Voting for Nero
I don’t envy American voters right now. As much as I covet the perks of citizenship, the responsibilities of having to choose a President in this years’ election feel a bit like a bad meal on the show...
View ArticleWhy I Don’t Want My Kids To Be Fearless
There are many things I want for my children: Kindness. Gentleness. Courage. Love. But one thing I don’t want for my kids is for them to be fearless. I’ve been listening to a bunch of platitudes that...
View ArticleThings My Mother Told Me (Shannon Wilson)
Reader Shannon Wilson sent me this amazing story about her Mom. Please welcome Shannon to the blog and savor this beautiful story. For the past 15 years, my mother has talked to me about the day that...
View ArticleWhy I won’t paint my son’s toenails (or let him wear a dress in public)
My kids have always wanted to take part in the things I do. From toddlerhood they wanted to help crack the eggs, apply their own sunscreen, and climb into the narrow space between my body and my cello...
View ArticleWhen You Have FOMO, Even Though You Were There
A few years ago, I was introduced to a little four-letter acronym that put a name to a feeling I was all too familiar with: FOMO. The Fear Of Missing Out. Turned out, it wasn’t just me who felt a...
View ArticlePick of the Clicks 4/22/2016
Hello dear readers, I’ve been absent from internet reading for several weeks, but am slowly getting back into reading and writing after a long hiatus. Here are some of my favorite things from the...
View ArticleThe first year of marriage
“So, how’s married life?” It was a question we were asked hundreds of times in that first year. It was a question that always left me feeling a little bereft as to what to say. The truth is, our...
View ArticleRunning Like an Inflated Drunkard
It is no secret that it is Tim Fall’s fault encouragement that got me blogging. I always enjoy Tim’s words, and am delighted to welcome him here today with his usual blend of funny, warm and robustly...
View ArticleThe Spiritual Practice of Sometimes Saying No – Even if you are Absolutely...
When my friend Tina Osterhouse sent me this guest post, she had no idea how timely it would be for me personally. These are important, good words—perhaps ones you or someone you know need today, too....
View ArticlePick of the Clicks 5/6/16 (in which I sound like a budget airline)
Hello, friends. You know you’ve been flying a lot when you can pretty much do the safety demonstration in your sleep (“in the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, air masks will release from above...
View ArticleWhat Marriage Isn’t
The fresh-faced and totally-in-love newly weds sat at our dinner table, eager for our advice. They wanted to start a website for newlyweds, they said, and share their story to encourage people....
View ArticleBetter Than a Rolling Jail
My kids say some pretty-dang-hilarious things, and I was reminded yesterday of one of the funniest quips yet. We had spent the afternoon with fun friends on their farm (the same friends who took a...
View ArticleWe’re Done Having Kids… (Touch Wood)
This week our youngest child turned four and the last of the baby-gear items left our house. The item in question was our trusty Ergo baby carrier which we had kept in our minivan (aka the rolling...
View ArticleWhy Foster Care has Been Good for my Biological Child
Jennifer Hartley recently shared some thoughts on social media about the risks and rewards of foster care to her biological children, and I’m so grateful she is willing to share them here. “But how do...
View ArticlePick of the Clicks 5/21/2016
Hello, friends. The weeks are WHIPPING by like the final sprint to the end of the school year that they are… but in the midst of the madness you probably still want something good to read every now and...
View ArticleTo the Brave Volunteers at VBS (or Holiday Club, or Vacation Bible Club, or...
I signed up to help with our church’s annual Vacation Bible School this year. Again. And—just like I do every year—I’m wondering why the dickens I volunteered for the madness. Again. But as I think...
View ArticleCheer Mom
M-E-L-A-N-I-E!!! Who have we for company? It’s MELANIE! Go-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o Melanie! (Please welcome Melanie Dale to the blog today. Better than that: cheer for her, because this is fantastic) I...
View ArticlePick of the Clicks 5/29/2016
It’s a quiet weekend at our house: my husband and my eldest are on a backpacking trip, and our boys are exhausted after a day of swimming and an extended-dance-party-with-light-sabers (because, BOYS)....
View ArticleAsk Me: How can I know if he’s the one? And are we too young to get married?
Dear Bronwyn, My boyfriend and I are both 20, and have been dating for 4 years. We have been talking about getting married for a few months and I’m getting scared. I’m scared that he’s not the one for...
View ArticlePick of the Clicks 06/03/2016
If you live where we live, and you don’t have access to a swimming pool, then you’ll be spending the weekend indoors with the air conditioning cranked to piggy-bank-emptying-levels. Yes, it’s that hot....
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