The Eternity of Daffodils
This week, my five-year-old daughter overheard that two of my in-laws’ puppies died during birth. My daughter is a sensitive soul, and this news greatly disturbed her. But not for the reason you might expect. She wondered if they were going
Our Own Little House
This week, at the library, I checked out some illustrated Little House on the Prairie books for my daughters. It’s been a long time since I read the series or watched the Michael Landon + Melissa Gilbert episodes on TV, and
Parenthood: Snipping Away Our Character Flaws
Two weeks ago, I purchased a spider plant at Aldi’s for $4.99. I have a thing for plants, and in our move from Wisconsin to Tennessee, I lost all my plants but for an orchid. Therefore, I’ve been slowly and stealthily
My Partner in Life, Not Just in Parenting
Three years ago, I took my firstborn daughter for a walk when it was ten degrees. I bundled her up in an Eskimo snowsuit and wrapped one of my scarves around the lower half of her face, so that you
Life’s Bittersweet Symphony
The September night we wed, my husband and I slow-danced. All I remember is how the two of us rocked back and forth as the crystals embroidering the hem of my dress cracked beneath his rental shoes. My husband is
Parents Passing on the Sidewalks of Life
My four-year-old daughter and I were walking on the sidewalk when a parade of motorcycles started roaring by. With each one, she cried, “Wow!” At first, I smiled, loving her enthusiasm, but after thirty or so motorcycles, it wasn't as
God’s Perspective on Pain
After I received the email, I walked outside in the pulsing dark. I went halfway down the driveway and lay on the asphalt. I could feel the warmth, from the day’s relentless sun, radiating against my back. The night sky
Shedding Our Papier-mâché Skins
I scooted over, to make room for my daughters on the bench, and my sandals brushed black, orthopedic shoes. I glanced to the right and saw the disabled man, slumped in the chair, with a pair of dark sunglasses and
Watching the World Go By
“Hey, Honey,” the cashier said. “Got any plans for the weekend?” I was so caught off-guard, I almost laughed. “This is my second weekend here.” She smiled. “Oh, you like it?” I explained that I was actually returning to Tennessee after living in
Life’s Non-linear Adventure
It’s 9:37 on a Saturday night, and I’m confined to my toddler’s bedside, which is actually my bedside, because she declares she is scared of the new nursery. Whenever I glance over at her by the light of the computer screen,