see Cars!

Sophia and Maddy saw Cars earlier this week and came home in a great mood. Now I know why. Last night Tripp wanted to take the four younger kids to see it, thus giving me the option of getting some writing time - which I desperately need now that...

10:37 AM in Movies | Permalink | Comments (6)

June 15, 2006

A Little Fun

Here's a little quick fun: BBrilliantAAwesomeRRevolutionaryBBubblyAAppreciativeRRadicalAAwkwardName / Username: Name Acronym GeneratorFrom Go-Quiz.com I do think I'm radical and revolutionary! Though in a different way than I was back in my hippie days. Nowadays my counterculture status comes from idiosyncracies like having six times the average number of kids (do you...

10:46 PM in Fun Stuff | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dads - Who Needs Them?

Here's an article I wrote in 2001 that's appeared in several papers on Father's Day. Keep in mind I was living in California, where we were in the thick of a major push to teach kids - as young as preschool - that there is no one best way...

1:02 PM in Fathers, Holidays | Permalink | Comments (5)

June 14, 2006

Flag Day

Today is Flag Day! Resources for the family: Flag Day Betsy Ross HomePage Flag Day Activities for Kids Flag Day Crafts for Kids Patriotic Holidays Coloring Pages For those in the Baltimore-Washington area, there is a special Flag Day celebration tonight 6:30-9 at Fort McHenry with patriotic music, dramatic...

8:42 AM in Holidays | Permalink | Comments (0)

Rethinking summer and sun

This was my Close to Home column in the Loudoun Times-Mirror this week. Even though a lot of you have heard this saga already, I'm running it for the benefit of those new to this site. Close to Home is my standing column, which runs biweekly on page A2 of...

6:07 AM in Health | Permalink | Comments (6)

June 13, 2006

Hospitality Challenge

Deb's comment on my Morning Ramblings inspired me to pose another question and a challenge. She wrote: I think the problem is human nature taking advantage of modern times. Folks just are not deeply involved with each other because we don't HAVE to be. We suffer for it, to be...

12:15 PM in Culture | Permalink | Comments (16)

Love this!

What a wonderful portrait! Sam and the Perfect World by David Lenz is a finalist in the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery 2006 Portrait Competition. Hooray! And read Lenz's Artist's Statement: My wife Rosemarie had just given birth to our son Sam, and although he appeared perfectly healthy, something, nevertheless, didn't...

8:37 AM in Art, Disabilities, Down syndrome | Permalink | Comments (4)

This morning's mental ramblings

Something came up in the discussion of what to call mothers-in-law that I wanted to explore further. I think Alison hit it on the head when she described us as an emotionally open family. I lived for 30 years in California and my husband and kids and sons-in-law grew up...

7:42 AM in Culture, Family | Permalink | Comments (10)

June 12, 2006

Diet Update

I started to write this as a comment/response to comments on my last Update, but grew into an entry: I so appreciate all your comments and encouragement! And I want to encourage all of you who have joined me on this journey! Brian and Wendy, thank you for pointing...

9:28 AM in Diet | Permalink | Comments (8)

Parenting Q&A - your input, please

I am working on my books today, so hoping you all can help out with the following question I received from a reader (sorry it took me so long to post this!) Hi Barbara, My son (just turned 3) is very possessive of his toys. He's the first child. I...

9:14 AM in Mothering, Preschoolers, Toddlers | Permalink | Comments (11)

June 11, 2006

Diet Update

I'm not really keeping a diet journal or noting my weight anywhere but here, but it's been seeming like forever since I dropped a pound. 55 pounds down and 45 to go, but I seem stuck. So the first thing I did this morning was a reality check: I...

7:20 AM in Diet | Permalink | Comments (11)

June 10, 2006

What do you call your mother-in-law?

Okay, no wisecracks! I mean what do you call her to her face? I was thinking about this this morning while doing laundry (along with the shower, my best thinking spot). Josh and Hattie are doing all their just-married stuff - new driver's license for her, new bank account for...

1:53 PM in Family | Permalink | Comments (40)

The Ebay Song

Do you like Ebay? Then you will like the The Ebay Song by Weird Al. I first heard it a couple years ago, but it still cracks me up....

1:35 PM in Humor | Permalink | Comments (1)

June 9, 2006

Amazing space!

Can you believe this? This church must like what I have to say! And look at this one: And this one: Well, if this is starting to seem surreal, you need to know you can make your own signs too at the Church Sign Generator I'm thinking this could be...

6:26 PM in Fun Stuff | Permalink | Comments (4)

A little something from me to you

A few years ago I collected this set of Napco figurines on Ebay. They were made by Napco, a company that did a pretty good job sometimes imitating Hummels, but were much cheaper. I photographed them last winter and was going to make sets of notecards to sell, but never...

5:09 PM in Mothering | Permalink | Comments (4)

June 8, 2006

My new website

Thanks to my wonderful technical support - the person I have variously referred to as BloGuru and BlogMaster, I now have a wondeful, fresh-looking updated website. Please hurry over to BarbaraCurtis.com to see it! Now, here's an idea: How about I come visit you in person? All you have to...

4:52 PM in | Permalink | Comments (11)

Making a fresh start

Love this quote: "Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending" - Carl Bard HT to Mrs. DMG, who just started a new blog Callings of My Heart....

12:03 PM in Inspiration | Permalink | Comments (2)

Wisdom and perspective

For a little of both, read What I've Learned in 15 Years by a man whose eight-year-old son suffered a brain injury 15 years ago. Sometimes our best lessons begin with a heavy jolt of pain - and sometimes the pain lingers. But Tom McMahon is an example of a...

11:54 AM in Disabilities, Inspiration | Permalink | Comments (1)

June 7, 2006

Lost Mom contest winners

Winners of the Losing Mom contest are - TA DA! Phyllis - whose Buzz Lightyear story zoomed past all competition Sparrow Michelle Jane Becky If you ladies will be so kind as to email me your addresses, I will send the copies I have of Where's Our Mama? to you....

5:26 PM in Contest | Permalink | Comments (4)

International adoption questions

A reader wrote: Barbara- I feel like you have so much wisdom (from experience and from the Lord) to offer on family/adoption issues, and I am needing some wisdom. I will try to be brief in my query. It is basically this: Is it wise for my husband and I...

5:08 PM in Adoption, Pro-Life Issues | Permalink | Comments (7)

June 6, 2006

Tell me your favorites

Okay, today you can check out all the comments at Mommy Contest and email me with your five favorite "lost" stories so I can give away these copies of Where's Our Mama? This isn't a big production like the Meet Me in the Laundry Room contest. I had just...

8:06 AM in | Permalink | Comments (1)

June 5, 2006

My duty done

Had my mammogram this morning. Blech. I actually found myself feeling sorry more for the technician than for me. She was an older woman and really sweet. She kept up a running patter of conversation that she probably does over and over all day to make the victims - I...

10:07 AM in Health | Permalink | Comments (7)

June 3, 2006

Diet update

17 weeks. Down 55 pounds. 16s are getting looser - I can imagine myself in 14s. Have a size 12 outfit waiting for me to wear to my book signing in Denver July 10. But I'm not sure if I'll be that thin by then. While I'm over halfway...

9:21 AM in Diet | Permalink | Comments (13)

Saturday morning / Contest update

It's Saturday morning. Tripp is off to the Saturday Men's Breakfast at church. All the big kids are still asleep. I've fed Jesse, Daniel and Justin and they're dressed and working on big floor puzzles in the foyer. I've cleaned out the refrigerator, done some dishes and laundry. I have...

8:41 AM in Art, Contest, Culture, Family, Music | Permalink | Comments (2)

June 2, 2006

Freedom from feeling judged

In many ways, a blog is like a family. Lots of discussions, some misunderstanding now and then - even people stomping off to their bedrooms - and hopefully later deciding to come back in and talk again :) Just as in families, there are opportunities for growth and change. And...

6:52 PM in Blogging | Permalink | Comments (0)

Losing mom

Talking about losing kids reminded me of one of the most heart-wrenching movie scenes I've ever seen. It was Empire of the Sun (1987) when the Japanese are invading China and all the British are leaving as fast as they can (as usual). Christian Bales plays Jim, a 12-year old...

6:35 PM in Movies | Permalink | Comments (5)

Mommy Contest

As a lead-up to this itty-bitty contest, I want to share this excerpt from Lord, Please Meet Me in the Laundry Room: I’ll never forget the first time we forgot a child. It was Sunday morning – eight kids then as I remember – and we scurrying to get to...

7:26 AM in Contest, Mothering | Permalink | Comments (34)

Infertility

I am so sorry about the turns taken in the comments to my post Why I am Pro-Life. Sorry that my response to women struggling with infertility may have seemed harsh - it is easy to read tones of voice and facial expressions into words on a screen that weren't...

6:02 AM in Big families, Mothering, Pro-Life Issues | Permalink | Comments (6)

June 1, 2006

Spelling Bee on TV

For the first time ever, the National Spelling Bee will be on TV tonight - 8 PM EST on ABC. This afternoon, it will be broadcast on ESPN 12-3. It is really cool to see the Spelling Bee get this kind of attention. And I know I mentioned it already,...

11:16 AM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (8)

Update, call for pictures, and site navigation

Okay, I am buckling down and working only on my books today. I can tell you now the official titles will be Mommy, Teach Me! and Mommy, Teach Me to Read!. They will be based on my first two books Small Beginnings and Ready, Set, Read - but will contain...

7:18 AM in Writing | Permalink | Comments (1)