Follow the Light
My girls and I had spent most of the day cooped up in the house. Attitudes were fraying around the edges—including mine. Then I had an epiphany: a pajama hike! I told the girls to put on their pajamas, since it
Original Watercolor Giveaway Inspired by How the Light Gets In
I don’t know a stronger woman than Anna Floyd, and I know many strong women. I first met Anna close to ten years ago through a mutual friend. I was a newlywed, and Anna was finishing up her nursing degree.
Learning to Love Them Better
The woman stood with her back against the sink and stared up at the screen. Close-cropped brown hair and a tribal shell necklace accented her beauty. I usually write during my daughter’s forty-five minute dance class, and I have a
When They Asked What You Wanted to Be
Last winter, the seniors interviewed my firstborn daughter, along with the rest of her kindergarten class. They asked what she wanted to be, and she said a seashell finder. This little poem is my attempt to encourage her to stay
My Rainbow Baby
On May 21, 2017, my three-year-old became my middle child. She has been an incredible big sister—never once showing jealousy toward our new arrival—but recently this transition has revealed itself in other ways. For 2.5 years, we have known our three-year-old
Mud Pits & Walls
Nursing my baby like clockwork at four a.m., I rested my head back against the glider and groggily thought how wonderful it would be to have a child born at two years old, so she could sleep twelve hours and
“I Miss You!”
Our eldest daughter is, hands down, the most affectionate child I’ve ever known. If my husband and I are cuddling on the couch, she is not content until she’s dropped everything and sprawled herself across the pile. If we’re hugging
My Seashell Finder
Last week, a friend sent a picture from the newspaper showing my six-year-old daughter’s kindergarten class of 2030. Out of eleven students, three wanted to be veterinarians, three police officers, two teachers, one a firefighter, and one a scientist. Only one wanted
The Snail Shell of the Soul
I heard a thunk and returned to the kitchen. My two eldest daughters stood at the patio door and stared down at a female cardinal outside on its back. Its large, orange beak opened and closed as snow flurries clung
My Five Year Plan
Last week, the Southern Festival of Books was held in Nashville, which I forgot to sign up for because the deadline fell shortly after my daughter’s birth. This week, I also received an invitation to visit with some author friends