As we step over the threshold of the New Year, many of us have our List in our hands or at least in our back pockets. (You know…that list of things you will do differently, say frequently, or change effectively in the promise of a new year.) New years are beautiful things! They are full of excitement and endless possibilities. Many of us hold onto large expectations and set out with great ambition. Some approach the New Year with a little more caution and skepticism. Others couldn't care less as they've found themselves trying and failing — one too many times......
Read MoreRecognizing the Lasts
I found Jeremiah in the Family Room, and was on the verge of tears. It was bedtime and I was holding Titus, who in turn was holding an 8-ounce bottle of warm, whole milk. I passed our youngest son off to my husband and plopped down on the couch. The dam broke and tears gushed from my eyes, spilling onto my lap. I choked out the words, “He chose his bottle over me tonight!” I held my face in my hands and explained that I was unprepared for the wave of emotions that came along with it actually being over......
Read MoreSeries of Steps
Earlier this year, my husband and I went on vacation to Punta Cana where I indulged in a cappuccino and a “Pain au chocolat" chocolate croissant every morning. It was bliss.
Upon returning home, we discovered that all four children were very sick. For a moment, my rested, relaxed self wanted to return to the airport and get back to my bliss. That’s not exactly how it works, so I decided that Punta Cana (and its croissants) would have to wait. I found my big-girl panties, put them on, and spent the next few days of “Re-Entry” doing loads of laundry, sanitizing surfaces, and nursing sick children back to health......
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