I've always been a bit of a romantic; a sentimental, dreaming idealist.  When the sun lights atop my children's blonde hair my heart takes flight; when my husband sings I melt; when I read a book of valor and courage I'm inspired to raise my young men to be mighty, bold, good, and kind. 

When I was in high school my romantic tendencies came alive with the help of King Art...

Brody is many marvelous things... creative, deeply feeling and expressive, joyful, quick witted, and tender.  But while all these things may be true of him one moment, the next minute the tide shifts and he becomes emotionally distraught and explosive.  Thankfully I've come to know my son, as I've studied him for nearly 6 years now, and I can practically predict when the pendulum will swing from one extreme...

Last Spring my husband and I went to visit some friends in Birmingham, Alabama.  One of the highlights of our time together was when Matt's college buddy, Danny took us to the beautiful brick Presbyterian Church where he works as Pastor of Discipleship.  I know when most people think "Pastor" they think of an introspective studious sort, bent over his desk preparing Sunday's sermon, but Danny was brought on to fulfill a role that requires little sermon preparations, and a great big ...

To My Mother

a poem by Wendell Berry

I was your rebellious son,

do you remember?  Sometimes 

I wonder if you do remember,

so complete has your forgiveness been.

...

A Teacher's Prayer

by James J. Metcalf

I want to teach my students how

To live this life on earth

To face its struggles and its strife

The other night I was up with my sweet seven year old multiple times, mopping his fevered brow with a cold washcloth and praying for him as he struggled for comfort.  The following day his fever was gone and only body aches and a headache remained.  Today he was altogether perfect.  

Watching our children suffer is terribly hard, isn't it?  And yet this morning at church I was challenged by the depth of suffering other people endure, as well as the eterna...

Today was exhausting.  I have no doubt that yours was probably exhausting too, but let me just say that mine was the sort of exhaustion that comes from having been in a physical and emotional FIGHT!  Yes, the dramatic high-point (or shall I say low-point) today was trying to get my youngest down for a nap.  

As the third born boy, he doesn't takes naps as often as most three year old first-borns.  Today he desperately needed a nap, however,  Unfortun...

I remember playing Tetris so much one Summer in HIgh School that every time I closed my eyes I saw the gameboy screen with little shapes falling into place, as the theme song beat away at my brain. When I began facebooking it was similar; every cute thing my children said became a possible status update, every foiled plan a snide remark that would most assuredly bring a long line of witty comments in return.  

Now my mind jumps on possible blog ideas all day every day. ...

Last year I went to my OBGYN and told her I needed Prozac.  After spending a fair amount of time with me she concluded I needed coping skills to handle my three "Spirited"  boys at home, not medication. This year I went back for my annual with a new complaint:

"I'd like to get some blood work done."  

"Why?" she asked.  

"I think there's something wrong with my thyroid or Estrogen or Progesterone levels".  

The Doctor smiled.