Life is changing. Quickly. I always knew it would. These boys. They don’t stay little long. Quiet bedtime routines are rare in a house of 3 boys. Bedtime used to be such a sweet, soothing time. It is no longer. They are older, bigger, rougher. But their hearts are still little, soft, and gentle. I […]
Years ago my sister introduced me to their friends, the Ropers. Kathryn was one of the first people who shared her knowledge of all things health and opened my eyes to a world that was foreign to me at the time. Through the years I have learned much from this family through stories my sister […]
Keeping materialism at a minimum during Christmas requires intentionality. Less focus on the gifts, more focus on the true meaning requires work. The first step when trying to make Christmas less about the gifts is to examine what type of gifts are being given. In the past we bought gifts based simply on what a person would like. Or […]
Christmas is my absolute favorite time of the year. I love everything about it….the music, the smells, the traditions, the memories, the foods, the meaning, everything. I stretch Christmas as far as I can. I’m not one to wait until after Thanksgiving to get into the spirit, and not because I’m rushing past Thanksgiving, but […]
I wonder how many times I’ve heard my boys say, “When I grow up, I want to be…” The answers change as they age and interests change. I’ve always engaged in the fun speculation of what their lives may look like one day. Listening to my 2 older boys discussing life plans, it hit me. […]
A close 2nd to memory making is memory reflecting. Watching their expression as they study a picture is a sweet moment in itself. A blank expression transformed as the mind recalls the events, the moments, the feelings. Lines soften, brows raise, smiles break through. Experiences tie us together. Time together draws us closer. When we spend […]
I closed the door on 2 of my soon to be sleeping boys and snuck down the hall to have some alone time with my oldest. He was leaning against my bed looking at a magazine on my nightstand. He didn’t notice me coming around the corner, and I couldn’t help noticing how much taller […]
