Posted in Comfort & Control, Fun Pile on Jan 24th, 2012 No Comments »
It snowed last week. I lived in Minnesota for 18 years – a place where your nostrils stick together if you breathe too deeply, and your eyeballs freeze if you’re outside too long – so I’m not one of the crazies who gets all excited about the snow. But about once or twice a year [...]
Posted in Comfort & Control on Nov 14th, 2011 No Comments »
On Sunday last week I started wearing contacts again for the first time in two years. On Monday, Ruthie poked me in the eye and my contact disappeared. Into thin air. Gone. Usually when my hard gas permeable contact lens pops out, I hear a little tick as it hits the floor. Or it lands [...]
Posted in Comfort & Control, Thomas on Nov 11th, 2011 2 Comments »
I feel overwhelmed this week. Weighty things are on my heart, and a busy schedule intensifies the emotional stress. In addition, several friends are in the midst of weighty circumstances as well. My first reaction is to want to do something – about their circumstances and my own – but there is often nothing I [...]
Posted in Comfort & Control on Nov 6th, 2011 1 Comment »
When I lose my temper and yell at the kids, I take the short view. I just want them to shut up, or sit the fuck down, or put on their jacket, or quit antagonizing each other. When I eat poorly to satisfy a craving, I take the short view. A bowl of cereal will [...]
Posted in Comfort & Control, Introspect on Oct 24th, 2011 1 Comment »
“Before long, the king made himself at home and God gave him peace from all his enemies” (2 Samuel 7:1, The Message). This is the verse that stared back at me this morning when I opened my Bible after a long hiatus of being “too busy” to read the Bible. The king referred to here [...]
Posted in Comfort & Control, Everyday, On Writing, Startup Mom on Aug 19th, 2011 2 Comments »
Lately I’ve been experiencing a creative conundrum. You see, I have it made. I’m one of the lucky ones. And no, I’m not talking about my hair. It’s amazing, to be sure, and the world is generally very jealous of my thick and gorgeous mane, but I am talking about my lifestyle. It’s amazing that [...]
Posted in Comfort & Control on Jun 14th, 2011 1 Comment »
You know what I do a lot? I do a lot of yelling. Like today, for instance. I gave the kids a list of chores to do, after which they were to get screen time and a trip to the farmer’s market. Did they do their chores? Of course not. They screwed around in their [...]
Posted in Comfort & Control, Seen, Heard, Said on Jun 10th, 2011 No Comments »
No, son, the F-word actually won’t make your life better : Conversion Diary. I would not have chosen this particular battle with my own kids – I’d much rather they just know the word and eliminate all the mystique. HOWEVER, I fully appreciate the whole Garden of Eden drama thing. My son immediately mistrusted my [...]
Posted in Comfort & Control, Grieving, Living In Community, Soundrack on Jun 8th, 2011 1 Comment »
“Maybe we’re not meant to be together.” “He said he never loved me.” “He told me he wants a divorce.” “I can’t keep letting him treat me that way.” “I don’t see how reconciliation is possible.” “It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done.” “I can’t stop crying.” These are soundbites from some of the conversations [...]
Posted in Books, Comfort & Control, Seen, Heard, Said on Jun 3rd, 2011 1 Comment »
The Danger of Moralistic Parenting | The Resurgence. I loved everything about this post, then realized at the very end that it’s an excerpt from a book I just ordered on the Kindle. WIN! An excerpt from the post: Certainly the faith that has empowered the persecuted church for two millennia isn’t as thin and [...]
Posted in Comfort & Control, Soundrack on Jun 1st, 2011 No Comments »
pumpkin Every once in awhile I put this song on repeat and turn it up to eleven. I can’t speak to why the song writers feel okay, but it reminds me of the peace I find in Jesus no matter what stresses me out. Lately I’ve been inspired by a friend who’s had to make [...]
Posted in Comfort & Control, Seen, Heard, Said on May 27th, 2011 1 Comment »
What happens when you let your children have it all their own way?. A friend posted this to Facebook and a discussion ensued. It’s an interesting experiment, but I think it spoke to me more about my own bitchyness than it did my kids’ ability to govern themselves. After all, it’s our job to shepherd [...]
Posted in Comfort & Control, Ruthie on Apr 25th, 2011 10 Comments »
Yesterday our church held Easter service at Qwest Field – all campuses together in one place, plus many visitors. Over 17,000 people was the last count I heard. At the end of the service Ruthie asked to get baptized, and contrary to what I was probably supposed to feel, I panicked. “Are you sure?” I [...]
Posted in Comfort & Control, Introspect on Apr 20th, 2011 1 Comment »
“Because in the middle of critical national debates, in the middle of our busy lives, we must always make sure that we are keeping things in perspective.” – President Obama I’m a very task-oriented person, even if I’m not that organized about it. Disciplining myself to slow down and reflect on anything is always a [...]
Posted in Comfort & Control, Getting Things Done on Mar 20th, 2011 7 Comments »
Last October we spent three weeks visiting family in southern California and stayed with Bryan’s brother for part of the time. My sister-in-law keeps a very clean house, and I kept grilling her about her routine as if documenting an anthropological study. “So, you sweep the floor EVERY NIGHT then?” (Thoughtful head nod.) “Oh, so [...]
Be warned: what you see here is not my best work. It is what Anne Lamott describes in Bird By Bird as a series of “shitty first drafts.” Blogging dragged me kicking and screaming out of creative constipation by getting me to actually write. So I do that. A lot. Without worrying about every word choice or comma placement.
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