life – Aprons, Heels, and Yoga Pants

Quiet Rebellion

It’s funny how we use the “ending” of a year to mark our lives. The truth is, December or January, we are just living life. Each day is life and an opportunity to start something new. Really, it is all running together. I do it too. I see the finish line. A new year begins,…

Less Pressure. More Oreos.

Something struck me as funny last night, as I was hurrying my children out of the house and into the minivan. I thought…..I’m not as good as I used to be. Yet, I also think I am better. We were heading for the school Christmas program. My 13 year old son wore his shirt untucked,…

Be Careful

My morning started with a bang, literally, as the garage door hit the front of my car on its way down. My son was in the driver’s seat and all I could muster out of my very sleepy mouth was, “Careful!” In his defense…careful of what? The poor guy probably felt helpless trying to assess…

Motherhood…The Greatest Comedy Show

Want to stay humble? Have a boatload of kids. One minute you’re cool and feel like you’ve got it all together….then suddenly you’re sopping up toilet water or stripping your child in front of a plane full of strangers, due to a diarrhea incident. I had a really great day. Life is good and I…

The Sweetest Things

It has been a rough week. As much as I fight it and try to make life perfect, I have to accept the good with the bad. I am going through some tough lessons, and I’d really like to stomp my feet like a child and refuse to listen. But lo and behold…I am a…

I just Want To Clean The Toilet

Every once in a while I get an entire day at home. When this rare occasion happens, I can’t contain my excitement as I think…..”I get to clean the house!” I just didn’t see this strange love of domestication phase coming. I’ll never forget a day in counseling many years ago, (nothing big – just working out…

Adoption and What It Taught Me

Lil Beans is 17 now. That is what I call her, and her birthday was yesterday. Well, we will never know her real birthday. October 1st is the birthday given to all abandoned children in China, as that day is a national holiday, commemorating the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Lily is my adopted…

Let’s Talk

I. Am. Tired. It isn’t from lack of sleep, or the one million loads of laundry I just completed. It is from love. The love I dispense on a daily basis is beautiful and exhausting. Each day as I sit to write, my heart tells me who to encourage. I have some unusual categories in…

Afraid of The Ball

I have been sitting at my desk for an hour now. I sat down to write. I even repeated the mantra in my head this morning….”writing first, writing first, writing first.” Unfortunately, catching up on text messages and rearranging my calendar for everyone came first. I do not know how to be selfish, but I…

Cleaning Up The Mess Together

I got a little stuck this morning….Stuck on the photos section of my computer. I couldn’t take my eyes off of my children. I couldn’t help but think of how lucky they are to have each other, and what a blessed momma I am. I also couldn’t help but feel the sting in my heart…