The First Rule of Muscle Club…
It’s a hard thing, talking to your children about healthy friendships. On one hand, we love everybody, we respect people, and we are always kind. It’s what we do. On the other hand, some kids just aren’t nice to be around. Some kids are straight up mean. And while that’s probably more on their parents than them at this point, balancing grace and protection is hard.
Bag o’ Joyful Swag
My husband brought a gigantic company-logoed duffel bag home from work the other day. It was presumably a bag o’ swag, as is to be expected at a corporate business office around the holidays, but he didn’t look through the contents ahead of time. So when he walked in the door and the boys asked about it, he jokingly said, “Here, boys, this is for you. It’s full of CANDY!” They took it, opened it up, and screamed in delight. Because, unbeknownst to us, it was ACTUALLY FULL OF CANDY.
Easy Advent Activity Ideas
A few people have asked for our list of Advent calendar activities – something I originally planned on sharing but knew I wouldn’t finalize until the day we began, December 1st. True ’nuff, I didn’t finalize them until the day we began, December 1st, and now it’s December 5th. {shoutout to all my fellow procrastinators} But, hey, maybe you are just looking for a few family fun ideas throughout December and maybe this will still be a good resource, so here you are: Click above, or download the pdf here. A few tips: 1. Go to the Dollar Tree, Hobby Lobby, or the Target dollar spot BEFORE you plan activities. They always have cheap, cute…
Christmas, Reclaimed
A few weeks ago I spoke to some fellow moms on the topic of “Simplifying Christmas”. About reclaiming the joy and wonder of it. And finding ways to not hate yourself and everyone around you by the time the holidays are over. It was easily one of my favorite topics this fall because, like most things humans get ahold of, we’ve lost our way a bit in this department. And of all the overwhelming, stressful things in life and the world around us, Christmas just doesn’t have to be one. It’s amazing how much stuff we accumulate to celebrate the birth of a savior who couldn’t have come with any less. Our family is over this. So…
How About We Not Be Jerks This Week
On Halloween, I was standing on the sidewalk texting while Fishlegs Ingerman (far left) was tripping and spilling his candy everywhere for the 14th time. I honestly can’t remember who I was texting or why, but it felt important enough to finish before I bent down to help him.
When Marriage Gets Crowded
We exchanged wedding vows under a chuppah, a word whose pronunciation I had to Google. chuppah: [khoo p-ah, hoo p–uh] 1. a canopy under which the Jewish marriage ceremony is performed, symbolic of both the home they are creating and their God who will remain over it all To be honest, I didn’t know a lot about chuppahs. I was neither Jewish nor did I speak Hebrew. I saw mention of it in a Rob Bell book once and we went for it. Though I didn’t understand the depth and importance of the tradition at the time, I loved the imagery. I adore it even more today, and here’s why:
Praises of a Thousand Generations
I was born with an overabundance of words. They bubble up inside of me and ooze out of every pore. I can’t help it. I even coach myself on self-control in social settings, yet inevitably walk away thinking, “Why did I just talk so much?” It’s a blessing or a curse, depending who you ask and when. (If you asked my mom circa 1993 after one of her “Sarah, sweetie, mommy’s ears are tired.” schticks, she probably would’ve voted the latter.) But it’s also a blessing. In the past several years, I’ve gotten to use my words across amazing, humbling platforms.
Excavate at Your Own Risk
Knowing my 6 year old’s Prehistoric Marine Reptile Dinosaur birthday was around the corner (his theme choice…as if that needs to be clarified), I needed some small party favors to take to his kindergarten class that were non-edible. (Non-edible, because when the youths today eat sugar, food dye, gluten, or non-grass-fed meat they spontaneously combust. It’s easier not to feed them at all.) I ordered a few things from Amazon – some dinosaur stamps and stickers – but I needed just *one* more little something small to stick in the bag. This was, after all, his first ever birthday to be celebrated at school. It was A Huge Deal.
Learning How to Send a Kid To School
Sitting in a circle of parents during the kindergarten tour, we listened as the principal introduced us to the elementary school. He covered everything from the school’s mission to flexible seating in the classrooms to the longitudinal effects of reading to your children. He asked for questions and several hands shot up; each one a great, high level question. “Tell us about the school’s curriculum goals for the next 5 years.” “How will you challenge my student at her level?” “How do you promote physical health and exercise to the students?” “Walk us through the campus safety plan.” Good questions, good answers. “Anything else I didn’t answer?” he asks. Well, yes, I thought. Only about a billion. For instance, sir,
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I was kind of an expert of everything in my twenties. Especially my early twenties. (I think everybody is. It’s a rite of passage.) I’m entering my thirties this week, a fact I can confirm not just by the date on the calendar but by how different my mindset is today than it was two, five, ten years ago. Now, I hear a young twenty-something person provide invaluable, irreplaceable expertise on life to an older adult and I smile. I was you, like 1 second ago. I knew it all, until life proved I didn’t. I was an incredible wife before I got married. I was an excellent businesswoman before I started my first job.…
