“Oh Lord, help me not sin in my grief.” I remember praying those words as waves of pain enveloped my body. For the second time in less than six months, I was losing a baby. The first was an ectopic pregnancy in the spring of 2011. I can’t pinpoint an exact date of loss because it took weeks on end […]

Right before a trip to Lake of the Ozarks over Labor Day weekend, I sat at the pediatrician’s office with kiddo No. 3. His ears hurt, and I wanted to get them checked before we spent a weekend solely dedicated to being in and around water. The appointment was scheduled easily enough, and in a whirlwind exit, I pulled into […]

“Mom, can we go see the Superman costume?” This, mere seconds after stepping out of the elevator shaft that took us 650 feet below the surface. I had been down in Strataca salt mine before, so I knew where the costume—as featured in the orientation video—was located. At the end of the self-guided tour. So, wisely I said, “We will […]

In the three months we have been in our new home, the hubby and I (and sometimes other helping hands) have worked hard to put a minute dent in a stack of to-dos. We’ve finished a bedroom and are close to finishing the hallway, all complete with do-it-yourself hardwood floors, scraped ceilings, new paint on ceilings and walls, and do-it-yourself […]

“But, why?” It’s easy to relegate that question to the relentless, persistent, sometimes pesky toddler phase that goes something like this: Time to eat. “But, why?” Time for bed. “But, why?” That’s hot. “But, why?” Sound familiar? While “why” might be a dreaded word for a season of parenting, I believe asking why shouldn’t be reserved for the very young. […]

I’m always amazed at the parallels I come across in my life. One of the biggest to date—an improperly filled cistern under our back porch and its connection to childhood trauma—is the inspiration behind the book I am writing. Another more recent connection I’ve made has to do with my track bag. That’s not surprising as, since March, I have […]

Allergies aside, the human nose is a pretty spectacular tool. It humidifies inhaled air. It prevents large particles from entering the lungs. And of course, it smells. Some smells pass through the nose like a sweet perfume. Some smells have the ability to transport us to another time and place—like Grandma’s kitchen. Some smells are head­ache inducers. I always take […]

I stood at my kitchen counter with soup pot in hand. Slowly I tilted the pot, still heavy-laden with leftover cheesy potato goodness, toward a storage bowl I had placed on the counter. And then came the telltale splash along with warmth seeping into my tennis shoe. I had misjudged where exactly to tilt the pot, and subsequently missed the […]

We have a woodstove at our house, and even in this dud-winter, we have used the stove on multiple occasions. It’s nice to have an extra heat source for the cold snaps. And if we ever got snow, it would be nice for that, too. When we first moved into the house over four years ago, I left the stove’s […]

I’ve been thinking about trees. Some of you with a green thumb might be nodding in agreement. It probably doesn’t take much to convince you that plants are spectacular. Perhaps you’re even bold enough to garden without gloves. If so, I applaud you. You are one brave individual. But this “enjoying nature” thing is surprising for me because of one […]