This Christmas

My mom used to LOVE Christmas. By “love” I mean she would go all out. Every nook and cranny of every room was filled with something sparkly and shiny. There were specific decorations that went in specific spots every year: the snowman couple in a basket...

Missing

Hey mom, I miss you. I know you’re less than five miles away and that I will probably see you this afternoon, but right now I just really miss you. I’m standing in your closet shaking my head at how incredibly organized and fastidious you have always been:...

Out of Africa

(This post was written a few weeks ago….) Exactly one week ago I was somewhere over remote Northeast Canada on my way to Dallas. I was so ready to be home… and so exhausted. A week later, and 100 years older, I realize that I had no idea what the word exhausted...

And Then There Were Two

After years of writing (here, in my journal, and in my millions of half-finished notebooks around the house) about life with kids and navigating their baby years, tween years and teenage years, it’s finally here: the dreaded “empty nest.” We dropped...

Super E

This morning I heard my second-born’s alarm going off so I stepped into his room and sat down on the side of his bed. He burrowed further into the covers and turned his head away when I clicked the lamp on. “What, mom? I’m up!”His deep scratchy...

And So it Goes…

Dear Kindergartner: You’ve got this! I promise, it will be way more amazing than you can imagine. Your mom has made you a very special lunch (probably with a special little note) and your teacher will help you open your milk if you need it. I know it is a little...