When any person arrives at the time in their life where they will soon become a parent, there are things which are anticipated with whimsical glee and wild naïveté– newborn onesies, first words, toddling steps, trips to the zoo, first day of kindergarten… But there is a darkside to which no novice parent gives a second thought, and that is the carline. If you have school age kids, I know you read that with a little pain in your heart. …
If you had asked 14 year old me what she wanted to do with her life, she would have boldly declared the dreams and passions that still swirl my mind today. At 14, I was confident. Fearless. Daring. And naive. Back then, nothing was off the table. In the 20+ years that have passed since, I find myself still on the journey to try to achieve those dreams. What happened? Did I try and fail? Were my dreams too big? …
When I was a teacher, I used to do an activity with my students where I made them guess certain things about me as a lesson in perception and judgment. How many siblings do you think I have? What kind of family did I have? What occupations did my parents have? What did I go to college for? What kind of food do I like to eat? What do I drive? Their answers were often so off base which was…
For a long time, sweet husband and I have talked about needing to get into a regular exercise routine. It has long since been something that we have wanted to do together, but it is only now in this season of life that our schedules afford us this opportunity. So finally, we bit the bullet, and now every day we have a standing appointment with a trainer who does his best to whip us into shape while bringing us as…
Summer time is a tricky thing. I love the freedom of no schedules and kids home all day and lots of time for anything we choose. However, I do not thrive in the reality of no schedules and kids home all day and lots of time for anything we choose. I once took a personality test and my results came back 99% introverted. Summer offers a lot of time for people-ing. So much people-ing. So no time for introversion, lots…
I don’t know that I ever planned to help run a restaurant, but here we are. Oftentimes as I circle around and talk to people, they ask how we got here. They ask what my background is in the restaurant industry. And so I muster my reply… It isn’t. I have no background in the service industry whatsoever. I have never waited a table or rolled a set of silverware in my life. And here I am, managing the ins…
I’ve come a long way, but I’ve still got some miles to move. I’ve grown stronger in loosening my grip on the plans for my life and allowing Him to move and sway in the way that only He can with the vast perspective of a loving Father who can only be good. He is so faithful and good. But this last week, I have found myself falling back into clenched fists and a passive aggressive litany of reminders. “You…
I remember being five years old. The hallway down to my bedroom was long and narrow and flanked by 80s paneling. You remember the kind, right? I was convinced the knots in the wood were scary faces waiting to come alive and get me in the darkness when no one was looking. Eventually I got older, and that hallway didn’t seem quite as long or as scary. When you’re five, the unknown can be daunting. Thirty years later, I have…
A couple months ago, I almost ran away from home. I’m kidding (mostly, kind of, sort of). But sometimes, mom life JUST. DON’T. PLAY. I was walking through an especially hard season with one of my littles. Day by day it got worse, not better. I prayed, I cried, I screamed, I yelled, I sought counsel, I sat in silence. I tried all the things… ALL. OF. THE. THINGS. “This too shall pass.” “God knows what he needs, just ask.”…
It had been a while since we’d talked. “Tell me where you’re at,” she said. “Not where I thought I’d be,” I said. I began to unveil to her the raw and unrehearsed corners of my mind. There was no need for filters or highlight reels here. We don’t get to talk as often as I’d like, but she remains the kind of friend that you can pick up as if you’d been texting all afternoon. My story was familiar…