Category: Family
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Closing out Third Grade and Preschool
Another school year has come to an end. Can you hear me shouting with joy? In all seriousness, this has been as stressful school year for us. You’d hear me frustrated over the amount of time devoted to test prep through the virtual school my son attends. You’d hear me frustrated over the amount of times I…
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Baby Dedications and Bathroom Stalls
Her son looked so cute. She had found him a little tux. He was the first baby I held after Aidan. How could I tell her how hard this day was going to be for me? My husband and I sat in the pew at our friends’ church. Friends on one side. Strangers on the…
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Brainstorming and Heroes
Who is your hero? Tell why that person is your hero. My 8-year-old son is participating in an online writing class over the next two weeks. The session is focusing on “Writing to a Prompt.” The prompt happens to be about your hero. The first lesson is on brainstorming. I got a glimpse…
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Laundry Day (Literally) Stinks
Two bags of clothes sit in my garage. I wish they were going to friends or a collection box or a donation center. They will go in the trash. — I don’t check pockets when I do laundry. My mom never checked pockets either. I have washed (and dried) toys, pagers, money, wallets, coins, wrappers,…
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10 Years Ago
10 years ago. 10 years ago I said hello to my first baby. 10 years ago I said goodbye to my son Aidan. 10 years ago I waited and waited to hear that first cry. 10 years ago I heard that cry after we told the Dr. to stop CPR. 10 years ago I…
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Three hours to write
How do I balance it all? Sometimes I ask that of myself. Today I realized one of the systems I have in place. Not only am I a wife, a (wanna be) athlete, and a freelance writer and editor. I am also a homeschooling mama. We homeschool for many reasons, which I won’t go into…
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Finding inspiration in what you can’t blog
I stare at the blank screen. I’ve been waiting all week for inspiration for this post. I can’t find it. I take that back. I’ve had inspiration, but it has come in the forms of things I can’t, shouldn’t, don’t need to blog. The small details of frustrations. The large issues of concern. The wishes…
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On the Prairie
On the Prairie I feel refreshed, restored, renewed On the Prairie I see the darkest night, the brightest sunrise, the biggest open sky On the Prairie I smell scared skunks, fields of fresh dirt, farms of cattle On the Prairie I hear the wind, familiar voices, grandpa’s polka On the Prairie I find healing,…
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My coffee pot died
My coffee pot died this morning. Well, the pot didn’t. The whole bean grinder inside of it did. When I pushed the on/off button, all it did was hum. It wanted to start but couldn’t. Just yesterday, I bought a bag of whole coffee beans. I had one remaining packet of ground coffee. Just one…
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Happy Birthday – Slice of Life
Today my son turns 8! I can hardly believe it. I still can remember the day he was born. I was overdue and was scheduled to be induced on a Monday. My parents from Minnesota decided to come out early. As a little back story, they weren’t able to make it for the birth or…