Imagine this. My six-year-old wearing his fuzzy pj's makes this imperious proclamation: "I wish I could be public schooled so I wouldn't have to walk all the way to the kitchen to get my rods." Those rods, to which he referred, were little color-coded blocks that enabled him to learn his fractions and multiplication tables …
Tag: Day to Day
For my Husband on Father’s Day
Father moment: Bob walks in the door after a ten-hour workday, lunch bag in one hand, mail (bills) in the other, trying to shake the day's garbage from his head and wanting very badly "to get horizontal for a minute." Out of necessity Bob has perfected the power nap. Still, his head doesn't get to …
Frankenstein’s Teenager
Mary Shelley's classic, Frankenstein, is really an allegory. It's the parenting memoir she couldn't write. Parents of pubescents... follow me. Victor builds what he hopes will be a beautiful, incredible masterpiece. He works tirelessly on his legacy. So intent on accomplishing his ends, Frankenstein doesn't ask, "Should I?" Sounds like many parents I know who …
Don’t Forget the Little Car Accidents
I like telling you about my car accidents. The slaps of fate, I consider my teachers. So when life smacks me down and I taste the dirt, my natural response is to share what it tasted like. This isn't new. My very first attempt at voluntary writing (age nine) was an apology to the Almighty …
Don’t Forget – What It’s Like Writing my First Novel
I've been toying with the idea of changing my novel around. This morning I decided to change the point of view from 3rd to 1st-- just to experiment. I've read many 1st person novels and loved them. Right now I'm reading We Were Liars by e. lockhart. If you want to hear a distinctive voice, …
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G is for Gabe
Gabe. At 11 he's already a gentleman. I've lost him behind a held-open door thinking he's coming. A Wendy's double burger with cheese, mustard, pickles, and lettuce will make his day. He could easily stuff down a Wendy's triple, if he could just dislocate his jaw like a python. Gabe will share his last Swedish …
Telling Myself… It’s All Good
It's a new year. Do you feel brand new? Sparkly? Like the reset button has been pushed on your life? The tags are still on the new personality you're determined to create for yourself in 2014, right? Uh, hem... Some of you have already broken your resolutions. For my part, until yesterday I could say, "I haven't worked …
Just Show Up
A friend of mine texted me this morning asking for prayer. As she should. She's about to embark on something that's way out of her league. She does this for Jesus and for His people, especially those who feel most forsaken, who the world deems most filthy and most foul, but who are loved by …
Car Wars: Driving Through the Dark Side
Rated R for Rant. 7:05. Wake up and drive Katae to Berea Courthouse for her internship. Well, she drives there. I drink my joe. 8:30. Get home. Have 2nd cup of coffee and read Bible, eat breakfast, read emails, yell at kids. 10:00-11:00. Take boys to the orthodontist where we try to get school done. …
Good Morning
Upon waking, I sip my coffee either upstairs or downstairs, depending on which living space is less messy. Today was a toss up. These are my slippered feet and my PJ's; that is my cat, and this is what my view usually does NOT look like in the morning. Warning: this may sound like …