(In)Courage
How to Let Go of Mama Guilt :: at (in)courage
May 7th
I plumb forgot to tell him you never, ever mess with a dog while he’s eating. That is, until it was too late.
And just as I opened my mouth to tell him, the dog we were dogsitting snapped at my just-turned 4 year old son and knocked him down. In the longest few seconds of my life, I snatched him up from under the dog’s teeth and lay him on the counter. I frantically called my husband who thankfully worked within walking distance of our house. He rushed home and took Ethan to the ER while I stayed with his twin brother More >
(in)RL in Pictures
Apr 30th
When I hear the front door latch turn and the clomp-clomp of combat boots on wood floors, I know my man is home. And after a kiss and a “Hey baby. How was your day?” I can count on him shooting me a second question:
“Did you talk to anybody today?”
And I’m sure-fire certain he likes it when I answer yes, because then he knows his verbose wife won’t barrage him with a torrent of words. Because for every 1000 words my man speaks, I speak about 5ooo. Ish. He also insists that when I’ve been able to talk with other More >
A Weekend to Drink Tea
Apr 27th
Tomorrow is my (in)RL tea party. I’ve had so much fun preparing for it! With it now so close, I’m excited in a nervous kind of way. Or is it I’m nervous in an excited kind of way?
Are you going to an (in)RL soiree of your own? Maybe even hosting one? Let me know and while I’m praying over mine, I’ll pray over yours, too.
And because Lisa-Jo - the community manager of (in)courage – had more good stuff up her sleeve than one day could hold, the (in)RL festivities kick off today. While you may be meeting-up with folks tomorrow, today you can enjoy some More >
For the Mamas of Preschoolers :: at (in)courage
Apr 13th
”God doesn’t expect us to be instant experts at something we’ve never done before. And he promises to make up the difference.”
Scharlotte Rich, The Promise of a Mother’s Prayers
I grab granola bars and throw them in my cart. I look up and then I see her, the cute pony-tailed mama pushing two blonde twin boys in a race car shopping cart. And not a one of ‘em looks happy, child or mom. One boy complains his brother is hogging the cart space, the other cries when mama says no to more Oreos.
Quick as lightening I rewind ten years, back to More >
What You Need to Know You Belong
Feb 14th
Did I ever tell y’all I was Miss Arkansas 1991? It’s true.
Well, sorta.
Actually, I was Miss Arkansas band camp.Not quite the same, I suppose? Well, you already know I play oboe, so my I’m-just-a-big-nerd-and-always-have-been secret isn’t really a secret, now is it.
In high school, we band kids knew all the band-geek jokes and where we fell on the popularity totem pole. We couldn’t have cared less, and you know why? Because we belonged, and band was our catalyst for belonging. We were individual as snowflakes, but we shared a common interest and built a little community around it. I’ve seen the same More >
When You Need Friends {But Have a Hard Time Finding Them}
Feb 1st
Pssst… just peeking out from under blankets, kleenex {kleenexes?}, books and honey lemon tea to croak out a hello. My daughter waves too, as she’s snuggled in next to me with the same sniffly sneezy fevery virus. Right now I pause the Barbie movies and Say Yes to the Dress re-runs to share a story below. I pray it gives you a bit of friendship encouragement for your heart!
I’m out of breath from hurrying {though I’m still late} and forcing my stubborn side-by-side double stroller up the hill to the playgroup location, an indoor playground. I’m nervous, too, since I’m visiting More >
How to Give the Moment That Can Change a Life :: at (in)courage
Jan 16th
I read her post, the one where she says writing cards changes lives. Is that dramatic, I wonder? To think a card could really do that?
I recall an earlier time, a time when my thought life sped downhill like a runaway train. I looked at friends who seemingly handled everything infinitely better and wondered why I couldn’t measure up as daughter, wife, mama. When the time came for a few of these friends and I to take a trip together, I thought about sitting out. Sure, I needed the rest a girlfriend’s weekend would provide. But with this cyclone of More >
In Which I Recommend a Blogger for President {and a lovely video, too!}
Dec 13th
Yours truly with the Nester and Jessica’s darling one, Adeline.
Once upon a time, there was a girl who had a sister named Sara. For many a day, Sara would beg Sister to check out this blog called Nesting Place. Since Sister wasn’t the most decorator savvy gal on the planet, she couldn’t get too fired up about an all-things-home blog. So, when Sara called again raving about this Nester girl, Sister rolled her eyes and said,
“Ya know, Sara, I’m not really the decorating gal you are and…”
Sara exhaled quick and loud. “Well I know! But trust me here. You’ll love her! I’m tellin’ you, More >
