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It’s about time we start giving stuff away around here, don’t you think? I’ll start, but I’ll warn you to stay tuned. I have a whole line-up of cool stuff that wants to come visit you. More on that in the days to come, but first up, let’s give away some reading material. I happen …
Say this word five times fast: Signage. Say it. Now assure your children you haven’t been drinking, but that when you get older, laughs are cheap and you have to resort to reading blogs by crazy people. When Marc was in grad school, he came home one day and told me in a disbelieving tone …
I have mentioned this before here, but I would like to reiterate that I will not be making goals for 2013. First my dad made me write those suckers down every year (watch the video on this post for an historically accurate retelling) and now my husband pesters me about this very same subject. Christmas …
Christmas is full of surprises, and not just the feeling you get when you open another one of these from someone you thought loved you: Photo credits, because I know you’ll want to order one. There are other surprises. Like the delightful ones when you hear your children sing their versions of Christmas carols. Having …
Travel during the holiday season is not for the faint of heart. We just returned from a quick trip to Dallas to visit our brand-spanking-new nephew, Nathan. Here he is. I dare you to not make cooing noises. Is there anything better than holding a newborn and kissing the little crease between his neck and …
Sleigh bells ring. Are you listening? Well, of course you are not because all you can hear is janky Christmas music blaring out the radio, the mall sound system, and the tinny speakers in elevators. Sleigh bells can’t possibly compete. So can we talk a bit about some GOOD Christmas music? It does exist, and …
Why do we do this to ourselves? Every year, we endure the pain and hardship of Photoshopping taking a Christmas card that will reflect our joy and gratitude for friendships and the Holy Child. Instead, this happens: And then this: Which spirals downward to this: And just when we think we’ve made it over the mountain, this: …
I know you’re all uber organized and that you don’t need any help in this department. In the off chance, however, that you are still looking for that little something special for the loved ones gathering around the tree this Christmas, I took it upon myself to be helpful. Take a looksy and you can …
I can’t even pretend to be unbiased. Photo source. Shawn John should have won. What? Am I the only one still watching DWTS, other than Tom Bergeron’s wife? Listen, I swore it off years ago when my five-year-old started asking me about procreation during Rumba week. But then Shawn Johnson was on the All-Star season …
Do you think I’m shallow if my all-time favorite holiday is completely focused on food consumption? Thanksgiving makes me so happy. (Photo source) I look a lot like this when I say the word. “Thanksgiving,” I say, and then I make my hands into a prayerful pose, tie on my checkered apron, and look over yon …
I ran a 5K this fall. And here is why I’m bringing it up: Remember Lolo Jones? Super fit, fast as an antelope, stunningly beautiful? I looked NOTHING like her when I was running. For one thing, my new pants kept falling down. The weather had just changed to cool and my summer running gear …
Hi, there. I’ve missed you people. I did need some time away, and please don’t take it personally. I find you all very kind, very patient, and never once have I needed to clear your dirty dishes. You’re perfect, really. But I needed to finish a novel, and thanks be to God, I did! WOOT …
Hi, friends. I’ve been out of the blogging loop and devoting any extra writing time to my new novel. 🙂 Can’t talk about it yet, but I’ll keep you posted. Thanksgiving is Thursday. In honor of a day devoted to gratitude, I thought I’d help you check in with Clara. Remember Clara? I just reread …
True confession: I watch Project Runway. I don’t watch a whole lot of TV, mostly because I’m very tired and irritable at night and I’ve found the best antidote to that condition is reading a good book and then falling asleep with it on my neck. But I do DVR Project Runway and I’m not …
Thea prayed with me before bed tonight and then informed me that God was “this big.” She made a big circle with her little arms. I agreed. “At least that big, yes.” “And Goliath was this big.” She made the circle incrementally smaller. “Right. He was much smaller than God. But he made fun of …
Can someone please clarify for me when I became a ma’am? I am now fully a ma’am. As in, “Ma’am, is this your child we found running naked through the lobby?” Or “Ma’am, none of these clothes have been in fashion for the last decade. We cannot accept anything you own (or are presently wearing) …
Today’s post is meant to encourage those of you who are in the depths of despair. Anne of Green Gables used this phrase and rather freely, though I’m not sure any of her despair really warranted such theatrics. Which is exactly why I love Anne of Green Gables and am still hoping my hair will …
I have a very noticeable and alarming problem with remembering my life. I’m very serious about this. I cannot remember really important things, like where Marc and I went on our first date or the way my children sounded before they could say their “r’s.” I can’t remember the names of friends with whom I …
After a summer hiatus, I am revving back into our real lives. For those of you who follow this blog, and by that I mean Mom, thanks for your patience. I love you and will get you a really awesome Christmas present. Isn’t summer lovely? I did not miss the schedules, the running, the grabbing …
….BeachB! BeachB is the proud owner of a Nook! I used a random number generator (random.org) and have a marital witness to vouch for my process. (This is the man who, as a boy of six, made his mother stop the car so he could confront a nursing home about their frayed American flag. No …
Well, we didn’t reach two hundred (ahem), but we did get a healthy number of reviews on Amazon. And Operation Bonnet is selling well! Woo hoo and thanks be to God (not in that order)! I’ve decided to forgo the garden gnome, though this one is fetching: Look at that bunny go! So no racing …
I met this lovely lady this week. Photo courtesy of DebbieMacomber.com. Debbie Macomber came to Des Moines and I had a chance to chat with her. First, you should know that she has published ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY BOOKS. I feel this merits writing out the words for such a huge number. And she’s just …
Spring is in the air, thanks be to God! Every year, I worry I might not make it. At least without crying on the kitchen floor and asking my children to fend for themselves because I have to get outside, even if there is a blizzard warning. But then spring arrives, I see daffodils peeking …